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What is the easiest way to remove and replace the front grill Ford emblem on a 2021 ST?

Blackssr

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#1
Has anyone removed and replaced a 2021 Ford emblem on the front grille..I looked at it for about 20 minutes and cannot figure out the easiest way to get to it. Has anyone done this? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
 

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#2
It's held on my two plastic nuts, unfortunately you have to remove or pull back the front bumper far enough to get a wrench on them. Bumper removal is easy though, there's a video on youtube of the bumper removal process. I had it off and back on again within an hour.
20200816_102121.jpg
 

OP
Blackssr

Blackssr

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Thread Starter #3
I actually used my 11 old niece Cassidy to get her arms in the slots below the Emblem and loosen the 10MM fake nuts. Hopefully she will be a future Gear Head. It took her about 20 minutes to get the Ratchet lined up. (I felt like the Mandalorian teaching Baby Yoda. LOL (1) Baby Yoda Tries to Fix it! Season 2x4 (cute Baby Yoda scene) - YouTube ) The same amount of time was required to install the new red unit. I took her for Ice Cream after and a speed run and we are good. !!! Child Labor works for me. It did cost me $11.00 at Carvel ;-(.. WTF? 20210127_121325.jpg 20210127_121316.jpg 20210127_121857.jpg
 

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Blackssr

Blackssr

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Thread Starter #5
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Cleveland, Ohio
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2022 Explorer ST
#6
1B11EA16-4374-4913-ACE8-66F97DE4C1F1.jpeg
 

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Cleveland, Ohio
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2022 Explorer ST
#7
got the black ovals from Ford. The rear was easy. Took more time cleaning off the sticker glue than anything. But on the front the bumper cover took me a while. There’s two 10mm bolts connecting the bumper to the fender that were the hardest step by far.
 

Pablo

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Bogotá
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Explorer St 3.0 2022
#8
got the black ovals from Ford. The rear was easy. Took more time cleaning off the sticker glue than anything. But on the front the bumper cover took me a while. There’s two 10mm bolts connecting the bumper to the fender that were the hardest step by far.
Any chance of a link to the black oval?
 

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Prospect, KY
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2022 Ford Explorer ST
#9
Has anyone had problems with paint peeling on aftermarket Ford emblems? I sure have seen a lot of original Ford emblems with all the blue gone...
Looking to do this while installing the IC when the weather warms a little more.
 

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#10
Has anyone had problems with paint peeling on aftermarket Ford emblems? I sure have seen a lot of original Ford emblems with all the blue gone...
Looking to do this while installing the IC when the weather warms a little more.
I happened to post yesterday about me being a Program Manager for a few years at the OEM Ford supplier of Ford emblems, ovals, badging, etc. . Older OEM Ford ovals that were not produced where I worked, were paint over chrome ovals. What that means is that the ovals were injection molded, then chrome plated, them blue paint was painted in the surrounding area of the FORD lettering. Many years ago, Ford made it one of their standards to no longer paint over chrome as it was not durable and the paint would come off. This same issue occurred on many fender badges and other paint over chrome badges over the years. All modern OEM Ford ovals are multi piece construction with solid MIC acrylic blue for everything. This permanently resolved the previous issues with old ovals.
 

DaveG ST

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#11
To get the old emblem off you may drill through it and drill out the studs. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Unbroken mentioned this. I have not done this on the ST, but I have on another older vehicle and this worked great.
 

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NC
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Black 2020 ST
#14
Already saw that one. Not interested
 

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Gurnee, IL
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2020 Explorer ST
#15
Your options are limited, then.

Good luck in your search.
 

kimmonia

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#16
That's a lot of work, hats off to you guys!
 

JRHII

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EMT
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New Jersey
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2024 Explorer ST
#17

ssick92

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92679
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2020
#19
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Location
Spring Grove, Virginia
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#20
No clue, I didn't really pay attention since mine's a '23. I would assume they're identical all the way back to '19. Ask your dealer's parts guy. Or perhaps someone else here has that info. Edwyer posted a link to an aftermarket supplier with the OEM parts that says 2020+. I could swear mine from Ford Accessories also said that, before they added the 2025 to the description. But, I make no promises, as I said, I didn't care, I have a '23.

You'll find three ways in this forum to replace the front badge, however. Ford recommends pulling the front bumper cover and grill. Unbroken recommends drilling out the old studs, which pretty much only works if you have the template his non-OEM parts came with. He glued it on with the 3M tape, as I recall. I removed the top 10mm bolts, wedged wood between the plastic grill and steel frame it bolts onto, then was able to reach in and work. I recommend a 10mm flexible ratcheting wrench, works better for me than a socket on those crappy nuts. I also prethreaded the nuts onto the new piece. Made it easier when it came time to install because I could start by hand and be sure I was putting them on straight. Blackssr did it similarly to me, except got his niece to reach in and do the nuts.

Using the blocks, just watch for the front camera cable and be careful prying the grill. I was nervous I'd break it. But I pried it out 2" with no issues.
 

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