2018 Ford Explorer Front Bumper Removal and Grille Replacement / Install

This is a short video showing how to replace the grille on a 2018 Ford Explorer. There are a few videos around that show how to remove the front bumper for other years, but none show the grille removal or the differences for the bumper on a 2018. The 2018 has 6 extra bolts (3 each side) that are up inside the front quarter panels and can only be accessed from the wheel wells. They are pretty much blind and a real pain to remove. Take your time and it can be done with a 10m socket wrench. The rest is pretty straight forward…just a ton of small fasteners and bolts. The grille is held on with many plastic tabs that must all be aligned. Be careful when dropping the bumper, there is a wiring harness attached to it. The job took me 3 hours.
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#nosmallcreator #FordExplorer #Automotiverepair

[@TralfazConstruction]

Well done. Your instructions are valuable if someone has to perform this repair. You have done a real service putting this video on KZbin. Thank you!

[@KrizAkoni]

Thank you very much!

[@TralfazConstruction]

@@KrizAkoni You are welcome!

[@billkenney5538]

You are a gentleman, and a scholar, and steely eyed missile man. Thank you! -- Just replaced a grill on my 2018 Explorer. (The stock one for the Sport one, just because I wanted to.) - This video was INVALUABLE and gave me the confidence and the knowledge about the six secret magic bolts. Really appreciate you. This was part of my prep and you saved me huge amounts of time.

[@KrizAkoni]

Thank you for the kind words! It was an interesting experience dis-assembling this puzzle. 🤓

[@colinjohnson9862]

Thanks for the video. I am rebuilding a wrecked 2017 and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out what the energy absorber attached to. All of the plastic in front of the A/C condenser was in little bity pieces that I put in a 5 gallon bucket when I took it apart. Aha! It attaches to the grill instead of the actual impact bar. Another engineering feat by FORD!

[@ProLibertate13]

great video. the skirt bolts that you said would work with 7/32 were actually the old ford 5.5mm equivalent. nice job.

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks! Interesting, 5.5 😎

[@guadalupeordaz827]

Great video. Helped me with finding where the ambient temp harness connects!

[@KrizAkoni]

Glad it helped!

[@Dedseq]

I've been looking how to do this myself since the dealership is charging wayy too much for this. Thanks for your video!

[@bkyuwol6617]

super eazy??? you American guys are awesome sir!! Respect from Korea haha

[@drachnem2385]

Thanks for this video, was thinking about a grill swap and now I know the work load.

[@KrizAkoni]

Glad I could help 😊

[@MrRedsi]

me too! I may just keep the original

[@ThatCleanMT]

Thanks for this! I’m installing a light bar hidden behind the lower grill and this was helpful!

[@KrizAkoni]

I’m glad you found this helpful, thanks for the comment. 🤓

[@clorettalindsay1658]

Thank you for this video. I have to replace the front lower grille on a 2018 Ford Explorer. I think this video helps to figure out how to get to it visually. I appreciate it.

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks, I’m glad you found it useful! 🤓

[@rogerbradley7509]

Thank you for this video. Exactly what I needed. God bless!

[@yutubusa0017]

Oh man! Thanks for this video. I couldn’t find the 3 bolts holding the fender in place either.

[@KrizAkoni]

Very welcome! 👍

[@MrRockydee07]

Have to do my 2016 police interceptor utility. This should help , Thanks

[@mustafaabdulazeez638]

Very useful video , thanks

[@ToddStull]

The Legend of KrizAkoni: -Hiker, Ford Car Fixer,, Elite Level Slam Dancer.

[@KrizAkoni]

Hey, who has been posting my old slam dancing vids? 🤣🤣

[@jeffreydonaldson7003]

You forgot he neuters dinosours, and taught Steven Segel everything he knows in the martial arts. Drinks more coffee than the hoodlems do together standing outside on a Saturday night at a local 711.

[@imilkbongs]

*don't know where comment went but for real Kriz this video was so informative and really saved my butt with taking this off haven't seen any other videos taking the bumper off on this exact model.

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks so much!

[@imilkbongs]

I used a electric ratchet to reach most of the bolts worked really well

[@Felipe302GT]

Thank you so much for your help! I’m replacing my complete headlight unit on my 2017 explorer sport. You have to remove the bumper to get to the 2 bolts that holds the bottom of the headlight. Pain in the rear lol thanks once again!

[@KrizAkoni]

I'm glad you found this helpful! What used to be easy is a big job now.

[@birdsrule8608]

Awesome vid! I needed to remove mine too. Thanks!

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks!

[@victorrosario4109]

Thank you for the info

[@quinncamargo]

Thanks for the video. I finally found where the temp sensor for the 2018 are. Too bad i have to take out the front bumper just to change one small piece.

[@KrizAkoni]

Glad it was helpful! Yes, that's a lot of work for that one small part.

[@kevg5410]

Great video!!

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks!

[@wilsonhomevideos3499]

Great video ! It's the only one I found that mentions the inside bolts. BTW, my Explorer is 2017 and does have the 6 hard-to-reach bolts like yours.

[@KrizAkoni]

I'm glad this helped and great info on the 2017!

[@jaysmith1408]

I’m working on my 19, and I got all the way in, thirty some odd screws later, I could not get those daggumed six bolts out of there. I fished around blindly, I found them, but since they’re facing threads down, I couldn’t get them. I looked in through the top and couldn’t see anywhere close to them. Do you just work at them off the threads with vice grips? Putting them back in, I’d be tempted to put them in treads up.

[@KrizAkoni]

I squashed my arm in there from the wheel well edge with a socket - it was wicked tight and blind but managed to get them out.

[@tonyz6679]

Thanks for posting the video rarely see some .

[@bachoy88ledz25]

Thank U for the video so helpful just AWESOME

[@KrizAkoni]

Thank you! 😎

[@albertoa76]

Holy crap! I was considering swapping for a billet grill...but for aesthetics, it's not worth the hassle.

[@mustang774]

Wow that is an insane amount of tear down to replace a grill. It used to be about 8 or 10 screws and you would be good to go. You saved a few dollars for sure doing yourself. Nice to see how to do this. I like to work on my vehicles when possible. This summer I installed a dash cam and wired it to the fuse block with all hidden wiring. I also added a trailer hitch and wired the taillights for towing on my Kia Soul.......Take care, Bluefin.

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks Bluefin! Yea, this one kind of shocked me. I also work on my own when I can but stop short on anything I can't reassemble same day. Definetely saves a bunch. Dash cam a d hitch skunds like fun!

[@halabujioutdoors]

That sure looks harder and more complicated than hiking in rain and snow. LOL You did a very good job there, indeed!

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks Yonghwan Yi! Definitely not as soothing as hiking. I like puzzles, so I kinda like doing stuff like this.

[@forfun316]

You are very good in car. 👍👍👍

[@KrizAkoni]

Thank you Arts mix tutorial!

[@aaronm55]

The wheel area screws are 5.5mm

[@infich827]

Brilliant!

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks!

[@MidTnOutdoors]

Ford Flex I had was as bad to do the grill on. But you saved yourself some money by doing it yourself.

[@KrizAkoni]

I would be scared to see what this would have cost to have the shop do it...

[@richardross7219]

Nice video but that job was a big PITA. I'm glad that my older vehicles are easier. Try to find an refrigerator box and break it down into a large flat sheet. It will be a lot more comfortable than a tarp. Good Luck, Rick

[@KrizAkoni]

Super PITA, but at least I was able to drive the vehicle until I had time to make the fix. Yes, a box would have been more comfortable. This is one where if my SO was not pushing so hard I probably would have just left the hole. 🤣🤣

[@SomeplaceOrAnother]

In another episode of pimp my ride 😂 So many bolts to remove one thing😬

[@KrizAkoni]

😂😂They definitely don't make it easy... Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Ouch...that stinks. You have skills to do that yourself. ✌️

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks! I'd have much rather been hiking...it looked like a really nice day after the storms blew through.

[@bkyuwol6617]

BTW I was looking for some informarion how to remove the gril to re-paint my 6th G. explorer gril. Thanx! It would be similar right?

[@KrizAkoni]

There really is no telling - be aware that there might be extra bolts and look to see. Each year changes get made, some a little weird and unexpected.

[@coreyflynn9333]

So the bumper is 3 pieces. Th grill the part that covers the bumper and the lower section. I want remove the lower section. Any idea what that is covering?

[@KrizAkoni]

It comes off all as one piece, the lower section (black) covers the lower section of the radiator and the louvers: kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2iWlaVmjLqDi7M

[@oldladieshikingnorthonthea4261]

Boy, they don't make it easy for you will all those bolts. I don't think I could get it all back together or remember where everything goes. Good job, not as much fun as hiking, I guess!!!🤣🤣🤣

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks all! I had no leftover parts this time. 😊 It's about time I get back on the trail.

[@MrRockydee07]

Have a question: Are the 2016 and 2018 frount mounting the same pattern.

[@KrizAkoni]

Unfortunately I don’t know the answer to that question. Being the same generation, it’s likely they are the same but I can’t be sure.

[@jgkjak]

Do you know what that temperature sensor feeds?

[@KrizAkoni]

I do not know - I'm sure it's somewhere on one of the deep knowledge Ford forums. I'm assuming it feeds the the system that controls the louvers in front of the radiator for increased mileage. If I have time I'll look because now I'm curious.

[@RealtorAustin]

The metric for those plentiful and annoying mudguard area screws is 5.5mm. What kind of random size is that?

[@KrizAkoni]

Argh, the ever popular 5.5mm! LoL! Thanks for the comment!

[@RealtorAustin]

@@KrizAkoni Thanks for pointing out those three blind bolts on each side. I was trying to yank the bumper off which I think worked on previous models. You really saved my bacon.

[@KrizAkoni]

Anytime! Those bolts are definitely tricky.

[@larreddo1]

What year parts interchange with a 2018?

[@KrizAkoni]

Should be all the Gen5 models between 2011 and 2019.

[@rom8467]

Any tips on those 6 10mm bolts hiding in the inside? I've scouted online and can't really find any tips to make it easier. I tried for about an hour on just one and gave up because the squeeze made it just about impossible to keep the ratchet seated and get more than 1 click on each try.

[@KrizAkoni]

It was extremely frustrating and hard to get at. I removed enough of the wheel well shirt fasteners to just barely get my arm in there. It was a couple clicks at a time for me too. Just go slow and be patient. I did find sitting on a stool made it easier for me to keep my arm stuck in there. I think the right way to do this is to just remove the wheel well skirt entirely.

[@rom8467]

@@KrizAkoni I appreciate the reply. I haven't braved trying to get them out again yet but did you have a method for getting them back in? Or was it just as much a PITA?

[@KrizAkoni]

Getting them back in felt easier for some reason, but it was still a royal pain. The unit pretty much clicks into place and stays...so in that respect, it was not hard to align and keep in place while I worked on them.

[@rom8467]

@@KrizAkoni Awesome. Thanks for the help and wish me luck!

[@KrizAkoni]

Definitely good luck! Be persistent, you can get it done...

[@trendingjapan823]

💯🔥♥️👍

[@craigbetts1586]

not a hiking video but this very interesting, no wonder body shops charge so much to fix cars today, look at what you had to do just replace that grill and only 3 hours to do it I would of thought longer

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks Craig. I use KZbin to help with most of my auto repairs. I figure as a KZbinr, I should add to the collective where I can. I'll get right back to the hiking vids - I'm due to get out soon. 😎

[@chrissendner2825]

I work in a body shop an also have a 17 explorer, these bumpers are tough to get off, the rear one is easy but there’s plastic rivets. You saved a lot doing it yourself the grill alone is about 1k plus labor doing the job.

[@KrizAkoni]

This is one where part way in I wished I had brought it in...

[@marcosanchez3473]

Where did you get the grill from ?

[@KrizAkoni]

I ordered it from my local dealer service center.

[@SkinnyGPanda]

I would surely lose at least one bolt in this process, that's how my luck is usually.

[@KrizAkoni]

I was soooo happy to have no extra parts!

[@MrRedsi]

magnetic trays are your friend

[@lesterxxx7642]

U never showed the clips. the parts you needed to release grill front bumper

[@KrizAkoni]

Flat screwdriver is all that’s needed and the clips are super obvious…the far view is all the video I had of this part…it was pretty annoying the number of clip points. I just kept pulling around the edges until I found them all.

[@MrRockydee07]

They want $2,395 to fix mine, and that's doing it in the driveway with painting the parts ..... I need all the frount end parts ...

[@mischiefonthetrail8961]

Nice job but u made it look way to easy lol

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks! I just try to take my time and not get frustrated.

[@mischiefonthetrail8961]

KrizAkoni best way to do it no point in making it harder for yourself

[@bahamajim1998]

Omg what a shit show ... you made it look relatively easy... if I've of done this the new grill would look worse than old one 🤣🤣🤣🤣.. Nice video man!

[@KrizAkoni]

Thanks! Yeah, the designers pretty much make a disposable plastic shell around the part they call a car. Nothing is easy any more.

[@bahamajim1998]

@@KrizAkoni you got it thou . Nice work ..

[@dustinboram]

Ford makes no sense. Why would they design it so you have to remove the whole bumper 😒

[@ThatCleanMT]

Lol. That’s not just Ford. My Dodge, Kia and GMC all require the removal too.

[@TralfazConstruction]

They're all like that now ever since the introduction of front and rear fascias.

[@GadgetsAdventures]

High dollar plastic. They definitely don't make them easy to work on any more.

[@KrizAkoni]

Not easy to work on at all... Thanks for stopping by Gadget!