Grille gap between fender

[mlsjr14]

I purchased the black Badlands/Wildtrak grille from Forbes Auto on ebay. I suspect the OEM grilles direct from Ford will fit close to perfect but they were on backorder when I checked the other day. I'm gonna try and return the ebay purchased grille and have my Badlands grille painted after seeing that yours is also having fitment issues.

I had a very small (but normal) gap on my original Badlands grille but nothing like what we are seeing with both of these aftermarket ones.

Oh! I misunderstood that your new grille was a factory grille. Sounds like it is aftermarket and maybe even same brand as mine. Do you know the brand?

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[mlsjr14]

I have same gap except I didnt think anything of it. Same gap bilaterally. Also changed grills with no change. Doesnt bother me. Not sure if it should. Looks fine. If it was different on either side it would bother me but its not.

Yours is a Big Bend? Mine, too, but my original grille had virtually no gap.

 

[mlsjr14]

Im guessing the picture looks worse then in person.

Definitely! The pics look horrible. In person you have to get very close on stand over the grille to really notice - that is, unless you're a very picky person like me.

 

[NeoS281]

Oh! I misunderstood that your new grille was a factory grille. Sounds like it is aftermarket and maybe even same brand as mine. Do you know the brand?

Yes, I'm pretty sure its Xipex. Dropped off my Badlands grill for paint and will install it on Friday. I'll check then to see if the gap is still present

 

[mlsjr14]

Update - I reached back out to the vendor who was kind enough to help me realize I had failed to swap over four critical parts from the corners of my original grille.

I don’t think they were in the instructions or maybe I just overlooked them. I’ve attached a photo showing these parts below.

Turns out they are there for this very reason… to fill in the gaps that might vary between trucks. I’m happy with the much improved look.

 

[mlsjr14]

Many thanks to Pat at @IAG Performance / @IAG Support for the excellent customer service and support!

 

[IAG Off-Road]

Just wanted to chime in! We have seen varying levels of gap even on OEM grilles. From super tight to the body to as wide as 3/16". As @mlsjr14 pointed out all (to my knowledge) factory grilles and some aftermarket grills have provisions for the small plastic piece he pictured to be installed to help hide this gap so you aren't looking straight into the back of the headlight housing from above.

 

[BiGBendPalmz]

My Big Bend did not originally have any gap, but I just swapped to an aftermarket gloss black (Wildtrack/Badlands style) it now does. Oh well, at least it's even on both sides - but if anyone has a fix to adjust then I'd be glad to hear.

Did you purchase from EBay ?

 

[mlsjr14]

Did you purchase from EBay ?

No. I bought from IAG Performance who is a site sponsor above.

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