How To Remove A Ford Emblem From The Grille

Do you have a faded Ford emblem that you want to remove from your vehicle’s grille, and do you want to know how to do it correctly? You’ve come to the right place because we have researched this question and have the answer for you.

The first step to removing the Ford emblem from the grille is to remove the grille. You can then remove the Ford emblem by removing any lock or nuts that keep it in place.

We'll talk more about removing the Ford emblem in the succeeding sections. You can also learn about why the Ford emblem fades in some early Ford models in the sections below. Read on!

What Is Debadging?

Debadging is the process of removing any markings on your vehicle that identifies its model or manufacturer. This includes decals and stickers that you can find inside and outside the vehicle.

When you remove the decal on the front grille of your Ford, that is considered debadging. If you’re only going to remove the Ford emblem on the tailgate of your truck and nothing else, that is still debadging.

No matter how little you’re going to remove, or whether you plan to remove all of it, that is still debadging.

Why Do People Debadge Their Cars?

There are a few reasons why people debadge. Some vehicle owners believe that the badges are there so that manufacturers can get free advertising when you drive your car.

When you upgrade and customize your car, and many people admire it, then the manufacturer’s name is the first thing they would notice.

Some people don’t like the idea of advertising manufacturers after they’ve personalized their cars. In this case, debadging is the common solution.

Even movies that are not getting any payment for using cars will debadge these cars for the movie.

Sleeper Cars

Another popular reason for debadging is when you build yourself a sleeper car.

A sleeper car is a car that is modified for high performance but has an unremarkable exterior. Sleeper cars got their name because their exterior looks like a common economy class car or the lowest trim in a series.

There are instances where the car is intentionally made to look like a neglected car. However, underneath the unassuming look, a sleeper car has modifications that provide it with very high horsepower and torque.

This name came from the American term “sleeper agent.”

Owners of sleeper cars will debadge their vehicles to make them look like common cars.

Easier Cleaning

A more practical reason for debadging cars is to make them easier to clean and polish.

Car emblems are notorious for trapping dirt, soap, or wax between their corners and crannies that are very hard to reach. Dirt and sludge eventually accumulate in these spaces, making the car look older and dirty no matter how much you wash it.

Without badges, the surface of a car’s body becomes smooth, even, and easier to clean and polish.

Fading Ford Emblems

Ford vehicles from around 2005 to 2011 have a reputation for losing the blue color of their Ford emblem and turning into a silver oval.

This is another reason to remove the Ford emblem from the front grille—to get rid of the faded emblem and perhaps replace it with an aftermarket one.

Some of these Ford emblems that fade have a plastic topcoat. However, exposure to the sun and the elements cause the plastic cover to become brittle and crack.

Moisture will start to seep into the cracks in the transparent plastic, even though the cracks are still too small to see. The moisture will then expand with the changes in temperature and cause the crack in the transparent plastic to become bigger.

The changes in the environmental temperature will cause the plastic to weaken and eventually peel off the Ford emblem.

Unfortunately, the underlying color will stick more readily with the plastic than the metallic surface underneath. Thus, when the plastic peels off, the color peels off too.

How Do Heat And UV Rays Fade Paint?

The colors that we see in paint come from dyes. Different dyes have specific components that allow them to absorb certain colors and reflect others. The reflected rays of visible light are what our eyes capture, and this gives an object its color.

When you change the chemical makeup of a dye, it will absorb a different set of colors and reflect another color.

However, the chemical bond of dye components changes and breaks up when you expose the dye to too much heat and UV rays.

Two types of UV rays negatively affect the colors in vehicles.

UV-A rays take out the moisturizer in resins. This affects paints and even the plastics and rubber components of cars.

Once resins dry out, they will start to shrink. Shrinking will cause the resin to pull against itself, leading to cracks.

Keep in mind that not all cracks from shrinking are visible right away. It can start small and eventually grow bigger over time.

The second type of UV ray is UV-B. This type affects color pigmentation and the chemical composition of dyes. This type of UV is what leads to fading and discoloration of paint.

When you park your Ford under the sun, especially during hot summer months, the color or the emblem will absorb all the heat and UV rays that the sun gives off.

How To Remove A Ford Emblem From A Grille

Here are the complete steps to remove the Ford emblem from the front grille of your Ford.

It is important to order a replacement emblem if you plan to replace it in the same job. This saves you time because you don’t need to wait for the replacement emblem to arrive before you can continue with the second half of your emblem restoration.

If you don’t plan to get an OEM part because there is a high likelihood that an OEM emblem will fade in a few years, then get an aftermarket emblem replacement.

Just make sure to measure the length and width of your old emblem before you order a replacement.

Removing The Grille

You will not be able to remove the emblem without scratching the grille if you don’t remove the grille first.

In some Super Duty truck models, the grill goes with the hood when you open it. This gives you easy access to the emblem. For these types of hoods, you can skip this section and proceed to the next.

Let your Ford cool to a tolerable temperature.
Activate the parking brake.
Pop open the hood.
Remove the bolts that keep the front grille in place.
Pull the bottom of the front grille. This will disconnect the bottom clips that hold the grille in place.

Removing The Ford Emblem

Place a few layers of soft cloth on your working table. This will prevent the surface of the table from scratching the paint job of your grille.
Position the grille face down on the table.
Remove the retaining rings that lock the emblem in place. Use needle nose pliers and a flathead screwdriver to work on the retaining ring and get it off.
Repeat the same process until you get all the retaining rings off.

- Be careful in removing the retaining ring. Make sure you don’t damage the part of the grille that will support the new Ford emblem.
- Some models use a nut and bolt instead of a retaining ring.

Use a heat gun on the back of the emblem.

- Aside from the retaining ring, there is also adhesive between the emblem and the grille.
- Apply constant heat while moving the heat gun from one section to another.
- The heat from the gun will loosen the adhesive on the Ford emblem.

Use a plastic scraper or an old credit card to pry the old emblem off.

Check out this heat gun on Amazon.

Installing The New Emblem

Use rubbing alcohol and clean rags to get rid of any adhesive residue, then let it dry.
Peel the adhesive cover from a small portion and position the new emblem, making sure that it is centered.
Peel the rest of the backing and apply pressure on the emblem to let the adhesive get a good hold.
Install new retaining rings or bolts.