Like every vehicle in the world, Ford cars have their pros and cons, but in the case of Ford, the pros outweigh the cons. First of all, Ford has been a family-owned company since its inception. The goal of Ford has always been to make vehicles that everyone can afford without heaping out on the important stuff. This has been proven by their most popular lineup, the F-series.
You also have a variety of models to choose from small to big. No matter which model it is, a Ford comes equipped with the latest technological advancement in the auto industry. These advancements are always made by Ford and not by a third party manufacturer, which guarantees compatibility and quality. But something that Ford vehicles don't usually come with are Ford nudge bars.
Benefits of Nudge Bars
Protection
While not all Ford vehicles can boast a nudge bar, bigger ones such as the Explorer and the popular F-series trucks can. But why would you want a nudge bar? Why? Because this small accessory can make your trips in or out of town a lot safer. Yes, installing a quality nudge bar Ford owners will not only make the appearance of their vehicle more attractive but also improve safety levels too. You can be one of those owners without having to invest much time or money.
Lightweight
When installing an exterior accessory on our vehicles we tend to add a lot of weight but that is not the case with a Ford nudge bar. Unlike a regularly sized bullbar, a nudge bar is a lot smaller which in turn makes it a lot lighter. This way you do not increase fuel consumption while still getting a decent level of impact protection.
Convenient
Another reason why you should o for a nudge bar Ford is that they are not that hard to install. Since they are small they do not require plenty of hardware to mount them and you can even do the installation process yourself since it's not that hard to lift the nudge bar yourself. This also makes nudge bars easy to remove when you need some work done at the front grille.
Installation Process of a Ford Nudge Bar
Preparation
1. Yes, the front grille is where a Ford nudge bar sits as it shields the engine and all the components in front of it from stones, trees and other collisions. While not all Ford nudge bars are the same the process of installing each is quite similar. Usually, you need to start by removing the plastic push-pull clips from the radiator cover.
2. This needs to be done after you've parked your Ford with the parking brake on. After that, you also need to remove the radiator cover. This then needs to be followed by removing usually 3 plastic screw clips, one Torx screw and one 9mm head screw from the rear corner of the bumper.
Removal
1. With that done, you usually need to disconnect the parking sensor loom and fog lights. If that's not mentioned in the manual then don't do it. At this stage, you need to continue by removing two 10 mm head bolts from the top of the grille close to the headlights. This will allow you to unclip the grille from the headlights. Make sure you do so carefully.
2. While facing your Ford from the front reach behind the grille and then unclip five clips positioned alongside the bottom of the grille - behind the bumper. This will allow you to remove the grille and then under the front of the bumper you will usually need to remove for 10 mm head bolts.
3. Proceed by removing two plastic push-pull clips and two 10 mm head bolts from the top of the bumper and then two 8 mm head bolts from the front of dams. Pull away the bumper carefully after you've removed all the necessary fasteners.
4. Then remove the two plastic pull clips from the front plastic bumper support. You then need to remove four 15 mm head bolts on the front of the chassis rail and two 8 mm head bolts per each side of the air dams.
Mounting
1. Once everything is removed, it's time to install your new Ford nudge bar. This usually starts by installing the brackets that came with it. Then install all the different washers supplied with the nudge bar as well as the spacers. Ensure that everything is level before you mount the nudge bar.
2. When the brackets are instated correctly mount the nudge bar with the help of a friend. Make sure the nudge bar is aligned but don't tighten things completely yet. If you need to trim the plastic air dams in order to fit the brackets then do so but make sure to refit the air dams with the original bolts.
Finishing Touches
1. When you have the nudge bar mounted, bring everything back together and make sure you do so correctly. Take your time here as you don't want to install the wrong bolts in the wrong place. In this stage fo the process you might need to extend the parking sensors of your Ford vehicle. You can use solder joiners and a wire for this together with a cigarette lighter.
2. Once you have everything back on your Ford, check the alignment of the nudge bar and then tighten everything to the correct torque levels. You can check torque level information in the instruction manual of the nudge bar. If everything is correctly installed you're good to go.au
