Brush Guard Problem

[Sharkster]

Today I got my H3 brush guard (original GM part) and took the car to a garage to have it mounted to the car.

Once the brush guard was mounted, I noticed that the top corner of the big vertical bars (the ones which are mounted behind the tow hooks) almost touches the chrome grille on the left side, while standing away from the chrome grill for almost 1.5 cm on the right side.

I can easily put a finger behind the right vertical bar, but on the left bar, I can't.

How's the fitment of your brushguard? Does it fit 100% perfect, like it looks on the pictures? Or are there inregularities in the distance to the chrome grill?

I guess my brushguard is somewhat faulty..., but I want to be sure. Is there a way to fix it (by e.g. bending it or so...)? I can't just send it back, since I ordered it from the US (I'm in Germany). Well... any help would be apreciated.

[Sharkster]

Today I got my H3 brush guard (original GM part) and took the car to a garage to have it mounted to the car.

Once the brush guard was mounted, I noticed that the top corner of the big vertical bars (the ones which are mounted behind the tow hooks) almost touches the chrome grille on the left side, while standing away from the chrome grill for almost 1.5 cm on the right side.

I can easily put a finger behind the right vertical bar, but on the left bar, I can't.

How's the fitment of your brushguard? Does it fit 100% perfect, like it looks on the pictures? Or are there inregularities in the distance to the chrome grill?

I guess my brushguard is somewhat faulty..., but I want to be sure. Is there a way to fix it (by e.g. bending it or so...)? I can't just send it back, since I ordered it from the US (I'm in Germany). Well... any help would be apreciated.

[GaryW]

I have the same problem with my brushguard. I noticed that most of the one's the dealer had when I purchased my H3 last month had the same issue. I am not sure there is a fix, I was going to have the dealer try to adjust it but was afraid that would end up looking worse.
Gary

[timgco]

Check (compare) the brackets dwon by the tow loops and than follow that up to the main stays on teh brush guard. It can be bent. Ours was off a little and I bent the bottom bracket a little. (PS SD only)

[Sharkster]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by timgco:
Check (compare) the brackets dwon by the tow loops and than follow that up to the main stays on teh brush guard. It can be bent. Ours was off a little and I bent the bottom bracket a little. (PS SD only) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Thanks for the input. What does "PS SD" mean? (remeber, I'm German) http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

What tool did you use to bend the bracket? Or are you Arnold Schwarzenegger? http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[banshee13]

Mine came from the manufacturer installed and fits perfectly

[f5fstop]

These are shipped as regular production accessories (RPA) they are not installed at the plant. When the vehicle's VIN is scanned at the end of assembly, this triggers GM Parts to ship whatever RPA's were ordered for the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer then installs when the vehicle is received.

Mine fit perfectly. A lot depends on the technician, and if he really cares.

[Sharkster]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:
Mine fit perfectly. A lot depends on the technician, and if he really cares. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I don't think that it could be an install problem, since to me it appears that there's only one way to mount them anyway.

I think that it's got to do something with the guard itself (as timgco and GaryW above confirmed).

[f5fstop]

I guess what I meant is that after installation, a good tech will check the obvious places for differences in gaps and bend as necessary. A "don't give a damn tech" will install, not inspect, and ship it out the door.

[timgco]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sharkster:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:
Mine fit perfectly. A lot depends on the technician, and if he really cares. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I don't think that it could be an install problem, since to me it appears that there's only one way to mount them anyway.

I think that it's got to do something with the guard itself (as timgco and GaryW above confirmed). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

PS SD = Passagierseite. Besser?

[Sharkster]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by timgco:
PS SD = Passagierseite. Besser? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Yea... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Though the accurate German term would be "Beifahrerseite". For some reason, in Germany, only busses, planes, trains and ships have "passengers" (= Passagiere). Cars "only" have "co-drivers" (= Beifahrer). http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

So you only bent the bracket? No need to try to bend the guard itself in your case?

[timgco]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sharkster:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by timgco:
PS SD = Passagierseite. Besser? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Yea... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Though the accurate German term would be "Beifahrerseite". For some reason, in Germany, only busses, planes, trains and ships have "passengers" (= Passagiere). Cars "only" have "co-drivers" (= Beifahrer). http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

So you only bent the bracket? No need to try to bend the guard itself in your case? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

On the driver's side it was fine. I was momre afraid to bend the brushguard and making it weak by a possible "kink." So I opted for bending the bracket jsut enough to correct. You have to take the bracket off and have it put in a press. It's tough.

Viel Glueck,
Tim.

[Sewie]

Mines off a little bit but I didn't even notice it until someone pointed it out.

[Sharkster]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by timgco:
On the driver's side it was fine. I was more afraid to bend the brushguard and making it weak by a possible "kink." So I opted for bending the bracket jsut enough to correct. You have to take the bracket off and have it put in a press. It's tough. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>You took off the brackets from the guard? Are we talking of the fork brackets which are at the lower end of the vertical bars and which are mounted behind the towing hooks?

I thought these fork brackets were welded to the guard. Or did you mean "take the brush guard off the car"?

Sorry for asking for the details, but I don't do it myself (I got two left hands, when it comes to work on cars... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif), but need to give the guys at the garage a detailled description on how to do it. So I want to avoid any misunderstandings.

[f5fstop]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by timgco:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sharkster:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:
Mine fit perfectly. A lot depends on the technician, and if he really cares. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>I don't think that it could be an install problem, since to me it appears that there's only one way to mount them anyway.

I think that it's got to do something with the guard itself (as timgco and GaryW above confirmed). </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

PS SD = Passagierseite. Besser? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

http://hometown.aol.com/f5fstop01/images/bong.gif

[Sharkster]

LOL... no, that doesn't have anything to do with drugs. It's just German... http://www.elcova.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[RMSAZ]

I just installed a GM OEM brushguard and it fits perfectly, although I had to take off the front bumper assembly due to two small screws holding the tow hook bracket on from inside the assembly.

You may want to check to see if the insulator gaskets are installed between the bumper assembly and brushguards on both sides. This would cause misalignment.