Ok so I'm sure this question has been asked in the past, I tried searching but came up empty handed... Anyone have a walk through on how to remove the pony emblem from the front grille without causing any damage? I just want to paint it and pop it back in!

 

It's held in by some "clips" that attach to several posts on the badge. The clips are rings that grip the badge posts, and are one use only for the most part. It's nearly impossible to get them off without ruining either the badge or the retainers.

I just plastic welded mine back in after painting.

 

Yeah, bad design. I replaced mine with a black pony and just cut the mounting posts below the clips, reattached with double-sided tape and am hoping for the best. So far, so good.

 

If it falls off look for something called devcon plastic welder. It's a very strong adhesive designed to bond plastics to a variety of materials. A good permanent solution.

 

Thanks guys, I was afraid that was going to be the answer.. If I cut the clips off the back do either of you know where to find replacement clips? I thought of bonding plastic to plastic but I would like to keep it as stock as possible in case I get sick of the painted emblem, don't want to have to replace the grille for a $45 piece of plastic.

 

No, I don't. I would cut the metal retainer clips, then when you reinstall, use the plastic welder on the posts that stick into the grille. Don't forget put it anywhere else but the back where the posts stick through. If removal is required, just grind them down which will destroy the emblem but leave the grille unharmed.

 

Pretty sure you can buy a plastic cover that you can paint and stick it over the stock pony. My 06 came with a blue one that I took off.

 

All the fastener are, are several "washer" looking fasteners with slits cut in them from the middle outward, but not all the way through. They are "cupped" like a contact lens. You can pry them off with two small flathead screwdrivers on opposite sides, then if they bend, pound them flat with a hammer then slide them back over the posts when you reattach the emblem.

Post 5 here