2010 Jeep Liberty KK Install... Please Help, I'm stuck

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:04 pm

So, I'll start by saying I thought this would be a 20 minute simple install on my 2010 Jeep Liberty Sport.
As it turns out, I can NOT (for the life of me) find the mounting points on the Liberty. The Jeep's lower portion of the grill (not the upper primary grill, the lower one) has two spots, one on each top corner, where it looks as though tow hooks would go (and everyone says 'just mount it to where those go'), but I can't even get this lower grill insert out of the bumper.

Frustrated beyond belief :banghead:

... spent 1.5 hr looking for darn holes.......
Please, if anyone can help- I've checked the How To KK forum here... in the armor section and bumper section there is nothing about bull bars. Its a Westin Bull Bar. The instructions are useless.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:14 pm

Do you need to remove the bumper to install the bull bar bracketry?

If you want to email me pics of the brackets and bull bar I might be able to help you. Take a good pic of the instructions too. ATHFABRICATION@hotmail.com

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Tue Jun 14, 2016 7:26 pm

At The Helm wrote:

Do you need to remove the bumper to install the bull bar bracketry?

If you want to email me pics of the brackets and bull bar I might be able to help you. Take a good pic of the instructions too. ATHFABRICATION@hotmail.com

Thats what I'm trying to figure out. I clicked the link to your facebook page, if it's Ok (it'd be quicker) I can message you there for the time being, and then upload the results once we figure this out here! (my name is Ryan, msg'd ya on your FB page linked in your signature)

KrazyKK · **Joined:** Sun Mar 13, 2016 5:19 pm **Posts:** 87

I know exactly what you are talking about. The only way to remove the black vent thing beneath the license plate is to take your bumper off.

I just cut parts of mine off so I could fit my brush guard's mounting brackets (plus wrench & my hand) in there. You are right though, the tow hook holes are where most of the bull bars/brush guards/grille guards will get bolted on.

I really didn't feel like taking the bumper off to remove it but I may indeed be a bad influence.

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 10:06 am

KrazyKK wrote:

I know exactly what you are talking about. The only way to remove the black vent thing beneath the license plate is to take your bumper off.

I just cut parts of mine off so I could fit my brush guard's mounting brackets (plus wrench & my hand) in there. You are right though, the tow hook holes are where most of the bull bars/brush guards/grille guards will get bolted on.

I really didn't feel like taking the bumper off to remove it but I may indeed be a bad influence.

Seems we have the same mentality- something this simple (mount n bolt) is frustrating the heck out of me... So, I sawed off both corner pieces to the lower grill, where the tow hooks would go, because I'm not ripping my whole bumper off if I dont have too-- those fender tabs are a nightmare. However, even with this done I laid there under the vehicle, sat in front of it... checked just about every visible bolting hole possible and NONE of them properly lined up with the brackets for the Westin brackets (yes theyre the correct model/part no)... but they have to fit, because others have done this?

I saw somewhere that there are plastic almost cubic covers that may be behind the bumper, covering the possible mounting points for the tow hooks? My vehicle looks to have never had tow hooks... is this the case? Ill try to provide pictures later.

Either way, thanks guys for the insight- really appreciate it. :5SHOTS:

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 12:38 pm

For the thoughts of it installing from the tow hooks, out of the lower grill insert... that doesnt look to be the case with the westin bull bar? This is the exact one that I have; it looks like it comes out from under the lower valance. Hmm. :dizzy:

^Definitely doesn't look like its mounted from the tow hook locations (lower grill insert sides). It looks as though it comes from under the front.
Thoughts?

^Especially from that angle, it can't come from behind the lower grill because you can clearly see the bull bar/where it mounts go under the bumper.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 3:41 pm

It looks like it only uses only two of the six tow hook holes according to the instructions you sent me... I honestly can't believe that's all they use to mount those bars!

Im 99.9% sure the square hole in the diagram is the same one I pictured for you, just the diagram is the passenger side and my pic is the driver side. How the brackets drop down below the bumper I'm not sure.

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 3:52 pm

At The Helm I saw your fb message this morning regarding that! Thanks for posting it here so when this is all resolved hopefully I'll be the last to struggle this much mounting the darn thing.

I'm off at 5, so you'll be sure to see some updates here... if i get anywhere. I definitely thought those had to be the mounting spots; problem is there is no way (with the bumper on) for me to get a bolt in above the one whole, and the bar and bolt combo itself look too long to fit inside that square opening to shimmy it properly. I believe I tries that yesterday but I'll try again and report back.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 4:11 pm

Try angling the bolt plate in when pushing it in from below..
You wouldn't be able to install that bolt plate from above with the bumper off because that crossmember is sealed on top.

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Wed Jun 15, 2016 8:08 pm

At The Helm for the win. Ok, I'll do a brief write up below, accompanied by images since the instructions are really only useful (for a Liberty) for the pictures of how the Westin Bull Bar actually assembles.

To begin, the lower grill HAS to be cut, theres no way around it. It's cut in two columns off on each side (leaving the middle two columns). As seen, in the picture below, the bracket will not fit (no matter how you shimmy it) otherwise. And my problem was, you actually cant even see the second bolt holes until you cut the upper plastic portion of the lower grill off (look like theyd be close to the wheels on each side, because there are visible holes there... NOPE).

So naturally, the first step is taking a hack saw to these little grill sections. :twisted:

They are extremely thin plastic and can be cut through like butter. Took a lot of stress out here. :ROTFL:

But aside from just the columns being removed from each side, you also HAVE to remove an upper shroud or the brackets cant mount up to the frame holes. Pic below shows how I cut around the under/upper side of the lower grill to allow room for the Westin Bracket. Line up the proper bolts (one is a literal metal bar about 3" long with two screw ends off each side, slide it up and in sideways until its over the rear hole, then press it in through the frame holes)... same for each side (the driver side has the rad hoses in the way, we'll get there in a sec... and no I didn't cut the mesh cover over the tubes, it was actually already like that). Hand tighten the nuts on the ends of the bolts to make sure they dont fall off; don't fully tighten them yet.

Simply assemble the attachment brackets onto the Westin Bull Bar (literally one big washer and screw for each side), not fully tightened, allowing for the attachment brackets to move freely without falling off. Hold this up to your Liberty's front bumper to make sure the attachment brackets line up with your now mounted bull bar brackets on your vehicle. If they line up, FULLY tighten the mounting brackets ON YOUR VEHICLE. The driver side is a p.i.t.a. because of the hoses, but just use some man-power, hold em' back and tighten them:

From the front/non under view, the brackets installed look like this (below). This was BEFORE I cut the second row of the lower grill off on the driver side. Only the passenger side bracket is mounted in this photo:

Once you're done playing with the saw and cutting the stupid plastic lower grill (again I DIDNT remove this because I did NOT want to REMOVE MY ENTIRE BUMPER) you're at the easy part. Sit nice and close to the Jeep, hold the Westin Bull Bar in your lap and fit it up against the two mounted brackets on your vehicle, making sure they still line up... Stuff the appropriate washers on the bolts, and thread the bolts through the mounting adapters into the Jeeps now mounted Westin Bull Bar Brackets. Rench n' rachet time... you know the drill!

Now, either remove your lower valance, or push that lower most plastic valance back... it bends, trust me. Hold it back or have a friend hold it for you, and while elevating your bullbar into its proper vertical alignment NOW tighten the backs of the bolts we previously allowed loose for the bull bar's attachment brackets (not the ones on the jeep).

The most satisfying part; Remove the stainless steel protective film. Enjoy every second of it.

Enjoy! This was an EXTREMELY easy install, once my new Jeep friend above helped me locate the proper brackets, and once you figure out how to properly shimmy the studded bar into the frame of your Jeep. Basic tool set assembly.

I disliked the stainless steel (didn't match), so I plastidipped that black with some glossifier on top. Heres the final product! (again, I know many of you hate on the hood applique; I like the look of it. If they made a vented hood, I'd probably own that instead).

HUGE thank you to At the HELM for taking the time to look into this with me; Much appreciated. Love knowing a community like this exists-- and I hope this might help others who get stuck on what should have been the most simple modification ever :5SHOTS:

KrazyKK · **Joined:** Sun Mar 13, 2016 5:19 pm **Posts:** 87

Is that the hood applique sold for the wrangler? If so, could you take a picture from a top view? I was actually just looking at those the other day.

Your bullbar looks good too on a great looking Liberty.

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Thu Jun 16, 2016 9:40 am

KrazyKK wrote:

Is that the hood applique sold for the wrangler? If so, could you take a picture from a top view? I was actually just looking at those the other day.

Your bullbar looks good too on a great looking Liberty.

Yep, its only made for Wranglers- thats the one 'BESTOP Hood Applique / Glare Deflector' or whatever they call it.
To be honest, I thought it would have been made of a much more sturdy material... was disappointing when I received it and it was essentially just a thicker sort of plastic with 3M metal adhesive underneath.

Thats not worth the $120 or whatever they ask imo.

However, I didn't buy mine full price or on their website; there happened to be one "like new - open box" for $69 on Amazon (coincidentally thats exactly how I just got my bullbar too!). So I figured that was worth it because for $69, even if I hated it, that is chump change for any car mod. At full price... Eh I probably wouldn't buy it.

Yep, I'm at work until 5- first thing I'm out I'll take a picture for you. Mine is unpainted (you're not supposed to paint them), but I'm going to plasti dip it today because I'd prefer it flat black rather than glossy. :mrgreen:

Check back in a few hours and I'll have closer pictures posted KrazyKK! Thanks for the kind words about my Liberty!

ArmoredKK · **Posted:** Mon Jun 20, 2016 12:03 pm

Sorry for the delay Kra

KrazyKK wrote:

...could you take a picture from a top view? I was actually just looking at those the other day.

Hey friend, sorry for the delay; crazy weekend (more jeep parts came in hah!)
Anyways, heres an overhead picture of the hood applique. I'm plasti-dipping it today, finally. It has a sort of non smooth/textured look to it. You can kind of see it.

(sorry for the debris and water spots... just finished raining)

KrazyKK · **Joined:** Sun Mar 13, 2016 5:19 pm **Posts:** 87

Thanks for posting that picture man. I actually like that hood applique quite a bit. I think it would look good on my white KK. I may pick one up sometime

2010 Jeep Liberty KK Install... Please Help, I'm stuck

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