In this article, you will learn about how to choose a car Grilles. You will also learn what kinds exist and from which materials they are made.

The radiator grille, mounted on the car, is one of the first details of a car that passers-by pay attention to. Its appearance allows you to judge the presentability and taste of the owner of the car. The main functions of the radiator grille are the protection and cooling of the radiator elements during the movement of the car. In order to choose the grate that will be installed on your machine, you need to understand their types.

Various grilles for radiators are available today. There are sports grills, lightweight carbon, there are more expensive chrome, and also status. For setting on off-road cars more durable grilles are produced, which primarily perform protective functions.

The Automotive Industry Produces the Following Types of Radiator Protection

The mesh grills: very luxurious and elegant lattice. They are made by crossing strips of metal or plastic. They have a very simple design, but at the same time, you can choose patterns for every taste. Due to the diversity of the assortment, this kind is more popular amid the grids.

• The billet grills: this type of grill is the most durable and durable and this type is the most effective since they consist of thick metal or plastic strips. They are located parallel to each other, horizontally and even vertically. For example, horizontal steel is more common in trucks and fast cars, and vertical patterns are usually associated with luxury. Lattices of blanks can be made of various materials, such as pure aluminum.
• The custom grills: Car owners are not limited to the types of car grills discussed above. Such types are created independently or purchased from suppliers on the Internet.

 From What Materials Car Grills are Made

• Grills made of aluminum. Aluminum has excellent resistance to destruction from external factors, sufficient strength, and flexibility. This is a universal material for the manufacture of a tuning component, such as a radiator grille. Due to the plasticity of this material, it can be subjected to various technological operations to give the desired shape. When making a product, magnesium or silicon is added to the aluminum, and sometimes an alloy of the three named metals is produced. Magnesium is necessary for giving sufficient rigidity and increases the strength characteristics of the lattice. A styling detail made of aluminum with magnesium and silicon added is sometimes used on jeep radiators.
• Stainless steel grilles. In the production of radiator grids, stainless steel is one of the most popular materials. This alloy has high corrosion resistance and strength. The anticorrosive properties of stainless steel for the manufacture of radiator grids are increased, thanks to the addition of chromium. In addition, it is also beautiful, because chrome glitters in the sun.
• Lattices made of ABS plastic. It is a material that is also sometimes used for tuning a car. ABS plastic is used to make many car parts. This material is very light and rigid, although not as durable as aluminum or stainless steel. Durability and anti-corrosion properties allow ABS plastic to be used in the manufacture of radiator grilles. In addition, it is worth noting the ability to paint the radiator in the color of the car, or to give personality, creating a contrasting combination of colors.
• Carbon lattices. The most expensive material for making a grille for a radiator is carbon. For those who want to emphasize the presentability of their car, this is what you need. This material has excellent durability and strength. Parts made of carbon fiber have a fairly low weight.

Each of the types of grilles for the protection of the radiator has both pluses and minuses. Choose the owner of the car. We only note that it does not matter what form this car tuning element will be, its main function is to protect the radiator from getting foreign objects and cooling the car parts during the trip.

What Types of Coatings Can Manufacturers Use?

Manufacturers cover the radiator grille or some of its parts with chrome, masking the plastic material of the grill under the metal. Actually, the process of painting the radiator grill is divided into four stages: matting, priming, grinding, applying auto enamel and varnish.

A good way to protect the surface of the grill and give it a unique texture is painting with immersion printing (aqua printing). The technology of applying this coating is as follows. A special membrane with a pattern is placed on the water surface. Then the solvent is sprayed from above, the film loses its integrity and passes into a liquid, viscous state, without losing the texture. The prepared part is dipped into a container and the coloring film envelopes its surfaces. Next, the part is washed and dried. Coatings applied in this way perfectly protect the grate from corrosion and physical damage.

Some manufacturers use the method of chemical metallization. The grate is grounded, then the chemical components of the coating are applied step by step by spraying. Chemical metallization increases the strength of parts. In some cases, this method allows you to handle plastic parts.

Which Companies Provide the Custom Grills?

When choosing a radiator grille, the car owner can show his imagination and set an individual security detail. To do this, you can also use the services of a designer. In the automotive industry, recently there has been a trend towards an increase in the output of motor cars. The higher is the power, the higher is the temperature of heating the machine parts. Therefore, the width of the grating covering the radiator is important, in order to increase the airflow area. This is also an important factor that should be taken into account when carrying out car tuning. We present to your attention five online stores where you can order a grill to your liking: Autoplex, Royalty Core, Zunsport, S & H Sheet Metal & Fabricating Co, and Metalex.

Is There a Significant Difference Between the Factory and Custom Grills?

Actually, this question has no concrete answer. It all depends on the brand of the car. On more modern models, there is a good protection of the heatsink, so there is no need for additional protection. The custom grille sometimes will be just a decoration and a waste of money. But there is a downside to the coin. On the contrary, the factory grille can act only as an element of decor. For example, it will have a brand logo on it, and there will be no protective function. Simply put, each car owner will have his own answer based on his needs.
In any case, replacing the grill for any reason, whether installing a tuning grill or simply as a replacement for a damaged one, the operation isn’t very difficult. It’s more difficult to choose a new grate, because it can be made poorly or covered with bad paint. At selection, it is necessary to select a lattice strictly on model of a car and to examine it for presence of damages.

Which Cars Need the Custom Grills Most Often?

Most often, custom grills are made for owners of off-road vehicles or sports cars. Similar cars need the protection due to special driving conditions such as driving off-road or a race track.

Are There Rear Grilles for The Car?

Actually, such an arrangement of the auto grill is quite possible. The grille can be used as an air filter in the rear of the engine for your truck.