[Stone]

Hey guys I just received my AEM Brute Force today and a buddy and I tried to install it after we got off work, but as we were doing it we ran into a problem and quit because it was getting dark and we were doing it illegally (don't ask its really stupid). Anyways we've followed the directions up until the point where it seems you have to take out the wheel well guards in order to take the rivets out of the body so you can re-mount them onto the black AEM metal base. This may sound stupid but we took out almost every screw and poppit that there was underneath the front left wheel well and we still couldn't get the rubber well protector out in order to get behind the rivets that you have to pop out of place. Frustrated we put the stock one back in and decided we'd have another go at it when there's more light and we can do it in a legal environment.


How do you get the wheel wells out of the way so that you can get underneath there to pop out the little rivet things?? Those that don't know what this is its the little things that are kind of like built in cable ties that hold most of the left side electrical wiring in place on the frame/body. If I could get some guidance that would be awesome!! Thanks guys!

 

[dank78]

When I installed my Volant, i took the advice of everyone on the forum and didn't remove the wheel well liner. If I recall correctly, I unscrewed everything I could, then just lifted up until it came off. I'm pretty sure this is how I got mine apart, but others may chime in to confirm or tell me I'm on crack. Good luck!!

 

[tholmes]

Some people didn't bother with taking the wheel well guard out. You can either just leave it in place and allow the two bolts that the factory airbox had attached do the work and hold the shield in place, or you can pop out the clips that the harness is attached to and reach under and to the right if you are looking at the engine and attach a couple of the bolts. I think there are four total. I ended up only attaching three. I went with the latter. I just popped out the clips, reached down and then in with one arm, held the nut in place, and then screwed in the bolt. I had to stand on a milk crate to contort that way. I didn't even tighten them all the way down since they are locking nuts, just enought to get them "locked". It hardly moves around in there.

The hood being down will hold the shield in place. I only put in the three because I am a little anal retentive. Othewise, you really need to remove the front wheel to get it done. Then, it takes two people, one to be under the wheel well and the other to be inside the engine bay. It will feel like you are breaking the guard, but you can pry it down far enough to get it done.

 

[Stone]

But what about the gray little rivet things that hold the harness down?? Just a flathead screwdriver and a lil muscle?

 

[bbomar]

I used zip lines(ties) on mine. Works great.

 

[tholmes]

Exactly. Screwdriver pops them off (as does a pair of needle nose pliers). There are then four extra holes to zip tie the wire harness with. Bbomar has a great point of just zip tying the shield instead of bolts. Either way, the two airbox bolts are what really pull the weight in this setup.

 

[Chevy4740]

If you use zip ties, change them once every 2 years. Why, trust me.

 

[bbomar]

If you use zip ties, change them once every 2 years. Why, trust me.

I would check them on a regular basis, as vibration and metal have ill affects on them.......

Oh, and they become brittle on top of that....

 

[helomech]

I did it by myself and it wasn't very hard. I personally would not tie wrap my intake in. It has been 2 years since I put mine in so I don't remember exactly how to remove the rivet things. I think you just pull the center peice out and then it just comes out.

 

[Stone]

Hey thanks a lot guys!! I just got it installed tonight and I was able to get a buddy to help me out so we didn't have to take the wheel wells off to get the bolts on! That thing makes the truck sound great and adds a lil extra oomph, not that the Titan really needed it!

 

[tholmes]

Glad to hear it. Enjoy!