Ford Repair: Front end wobble due to heavy grill guard, gas consumption, center of gravity

Question
My husband mounted a very heavy metal grill guard to the front of my 4 wheel drive Explorer (2002) Since then, I consume gas twice as fast and the front end seems to wobble just when cruising at normal speeds, but if I break suddenly at higher speeds, I practically loose control of the vehicle as it pulls and bounces to a stop. This grill guard was not even made for an Explorer, but he altered it to make it fit. Is this dangerous? Not to mention the additional gas consumption.
Thank you,
Beth

Answer
Beth-

  Well...ummm...yeah.  Yeah, it's dangerous.  At least from what you've described to me, that'd be my opinion.  I applaude your husband's ingenuity in getting the guard to fit, but if it's causing stability problems at driving speeds it should probably go.  My guess in altering the guard's mounting points your husband also altered it's center of gravity and thus it's ability to balance itself on the front of the car.  Now you've got a heavy piece of steel on the front of the car that's unevenly weighted.  No way can that be good.  Hope this helps.

Steve