Don't underestimate the poor Land rover design engineer who probably cant respond to criticisms of the Defenders UJ clearances for legal reasons. But let us assume he is a professional automotive engineer charged with improving an ageing body/ chassis and installing a then state of the art engine gearbox and also matching this to an older transfer case design. Then installing the whole box and dice into the existing old body/chassis. There are going to be compromises .
For one he must make the design work for a multitude of purposes ie, varying road surfaces , varying inclines /declines , load carrying, keeping the vehicles appearance the same and yes comfort.
He cannot place designing for a multitude of aftermarket add ons and aftermarket suspension companies above his core brief.
It is my view it is the responsibility of the aftermarket supplier to engineer its products into the vehicle and TEST them.
So when a bulbar/winch is sold for any vehicle this engineering has been done and an advisory is attached ie, ?we advise that heavy duty front springs type xxxx are required to correct the effects of this bulbar will have on your vehicles suspension.? End of story.
Looking thru these posts it is plainly obvious that minimal correction is best , which illustrates the soundness of the original design.
I have just installed a Landrover bullbar similar to ARB, to my Heritage 110 and do not intend changing anything. There will be another 500kg in/on the vehicle for my upcoming Simmo trip and may loose a few mm's in wheel travel but will keep the vehicle otherwise standard for comfort and reliability reasons.
Let you all know how she goes.