Thread: ARB Deluxe bullbar fails again

Are all the bolt holes and bolts of the same diameter?.

Sounds like it isn't mounted correctly.

The later arb bar is too close to the body in my opinion. I have been fitting the early version that suits airconditioned models from 2002 on ( and county) to avoid this. And yes the bar doesn't sound like it is mounted correctly.

Jc

Wasn't there a thread in this a little while ago......I'm sure I posted on it after mounting photos were posted up. Cannot find on the iPhone.

Yeah somethings up, I've hit a big male doing 110km/h and there was no damage bar a bent number plate.

I agree, something isn't right, but this is the second bar fitted, and the third failure during a hit, surely 3 different fitters can't get it wrong?

I have a feeling you will find it's not the bullbar but your mounting holes.

You can buy close tolerance bolts but you may need to weld new tubes into your existing mounting holes by the sound of it.

I would say , (only suggesting) that you may have used too high a grade of bolt in your first bar and instead of sacrificing the bolt upon impact the chassis has been compromised.

This is a problem many homies have by using too high a grade of mounting bolt which is actually stronger than the chassis.

You should not use 8.8 grade bolts, perhaps not even 6.5 , but a standard hi tensile bolt.

In effect the bolt should begin to shear before it damages the chassis.

After all my long winded reply it might be prudent to remove your bar and check to see if your mounting holes have been elongated from impact.

Put your bolts in and see how much movement they have in the chassis and also the bull bar.

Any movement you have allows the bull to amplify that movement in a hit.

Hope this is helpful....I have been through it on my D2 previously.

I was taught that the correct way to stop a bar rotating like that was that after it is mounted and the mounting bolts tightened and you are happy with its position, to drill and tap a hole (10 to 12mm) though the mounting plate on each side and through the chassis, then install the last bolt in the threaded hole - as it is tapped and the bolt takes up the hole size exactly, it will stop rotation of the bar in all but a hit that is going to damage your chassis anyway.

I've done this to the last couple of bars I've installed and they are rock solid - even after I gave a stump a good nudge with one.