Bolts On Bullbar

Thanks Muddy, thats one hell of a web site..

Cheers

Richard

What a brilliant website. Thankyou for that. Regards steve

Sorry I posted this to below instead of you..........I always thought for high tensile bolts and been a bullbar they were tightened to a torque setting of F/T ?? Can you snap a high tensile bolt by over tightening it ?? Anything to do with bullbars, towhooks/recovery hooks I have always tightened like my tow bar which is as tight as I can possibly hang off it wedging my feet up against some thing some times using a breaker bar. What about a rattle gun ?? Regards Steve

I always thought for high tensile bolts and been a bullbar they were tightened to a torque setting of F/T ?? Can you snap a high tensile bolt by over tightening it ?? Anything to do with bullbars, towhooks/recovery hooks I have always tightened like my tow bar which is as tight as I can possibly hang off it wedging my feet up against some thing some times using a breaker bar. What about a rattle gun ?? Regards Steve

"You just tighten to they snap than back of half a turn" LOL will have to remember that one! :-)

We always tease my Dad (retired engineer) by discussing how tight a bolt should be done up by how many 'clicks' it should be tensioned! He always cringes.

Wherehegone, you can snap any bolt by over tightening it, it's just that high tensile bolts have to be done up much tighter before snapping.

To answer your question: I'd have thought that any bullbar from a reputable supplier (incl. ARB) would come with a full set of bolts with specific instructions to use only the bolts supplied (there have been tragic consequences from people using incorrectly graded bolts on bullbars). If in doubt, you should contact ARB directly and they should be able to advise exactly what type/size bolts are required for that bullbar on that vehicle. If they are serious about good customer service, they might also be able to provide you with a full set of bolts for your bullbar/vehicle (even if they charge a reasonable amount for them).

Timbo, should mention that I bought the bar second hand off ebay, the bar is in excellent condition but the bolts have a bit of surface rust on them, possibly exposed to maybe sand from beach driving or something I'm not sure. There is no rust of any form on the bar and never had any repairs, extremely happy with the quality of the bar which was made by ARB. I just like to do things write the first time so I would like to replace the bolts knowing that they are new with no fatigue or anything, we plan on doing some big trip in the next year or so. so I don't want anything snapping off due to vibrations and dodgy bolts. The bolts that come with the bar are the original when installed on the blokes prado that I bought it from but my main concern was the quality of the bolts already in my vehicle holding the original bumper bar on my prado. Thanks for the advice and I will ring ARB and see if they have a kit of some form containing all the nuts bolts washers etc. Regards Steve

Hi Steve,

I agree, it's worth doing it right the first time - especially when it comes to things that affect your safety so much.

Even if ARB can't provide a set of bolts, they should at least be able to advise you the types, sizes, number required etc. so you'll at least know what you're looking/asking for if you have to go to a 'bolt shop'.

Does the ARB bar re-use the bolts from the orginal front bumper? If these are the ones you're concerned about the quality, do they look like the original genuine ones from the factory (ie. similar appearance, age, condition etc. to other bolts on the car)?

From Timbo's post:

'I agree, it's worth doing it right the first time - especially when it comes to things that affect your safety so much.'

Couldn't agree more! Yes high tensile bolts are a bit dearer than 'regular' bolts, but well worth renewing all bolts in this case, with the correct grade.

Have worked in a few mining repair workshops.... all bolts removed from any machine were discarded and replaced, due to the fact that no known history of the bolt was available and it could be minutely fractured or the thread stretched.

I recommend, as others have. Find out from ARB the recommended grade of bolts, and if they can supply them. Certainly replace them.
Cheers, Dave