[tim80z]

This afternoon I have started trying to fit up my ARB bar to my 2006 Jimny and so for things aren't going as smoothly as expected.

The bar I have is an ARB 3424020 which is the older version of the current winch bar (3424030). This document explains the difference as being a different fitting kit but the same bar. Edit: bar is also slightly different as the 3424020 bar fouls on the front of the chassis rails.

Looking through the ARB instructions there are lots of mentions of 05 models onwards having a different front end and mine does not match the photos in their instructions. My car has this style of chassis rail end.



Should I just cut the brackets to suit my chassis or is there a different kit? Has anyone tried to do this before? ARB in Dubbo is defiant that his is the updated kit and that they have to cut and modify brackets all the time so I should just put up with it and do the same.

- Tim.

[89_tintop]

Pretty sure post 05 was a different bar alltogether due to airbags and the change im front chassis design.. So the new fits the old, but the old doesnt fit the new.

Got any pics on how different the mounts look?

I would not be modifying the brackets if ut was going to be more then taking just a little bit off

[atari4x4]

do these help in anyway... it's a 99 JLX









http://auszookers.com/index.php?name=Fo ... 5&start=30

[tim80z]

Edit: One of the missing photos from the post above.


Thanks guys. Those photos have helped clarify whats going on.

That is a pre 05 front end with the updated mounts that suit pre and post 05 vehicles. You can clearly see the difference in the ends of the chassis rails between that car and mine, you can also see that the mounting bracket in those photos is shaped to clear the newer front end while still being compatible with the older one.

I'll get back to ARB again and see what they have to say.

- Tim.

[zukenutter]

First time I've seen the mounting detail for these bars. I can see how it has some crumple action using the two holes at the end of the chassis rails, but can't help but still think that the airbags must still deploy earlier at a lower impact speed. Much less give in the steel bar than a semi-rigid plastic bumper.

Just my opinion.

[zukenutter]

how'd you go? Or is it a job for next week?

[tim80z]

zukenutter wrote:

how'd you go? Or is it a job for next week?

Definitely a job for next week, or even later.

At this stage I'm waiting for ARB Dubbo to get back to me and then I'll go from there. I don't want to do a bodged up install with the wrong brackets when I could do it properly with the right ones.

- Tim.

[joeblow]

I designed that mounting system to suit both early and later models. If you have an early kit just get your ARB store to get the later model fitting kit for you. Once you have that it's very simple.

As usual, Atari with the goods.

[tim80z]

A little update on this issue. ARB Dubbo are chasing ARB manufacturing/engineering in Melbourne but still seem to be claiming that the kit they supplied was the updated kit despite photographic evidence it was not. ARB Dubbo's latest response "we are still at a loss as to what is available to address this issue".

It seems that because the part number on the sticker on the side of the box and the part number on the instructions of the kit they sent me is the part number for the updated kit, so that's what they believe they have sent me. However the metal work inside the box is the old kit suitable for pre 2005 Jimny's only and not the metal work for the updated mounting kit.

So I've marked up some photos with pretty colour coded bits to show differences between the pre 2005 and 2005 on Jimny front ends and also the differences in the two mounting kits.

A 1999 Jimny with the newer ARB fitting kit installed:


My May 2006 Jimny for comparison:


The brackets from the ARB fitting kit suited to pre 2005 Jimnys only.


The red circles indicate the shortened fold on the bottom edge. This is required to clear the tie down bracket on the left hand side of the car.

The purple circles shoe the difference in the front of the chassis rails between the two models. The pre 2005 has a flat front with the bumper mounts set back and at the top of the rail whereas the 2005 and later have the bumper mounts centered vertically on the chassis rail and protruding forward.

The green circles show the different cut out in the mounting brackets. This change is to accommodate the protruding bumper mounts on the 2005 and later Jimny's.

Finally the yellow circles show a change in the captive nuts at the top of the mount. Pre 2005 fitting kits have nuts welded on to the bracket whereas the 2005 and later mounts use a cage nut.

- Tim.

[joeblow]

Feel free to post the PM I sent you.

[tim80z]

joeblow wrote:

Feel free to post the PM I sent you.

I'll do that as it may be of benefit to others at some stage.

- Tim.

joeblow wrote:

6171381 is the old fitting kit number. A quick look on our distribution system states that the Jimny bar 3424030 uses the fitting kit number 6172495 of which two are shown in stock. The individual brackets are part No. 3756172L & R.

[tim80z]

Picked up the new, correct fitting kit today and everything looks right this time.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to mount it up through the week otherwise it'll have to be next weekend.

- Tim.

[tim80z]

89_tintop wrote:

Pretty sure post 05 was a different bar alltogether due to airbags and the change im front chassis design.. So the new fits the old, but the old doesnt fit the new.

Turns out this is correct despite the ARB document I found that seemed to suggest otherwise. I've mounted the bar now but had to cut a bit of the bar out where it was fouling on the front of the chassis rails.

So, summary of what I've learned (may help other people buying second hand bars):

Newer model winch bar 3424030, uses fitting kit number 6172495 and will suit any Jimny pre or post 05.

Older model winch bar 3424020, will bolt straight up to a pre Nov 05 Jimny using fitting kit number 6171381 (fitting kit 6172495 would also work). This bar can be made to fit on a Jimny made after Nov 05 by using the fitting kit from the newer winch bar (6172495) and removing a small amount of the bar where it fouls the front chassis rails. The exact amount to remove can be seen by using the mounting bracket as a marking template.

Bottom line is if you get a choice take the 3424030 bar with the 6172495 fitting kit as this will fit anything.

- Tim.

[atari4x4]

now make with the fitted pics

[tim80z]

atari4x4 wrote:

now make with the fitted pics

- Tim.

[89_tintop]

Looks good mate..

[jimny_timmy]

I'll be fitting one to mine next week... How long (after the suff around lol) did it take to fit yours?

[tim80z]

jimny_timmy wrote:

I'll be fitting one to mine next week... How long (after the suff around lol) did it take to fit yours?

Surprisingly not long at all. It took about an hour or so to remove the old bumper and get the mounting brackets attached to the chassis rails. Then maybe another hour or so of fitting the bar, adjusting alignment etc and finally about half an hour to do the indicator wiring.

Because of all the stuffing around I had to do everything was broken up across several days so I'm guessing a bit at the timing but I'd say if you allowed 2.5 to 3 hours for start to finish you should be right.

- Tim.

[zuk85]

is there anyways of modifying the old brackets to fit?
seems I have this problem, old bar and brackets. And I have a late 06 plated jimny.

any chance of seeing what you had to cut out from the bar??

[jimny_timmy]

Weren't 06 onwards made with airbags?

[zuk85]

yea i have the air bags.
but if he could cut the older bar to clear the chassis rail but with newer brackets.

then it should be ok to elongate the centre hole to clear the lump on the end of the rails and trim back that fold on the bottom of bracket to clear the tow points, just strengthen them a tad more.

or is the bracket completely different alltogether mounts and such.

[jimny_timmy]

zuk85 wrote:

yea i have the air bags.
but if he could cut the older bar to clear the chassis rail but with newer brackets.

then it should be ok to elongate the centre hole to clear the lump on the end of the rails and trim back that fold on the bottom of bracket to clear the tow points, just strengthen them a tad more.

or is the bracket completely different alltogether mounts and such.

It's illegal to modify that bar to suit your vehicle cause you have air bags, same as you can't make one for scratch... Sucks I know but them the rules

[zuk85]

damn rules ha ha ha all good then

how much did the new brackets costs does anyone know?

[jimny_timmy]

zuk85 wrote:

damn rules ha ha ha all good then

how much did the new brackets costs does anyone know?

Yeah I know I nearly had a new bar for $500 but I could have it for that reason... Give arb a call... Shouldn't be too much you wouldn't think... Is the bar the right one for your/our model?

[zuk85]

zuk85 wrote:

is there anyways of modifying the old brackets to fit?
seems I have this problem, old bar and brackets. And I have a late 06 plated jimny.

any chance of seeing what you had to cut out from the bar??

[jimny_timmy]

Ah I misread that lol my bad, that bar is illegal too then

[zuk85]

pfft what they dont know and can hardley see cant hurt them lol ha ha ha.

[joeblow]

zuk85 wrote:

pfft what they dont know and can hardley see cant hurt them lol ha ha ha.

I know.

[jimny_timmy]

zuk85 wrote:

pfft what they dont know and can hardley see cant hurt them lol ha ha ha.

While this is slightly true, it may hurt you or one of your passengers if the air bags don't go off, and I would imagine void your ctp and any other insurance.... That's some pretty big risk taking dude.

[tim80z]

zuk85 wrote:

any chance of seeing what you had to cut out from the bar??

I missed this until now.

Anyway, here's a photo of the drivers side bracket.


And agin with the section that I removed highlighted. I used the mounting bracket as a template.


You could remove the tab at the end of the chassis rail instead of cutting the bar but I wanted the option of being able to reinstall the original bumper.

- Tim.