ARB Install Question

tbst

tbst

New member
So started installing ARB today. Everything was smooth and then I ran out of daylight. However, as I was running out of daylight, I tried to install the actual bumper to the impact absorbers. I ran into a slight problem. How is the bumper supposed to connect to the impact absorbers? All the install threads do not seem to have the design I have. There are squares on the impact absorbers and these square nuts with tabs that are supposed to push into the square cut outs in the impact absorbers? If you do this the bolts don't fit through...And they pop out if you try and force them.

The arrows below show what I am talking about in my ramble. What to do?

I feel like I am missing hardware. Or missing something.

photo1.jpg~original
 
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did you already cut the frame rails? I say that like I know what I'm talking about; trust me I don't. Mine was already on the 4runner when I bought it. I can take some pictures of mine in the morning and post them if that would help?
josh
 
There you go and that daylight thing again. No wiring this time though. Wish I could help, but know I'm available for emotional support. Plus I have a beer if that helps.
 
I'd heard about this (design change), but yours are the first pictures I've seen. There is definitely a big difference. Where yours has the square holes, mine has round holes w/nuts welded to the opposite side of the surface you can see in your picture.

On mine, you put the bumper on the mounts, then the bolts go in from the direction your arrows are pointing, and thread into the welded nuts on the opposite side.

The ARB directions are horrible to boot. I'm curious, what was the part # on the packaging your bumper came in? The part # on mine was 3423020.

These are links to all the install threads I have, just in case any of them help:

ARB on!!!pics! - YotaTech Forums

Bull Bar Install (mine has this style of mount)

Expeditions West: Tacoma ARB bumper, front bull bar and winch mount (same mounts as mine again)

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5I...BhZS00NzllLTg4ODktZWViNWI2MzQ5NDU3/edit?pli=1 (alternate link > http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17771739/ARB_bumper_install_3rd-gen_4runner.pdf )

http://store.arbusa.com/Assets/PDF/3423020i.pdf

How to install an ARB for dummies - YotaTech Forums

ARB application guide for 4Runners: http://www.arbusa.com/uploads/PDF/accessorizeYourRig/toyota4Runner.pdf
 
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Mine has welded nuts to where those square holes are. Do you have square nuts that sit in there that you bolt to? If so that sounds like a total PIA and hope to God they wouldn't have changed it to that, but it sure looks like it.
 
So you saying that you didn't get these in the package? Yes these just clips on to the holes you're referring to, there should also be bolts specific for these nuts.

You should've gotten a handful of these
nuts.jpg~original


I opted to use my own hardware by welding the nuts instead and using some grade 8 bolts in its place. This is how those nuts go on the absorber
41.jpg~original
 
RunninInGA said:
There you go and that daylight thing again. No wiring this time though. Wish I could help, but know I'm available for emotional support. Plus I have a beer if that helps.
Click to expand...

If I can't get it to go on I will need more than one beer. May have to pawn that iPod and buy cases of beer. :)

t4r4life said:
post pic of all the hardware and i can help you out, ive installed a buncha arb bumpers
Click to expand...

See blcktpgsr below.

BigFishAllDay said:
I'd heard about this (design change), but yours are the first pictures I've seen. There is definitely a big difference. Where yours has the square holes, mine has round holes w/nuts welded to the opposite side of the surface you can see in your picture.

On mine, you put the bumper on the mounts, then the bolts go in from the direction your arrows are pointing, and thread into the welded nuts on the opposite side.

The ARB directions are horrible to boot. I'm curious, what was the part # on the packaging your bumper came in? The part # on mine was 3423020.
Click to expand...

Yes, same part #. At first I felt slow because for everyone else it seemed to easy.

Thanks for the links. I saw most of those and they all have the design that makes sense, the welded bolt.

blcktpgsr posted the hardware that I have below.

The "new" design is asinine. For several reasons. The first being that you have to put those stupid square tabs in the mounts. That is fine. however, once you get the bumper on the vehicle, you have to push the nuts into those tabs. Guess what happens? They fly out and then you have to take the bumper off again.


Baja Runner said:
Mine has welded nuts to where those square holes are. Do you have square nuts that sit in there that you bolt to? If so that sounds like a total PIA and hope to God they wouldn't have changed it to that, but it sure looks like it.
Click to expand...

Yes. Fixed something that wasn't broken and now it is broken.

blcktpgsr said:
So you saying that you didn't get these in the package? Yes these just clips on to the holes you're referring to, there should also be bolts specific for these nuts.

You should've gotten a handful of these
nuts.jpg~original


I opted to use my own hardware by welding the nuts instead and using some grade 8 bolts in its place. This is how those nuts go on the absorber
Click to expand...

I got those. It is just almost impossible to line them up AND push those bolts through.

I can't weld worth a damn, however had I known that this was going to be an issue, I think I could have take welded those on there.

Thanks for the hardware pictures though.
 
Can't you somehow get the bottom holes lines up and bolted?, this way you can visually get under and inspect how far off the remaining two holes for the absorber and the bumper are in relation with one another.

You may just need to file one side of the square hole to line it with the other.
 
Mine has the 10mm square nuts and went on with no problem. I just put them in, lined up the bumper, put the bolts in and tightened them down. No problems. There are some smaller nuts included (it looks like for something we don't have on 4Runners). Those nuts will slip through but the 10mm nuts fit right.

I don't know what year your 4Runner is. Mine is a 98 and I had to cut the frame rails back to get the bottom bolts to line up. I then welded a piece of 1/4" steel with a nut on the backside to the end of the frame rail. I think the 99+ have a thin steel plate with a nut on it already in the end of the frame rails, but I wouldn't trust that to hold much.
 
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Hey man, I feel your pain. there is not a lot of info out there with the ARB design After much searching I finally called ARB and they did a redesign early last year if I remember right. so most the instructions out there are wrong. I installed mine using the same hardware you have.
First off I agree with above, if you didn't get those nuts and bolts you are missing some hardware.
Those nuts are not to bad once you get them in. I used a flat head screw driver to push out the tabs once I had them in place and they have not moved since. took off my bumper a few times and had no issues after doing that. hopefully don't have to take it off again soon.
Also what year? from the pic it doesn't look like you cut down the frame rails yet, so just curious. with the new bracket I had to take about 3+in off my frame rail to get it to line up the way I wanted.

I have some pics of mine, let me know if that would help.

Side note, if anyone would like me to do a write up on the new ARB brackets and how I installed let me know. not sure if it would be useful to anyone but if it will help some people avoid some frustration and pain I will be happy to.

In the end I love the ARB and well worth it. sorry about the short story I just wrote.
 
Skrimz said:
I have some pics of mine, let me know if that would help.

Side note, if anyone would like me to do a write up on the new ARB brackets and how I installed let me know. not sure if it would be useful to anyone but if it will help some people avoid some frustration and pain I will be happy to.
Click to expand...

that sure would help me
 
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