ARB bash plate repair?

[spike69 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spike69]

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with repairing ARB 3mm bash plates? A few weeks back, through a combination of bad luck and bad driving I managed to perch the front end of the Prado on a largish boulder. The results of resting half of a 2.5 tonne car on a rock supported by the bash plate are seen below - a badly buckled plate and one of the attaching bolts almost pushed through it’s fitting slot.





I really just want to know should I even be thinking about trying to bend it back into shape myself (basically with a large hammer), or should I just replace them? I’m guessing once they’ve been stressed like that they’ll lose some of their resilience if there’s another “incident”? Or could the local panel beater get them back to working order?

Cheers in advance
Spike

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

As far as I know they are only mild steel so bashing them into shape won't have any detrimental effects. We have welded ARB plates on another vehicle when they copped a hammering and no problems and they weld easily.

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey,

Those ARB bash plates look like they did their job well, and saved damage to your diff or sump.

I would pull them off and bash them back into shape with a rubber mallet.

While you have them off, I would also weld on some flat bar (where there is clearance) on the insides to strengthen them from further distortion.

Best

Mark

[Guest Close Guest]

While you're at it, replace those tube spacers where the bolt has bent the plate at the front, with better spacers like an RHS.

[spike69 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spike69]

Great thanks gentlemen, that's all very helpful, much appreciated. The plates certainly saved the car from a lot of damage, well and truly paid back their cost. And a couple of driving lessons learned by me too Live and learn as they say.

Many thanks.

[HugoStiglitz Member Find all posts View Profile Close HugoStiglitz]

Hey just saw this thread pop up and I'm looking into getting a set of the ARB Plates (won a $500 ARB gift voucher)

are they worth it. I know there were people having issues with the steel tubes used to mount them. or it not clearing the front diff mounts.
any chance of some more pic's?

how nicely does it match up with the ARB bar and it's radiator protection plate?

are they compatible with a diff drop kit? (incase I get silly with lift in the future)

[Whitey Shockie Maker of the Month Award Find all posts View Profile Close Whitey]

Hey just saw this thread pop up and I'm looking into getting a set of the ARB Plates (won a $500 ARB gift voucher)

are they worth it. I know there were people having issues with the steel tubes used to mount them. or it not clearing the front diff mounts.
any chance of some more pic's?

how nicely does it match up with the ARB bar and it's radiator protection plate?

are they compatible with a diff drop kit? (incase I get silly with lift in the future)

Hey Hugo,

I think they are definitely worth it after reading this thread! They can be a bit fiddly sometimes to mount.

I think with most diff drops, you will end up needing spacers to clear the front diff arms. Usually 10mm or so is enough.

Unfortunately I don't have any photos with the ARB UVP mating up with the ARB bar, anyone got some they can post up?

Best

Mark

[spike69 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spike69]

Hey just saw this thread pop up and I'm looking into getting a set of the ARB Plates (won a $500 ARB gift voucher)

are they worth it. I know there were people having issues with the steel tubes used to mount them. or it not clearing the front diff mounts.
any chance of some more pic's?

how nicely does it match up with the ARB bar and it's radiator protection plate?

are they compatible with a diff drop kit? (incase I get silly with lift in the future)

G'day Hugo,

Well as I said I think they paid for themselves and then some with his incident. There's no way the original plates would have held up to the force that was applied to them, and I'm sure there would have been some damage done to the diff without them. As it was, the plates buckled to within about 2mm of the diff. A couple of moments without due care and attention on my behalf was all it took.

I have the ARB winch bar and will get some pics up for you tonight as to how they fit in with the bar.

Cheers
Spike

[retroenduro Member Find all posts View Profile Close retroenduro]

totally worth it...if could show you a pic of my old bash plates and the 'lucky escape' we had on a track in VIC a few years ago....holed the plates about 10mm from the sump...imagine losing all your engine oil 150kms from the nearest town in the high country hmm......long walk...

[Guest Close Guest]

how nicely does it match up with the ARB bar and it's radiator protection plate?

are they compatible with a diff drop kit? (incase I get silly with lift in the future)

It doesn't really match up to the radiator protection plate. The order of fitment from the top down is like this:
1. Radiator cross member
2. Radiator protection plate
3. Tube spacers
4. ARB UVP
So there is a gap between items 2 & 4

[spike69 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spike69]

Unfortunately I don't have any photos with the ARB UVP mating up with the ARB bar, anyone got some they can post up?

Best

Mark

Pics below



Cheers
Spike

[spike69 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close spike69]

Sorry just noticed AMTS already posted a pic.

[HugoStiglitz Member Find all posts View Profile Close HugoStiglitz]

hum, thanks for the pic's everyone.

so you will loose a little clearance under the radiator support, what about at the diff mounts, is this fairly flush or a gap there also?

[JEBBS Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JEBBS]

How far do the ARB bash plates go under the body of the car?
Is it still easy to complete oil changes in the engine and Auto??