kb0nly
Full Access Member
Ok, got it all done today. Took me a while with the kids and the phone ringing, but i finally got it all bolted up. The instructions with this one, a no-name one from eBay, were less than most might need. Basically you get all the parts and bags of hardware and a exploded parts drawing to go by and thats it. I downloaded and looked at the Aries instructions for their similarly designed model for reference. One thing to note about this cheaper knockoff, the hardware is MUCH THICKER and HEAVIER than the others i looked at in person. You get a steel plate with two bolts welded into it that slips up into the frame, the other ones i looked at you get a couple pieces of bar stock with bolts pressed into them. The plates were a good 3/16" thick and the brackets that bolt up to them were also just as thick if not a bit thicker, very sturdy.
The only problem i had was the back two bolts that hold the guard to the bracket, they are nearly inaccessible. I had to turn the wheels one way and then the other so i could reach in through the fog light access hole in the wheel well, it was a pain to reach and tighten them, but overall it went ok.
There is a brace that goes from the one upper crosstube to the upper radiator support. It bolts into the back of the crosstube and it's supposed to bolt into one of the holes holding the hood release bracket. Now on my 03' it had two large rivets in those holes, so i don't know if it should have been a bolt or screw or what, they looked factory original. So i took a grinder and carefully took off the head of the rivet to the point that i could pop it out, i would have drilled it but it was an aluminum rivet with a steel shank, so they are hard to drill because the bit keeps wandering into the aluminum. The self tapping bolt included in the hardware kit was one size, diameter wise, too small to get a tight fit. So i have to pick up another bolt for that yet tomorrow. But for the most part its done, bolted up, lights installed and wired, and everything is good to go. I just have to finish aiming the lights tonight after it gets dark.
It did come with the guards that go into the hoops over the headlights, i haven't decided on whether i like it better with them or without them. My wife says she likes it either way, figures, the one person that will usually help me settle a decision and she is undecided!!
The only problem i had was the back two bolts that hold the guard to the bracket, they are nearly inaccessible. I had to turn the wheels one way and then the other so i could reach in through the fog light access hole in the wheel well, it was a pain to reach and tighten them, but overall it went ok.
There is a brace that goes from the one upper crosstube to the upper radiator support. It bolts into the back of the crosstube and it's supposed to bolt into one of the holes holding the hood release bracket. Now on my 03' it had two large rivets in those holes, so i don't know if it should have been a bolt or screw or what, they looked factory original. So i took a grinder and carefully took off the head of the rivet to the point that i could pop it out, i would have drilled it but it was an aluminum rivet with a steel shank, so they are hard to drill because the bit keeps wandering into the aluminum. The self tapping bolt included in the hardware kit was one size, diameter wise, too small to get a tight fit. So i have to pick up another bolt for that yet tomorrow. But for the most part its done, bolted up, lights installed and wired, and everything is good to go. I just have to finish aiming the lights tonight after it gets dark.
It did come with the guards that go into the hoops over the headlights, i haven't decided on whether i like it better with them or without them. My wife says she likes it either way, figures, the one person that will usually help me settle a decision and she is undecided!!
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