Bullbar and Suspension for WJ

[Bradboat]

Greetings All

Bullbar

I am considering a Bullbar for the '99 WJ and would love some advice. I heard somewhere that when choosing a Bullbar care needs to be taken to ensure that it does not interfere with the airflow to cool the engine.

The Bullbar I am considering is the ARB unit. ARB tell me that there are no issues with this, but if anyone has any first hand experience it would be greatly appreciated.

Also does anyone know if these Bullbars have built in recovery points as the fellow at ARB couldnt recall when I spoke to him this morning.


Suspension

I am also considering new suspension. Am looking at the Old Man Emu suspension package, also provided by ARB. This apparantly gives about 40mm of lift over standard.

Does anyone have any experience with this suspension package?


Many thanks for your input.

Brad

[omaroo]

Brad

I have the ARB winch bar. I bought it pretty much for the solid recovery points it has.... with protection from animal strike a second priority. The two recovery points are triple thickness loops that are large enough to easily take the 4.75 tonne shackle pins.

The newer series of ARB bar (the one I have) has much better airflow than the original series (like billsta's). Billsta had to have a secondary airscoop added to aid in cooling... wheras mine has this as part of the same unit. There was some concern in the USA over this problem way back when...... but it is fixed now. No cooling problems at all.... and mine's a turbo.

I have the Old Man Emu setup in mine too - H/D springs and NitroCharger shocks. 40mm?? It all depends on whether you have a Laredo or Limited/Overland. If you have the Laredo, you will most probably only get 15-25mm, as it already rides higher than the middle and up-spec models ex factory. I found that the OME springs (heavy dity in my case to put up with the additional weight of the bullbar and my roller drawers in the rear) are pretty stiff when the car is unladen. This causes it to skip a bit on dirt roads when doing a good clip over slight corrugations. With the car fully laden with two or three people and a bit of gear - it comes into its own. I will eventually go with a further 25-35mm budget boost - or spring spacers at the top of the springs to gain a little more height. I don't think I need to now as I've resigned myself to the fact that my Grand is going to be my touring machine - and not my weekend rock-hopper. I have a Nissan for that :oops:

You may also consider taller tyres to gain a bit of height. I run 245 Cooper ST's. Do you have 225's or something larger than stock?

Come to the next SJC meeting, and we can go over it all if you like. Billsta, Allan and Chris Covington will also be there with their V8 models. I have the turbo-diesel.

[Cpage66]

Brad,
Have you been in the pictures portal here yet? Just about everyone here has some in there of our Grands. I've got an OL bullbar and I'm going for the Rusty's lift in July....

[billsta]

yeah jsut come ot the next SJC meeting, im too lazy to type my reply here..
i have too much to say about the bullbar issue..

but the OME kit is more a suspension kit. not a lift kit, it does raise you WJ slightly, my raised about 50mm..
you will find the OME springs & shocks will give you better ride quality...
i was very happy wiht the ride when i had them