Would it be possible to see a picture of the bull bar and the part of the bull bar that bolts to the car?

 

I bought a 3" stainless steel one from this site, http://www.wooddashexperts.com/customer/home.php?cat=8040 and had the guys at an independent garage install it, since it was freezing ass cold outside at the time. They always did good work for me and when I saw that, with all their equipment, it took 1hr and 45 min. to do the job right, I was glad I did not do it myself. I've had no problems with it at all........................................so far.

 

Hard to tell without a pic of the mounting plate, but don't use rubber...too wobbly. Try polyurethane. It's a lot harder. Poly bushings are used to mount anti-sway bars.

 

Try polyurethane. It's a lot harder. Poly bushings are used to mount anti-sway bars.

Hmmm - maybe I have the same issue. I agree with to_fire, a poly bushing may be the way to go. I would go to a well stocked auto parts place and see what the can find for you. Bring the bolts with you so they know the size hole. Maybe an Auto Zone or similiar - they seem willing to go the extra mile for me in the past.

 

I have a Black Horse Bull Bar on my 09 HH.

I believe I have a similar sound as you mentioned. I do not recall if it was present before I installed the bull bar. I did not think it was caused by the bull bar myself. The sound is somewhat present when the brakes are engaging or if one starts to turn the wheel. I assumed it was some kind of brake caliper noise. Occurs when stopped and just (gently) start to roll. Most noticeable when I'm pulling out of the garage or pulling into the garage (gas engine off and in EV mode). I think it is because I hear it bouncing off the garage walls. Sounds like creaking. I believe it is caused by the disk calipers engaging / disengaging. I am confident this is the sound I am hearing as it is the exact same noise one hears if one bleeds one brakes when changing brake pads (at least on other cars)

I know I tighten the Bull Bar bolts tighter than they should be as I actually snapped one. So no way mine could be on any tighter.

If your dealer is right I would think some sort of washer or perhaps nylon washer would cure it. But like I said, I really think on mine it is the brake calipers moving. And if it is the calipers, nothing can be done.

 

Bull Bar

I have a Black Horse Bull Bar on my 09 HH.

It looks nice. What does it do (is it just for looks or does it protect the vehicle somehow)?

 

Thanks for the info FL, you know something , I believe the dealer was right this time, after removing the bull bar and the brackets from the vehicle, the cracking sound is completely gone. I will post the picture of the mounting brackets later. I have to think of a way to re-install it with some sort of rubber washer or anything to isolate the flexing of the vehicle and the metal brackets. By the way I have the very similar bull bar with yours, but just without the name " blackhorse" on it. I also went to HOmedepot and couldn't find any rubber or polyurethane bushing, any idea where I can get it.???

 

Hey guys, here are the pictures:

 

Where do the rubber/poly washers or bushings go? I want to check AutoZone or maybe AceHardware or McMaster-Carr. I only want to have to install this thing once.

If I have to go the 'cut a mat' route, what shape do I cut it to (or basically, where does the cushion go)?
-Jason.

 

I just found some used rubber floor mats, and made some cutting for the washer, hope it will work. will post after installed. thanks

 

Those are the exact same brackets mine had.

 

It really looks nice and the skid plate looks useful, but everywhere I read it does more damage and may cause insurance rate to go up, the way they describe its response in a crash over 20mph makes total sense to me. Wow...it looks nice but I don't want to risk my frame or needlessly damage my bumper or fenders.

I saw one at the dealer and I grabbed the top of it and was able to push and pull it back and forth...I said 'wow, it's not secured at the top'. But it sure was purteee!

See shavimusha's response on http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/385735-bull-bars-anyone (Nissan Rouge forum).

-Jason.

 

I saw one at the dealer and I grabbed the top of it and was able to push and pull it back and forth...I said 'wow, it's not secured at the top'. But it sure was purteee!
-Jason.

I may be a weakling, but I can't get mine to move either by westling with it or sitting on it.

I standby My experience with getting the one in the rear. Like I said a Soccer Mom smashed into me with a mini-van and she definitely got the worst of it. I was at a GMC dealer for a recall when a fellow rolled in with the same Envoy with a bashed in bumper. His was damaged in a similar type accident but he did not have one. He was most interested in what I had (similiar to the HH). Turned out his estimate was $1200.

I cann't imagine what it cost to fix that rear hatch with the electric lift - I don't want to find out.

These 5MPH bumpers aren't worth a crap. They are plastic designed to crumple. I rather the other party bounce off. All they do is make money for the dealers/body shops.

To each their own.

 

Since getting some informaiton from you guys regarding likely frame damage from small accident, I would be putting some kind of rubber cushion between the bar and the front bumper , making it more support when there is a like impact. also, the one that I have is very solid after I installed it, there is absoluetly no free play in it. ( after all bolts are tightened )
One thing though, when I was in New York, don't all the cop cars has push bars on the front bumper for them to push vehicle away when needed, if that will caused damage to the frame, why these had been done for so long, I guess many state vehicles also has the same features too.

 

Just to update with the re-installation. Reinstalled the bull bar with home made rubber cushion ( from old rubber floor mat , just cut the same shape like the brackets ) no more cracking sound , it's been one day. hope this will really remove the sound from the front end.

 

I hear you M.......99, I used to live in NYC for so many years, our cars are all damaged by people bumping you while parking, leaving a lot of scratches and dings on the bumpers.

All just an update, still no more cracking sound after putting rubber cushion with brackets. It works.......ha ha

 

Guys, I owe you a big thank you. I finally got around to cutting up a rubber mat and the trick got rid of that creepy noice. Most Excellent! Thank you

 

I ordered a stainless steel blackhorse bullbar, should be here next week. Now I am wondering if I should have gotten the black one (my Highlander is black--see my avatar), but I've never seen a picture of a Highlander with the bullbar installed. I like the stealthy look of my highlander (my fogs are yellow, layin in the cut) and am just wondering if the stainless is going to be 'too much' bling.

Also you can just repaint the black bullbar whereas the stainless...well, when the bling is gone it starts to look like an old bicycle handle bar.

Any thoughts? Any pics of black bullbars? I could reorder prior to install...
-Jason.

 

Jason,

I have the basic version of the 08 Highlander. In March I had the 3" Blackhorse bull bar put on. It's the same as the one you see in the pix in this thread. Toyota makes a more elaborate one, but so far seem to sell it only down in Australia. You can find a pix and a lot of info on it at: http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/

The Blackhorse, if I remember correctly, comes in stainless and then in steel with a black powercoat surface. I went with the stainless to avoid any future rust problems and, in the back of my mind, I thought that i could always paint it black if chrome turned out to be a bit too much bling, bling, as they say. As of a week ago it is now a semi-matt black on the tube section and a matt black on the flat guard plate. I also put two Hella Driving lights on the bar, (it's pre-drilled to take two lights.)

As you speculated, I also thought black would look better since my Highlander color is a dark color called "Galatic, To Infinity And Beyond, Grey". On the road to the bull bar's present black color I first used 3M's Final Stripping Pad. This changed the polished stainless to a rather less flashy satin finish. Still too blingy, I thought. Then I used a bit of 3M's fine Emery Cloth. (All tests done on the under part of the bar.) The notion here is to give it enough roughness for the paint to cling and yet not too much that I could not buff it back to stainless if I change my mind later on.

Downside of all this is that I have no doubt the paint will chip as time goes by and it is hit by stones, but I figure I have half a can of both the semi-mat black and the matt black and it will be easy to touch it up from time to time. Black does, by the way, show dirt more than the polished stainless. End Big Thought........Black looks better unless you prefer flash. Good luck.

 

Jason,

I have the basic version of the 08 Highlander. In March I had the 3" Blackhorse bull bar put on. It's the same as the one you see in the pix in this thread. Toyota makes a more elaborate one, but so far seem to sell it only down in Australia. You can find a pix and a lot of info on it at: http://au.toyotaownersclub.com/

The Blackhorse, if I remember correctly, comes in stainless and then in steel with a black powercoat surface. I went with the stainless to avoid any future rust problems and, in the back of my mind, I thought that i could always paint it black if chrome turned out to be a bit too much bling, bling, as they say. As of a week ago it is now a semi-matt black on the tube section and a matt black on the flat guard plate. I also put two Hella Driving lights on the bar, (it's pre-drilled to take two lights.)

As you speculated, I also thought black would look better since my Highlander color is a dark color called "Galatic, To Infinity And Beyond, Grey". On the road to the bull bar's present black color I first used 3M's Final Stripping Pad. This changed the polished stainless to a rather less flashy satin finish. Still too blingy, I thought. Then I used a bit of 3M's fine Emery Cloth. (All tests done on the under part of the bar.) The notion here is to give it enough roughness for the paint to cling and yet not too much that I could not buff it back to stainless if I change my mind later on.

Downside of all this is that I have no doubt the paint will chip as time goes by and it is hit by stones, but I figure I have half a can of both the semi-mat black and the matt black and it will be easy to touch it up from time to time. Black does, by the way, show dirt more than the polished stainless. End Big Thought........Black looks better unless you prefer flash. Good luck.

Neat. If you have a pic please show!

Yeah, I meant to say I haven't seen a black bullbar installed on a highlander. I found some pics of a black and chrome Westin bullbar on a Tacoma...looks OK. Well, mine came in today so I'll see how it looks (need to wash and wax my car before I put some of this stuff (back) on). I had a task last friday that kinda gave me $180 for 'free' so it helps in paying for my bullbar. Hopefully it looks OK.

 

Hey Jmuhammud, check out photo 2 and 3 above, where my hand holds the bracket, you will need to cut one like that big U-Shape, one square in back, and also you will need to cut one in the middle where you see the bolt is, just follow the shape of the bracket, you will need to put a round one on the bottom when you after you put the bolt through before you install the nut. hope this can help. also remember the rubber cushion that you cut out, put it between the bracket and the frame of the car.

 

Rubber Dampener for BlackHorse BullBar brackets



I believe below are the two points that make contact with the vehicle. Should this be sufficient for a rubber dampener?

 

I believe below are the two points that make contact with the vehicle. Should this be sufficient for a rubber dampener?

Yes, those are the eare I covered.

 

Greetings,
In case you haven't seen it already, I installed a bullbar on my Highlander and it can be seen here. For my rubber dampener, I bought a black Harley-Davidson rubber floor mat marked $9.99 for only $12.99 at my reverse discount Meijer's :ugh3: ...yeah, the U-Scam...er, U-Scan overcharged me and there were so many people waiting for the lady to come over and fix their machines that I just said 'forget it, I just made a $3 donation' instead of waiting all dog-gone night. Anyway, it was easy to cut with the utility knife and scissors.

It took me longer than I thought it would: 5 hours. Just because it turned dark on me (I started at 7pm) and had to move inside my garage, I didn't have all the sockets (would have helped if they had ACCURATELY listed the needed tools) so some I had to use an adjustable crescent wrench, and the suspension dampener was really tough! to take off and put back. And cutting that blasted rock guard then fitting then cutting then fitting then...:headbang: But finally, I got it on. And no cracking sounds :clap:

Question: I want to cover the stainless steel mounting bolts with something black (I can see them from the front and side of the vehicle), one for protection against the elements and two just so they are more stealth. Any advice on what I could coat or paint these with (sorry, no close up pics of the bolts).

 

Greetings,
Question: I want to cover the stainless steel mounting bolts with something black (I can see them from the front and side of the vehicle), one for protection against the elements and two just so they are more stealth. Any advice on what I could coat or paint these with (sorry, no close up pics of the bolts).

Congratulations. Having the right tools is always a problem. I really don't think you need to worry about protecting those bolts. As I recall, they were Grade 8 steel and will probably never rust. However, you can just get a little can of black paint and paint them from Home Repo or similar. Not sure I would recommend a spray can has the over spray might go everywhere! I know Rustolium comes in spray cans but I thought at one time they had them in small plain cans too - or at least they used to!