Sovereign Bar Mount Recall?

[dr zoidberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dr zoidberg]

Had a look & I'm pretty sure they haven't been changed.. Wondering if I should just leave them or do you guys think it's best to bite the bullet spend the $311 & do it myself?

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The mounting brackets are a weak point. Best to change it.

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Had a look & I'm pretty sure they haven't been changed.. Wondering if I should just leave them or do you guys think it's best to bite the bullet spend the $311 & do it myself?

Its very unlikely that Toyota would go to the expense and risk to reputation of a recall if it wasn't necessary.

[dr zoidberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dr zoidberg]

Its very unlikely that Toyota would go to the expense and risk to reputation of a recall if it wasn't necessary.

Just placed an order with Toyota for the kit, so is it 4 brackets in total? I ordered the part number that was given a few pages back (PZQ296016ZBF) Toyota at Liverpool wanted $311 & Toyota at Castle Hill wanted $350!

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Have you got a winch cradle too? If so, there's a new version to match the recalled brackets too.

[dr zoidberg Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close dr zoidberg]

Have you got a winch cradle too? If so, there's a new version to match the recalled brackets too.

No I haven't, I was just about to order one for my bar but the money is going towards the mounts. Hopefully the installation will be easy, a lot of people in previous pages say they should have done it themselves instead of Toyota doing it so that makes me feel a little more confident.

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

Thanks to everyone on the thread. I have a 2004 Grande with Sovereign bar and the crush cans had not been replaced via the recall. Like above phone around different dealers. Heidelberg wanted $300 for the winch cradle where as Camberwell and Preston only charged $200. Heidelberg wanted $355 for the recall brackets where as Camberwell and Preston both only wanted $311. so Heidelberg would have cost $655 rather than just $511.
Heidelberg parts and service departments were also pretty much rude and uninterested, especially John in Parts, like sulky teenagers (except they were old sulky farts in my opinion ). Andrew at Preston was really helpful, but Camberwell won in the end because Robin in parts was so friendly and so helpful, he even left them with aftersales for me to pick up on the Saturday afternoon. He phoned me 3-4 times letting me know the status (only took 2 days), looked up and printed the instructions (which were in the box as it happens anyway).

I am fitting a winch (Grande MkIII from 42dsupercentre) and the new crush cans this weekend (if winch arrives). I have the Cradle and new brackets already.
Looking through the instructions and it seems reasonably straight forward but if anyone has any experience and tips - please let me know ASAP.

I have ready that longer bolts may be required, but not sure I will know until I receive the winch. The instructions seem to say to not use the winch bolts but those supplied with the cradle to server the winch to the cradle... hopping it will all be clear when I start stripping it down.

I'll take some photos/video if i can and mix it up with the instructions. Worst case it will be a "How not to do it" video

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

Ok Got everything, winch arrived safely (Eventually). Been through the new bracket instructions, the winch cradle instructions and the winch instructions and and fairly confident with it all, but also fairly confident that its NOT GOING TO WORK (Yet). Although all the holes line up I think I have two issues (Although one might not be an issue depending on the solution of the other.
- The winch has 4 mounting points, has smooth fairlead type (not roller, two holes)
- These align to the winch cradle which means it will be mounted on its side
- The cradle sits in the bumper and the same 4 holes go through the bumper - so it seems the winch is bolted in through the fairlead, through the bumper, through the cradle and into the winch - understand? Good.

Problem is the fairlead only has two bolt holes, If I use those through the top say, the opening of the fairlead does not align to the opening in the cradle or the bumper ( and would probably cause rope to frey) - and looks like a bag of pish.

Questions
- Is there a Squarerer/rectanguler Fairlead design with 4 holes that align to the winch holes and essentially doubles as a plate?
- should I ignore the fairlead, attach the winch, then drill new wholes for the fairlead trying to cover as much of the hole as possible?
(I think the bolts might be too long for this and might need padded outwit washers or a plate

Someone must have solved this problem already out there HELP ! What fairlead do you use

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

ok found the solution, a 35mm offset Hawse such as this, did a quick measure and it will line perfectly.
http://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/offs...ead-3337.html#

Tomorrows Agenda to fit the winch is back on (Photos to follow - might help someone in the future)!

May have to grind the bolts down a little to get the tightness, but other than that I cannot foresee any customisations to the cradle or winch at all.

Next worry will be the suspension /handling with an extra 43.1KGs on the VERY front.....

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

Summary of Job fitting brackets/winch cradle

Fitted a 4wdSupacentre Grande MkIII Winch $500 to the Sovereign Bull Bar.
This required replacing the bull bar mounts $300 (expired recall) and adding the winch cradle $200

There is only one cradle available and it needs the new brackets, there two support arms from the cradle to the top of the new brackets.

I dont think you would want to winch using the flimsy old brackets unless you wanted to rip your bull bar clean off the car.

• Had to remove bull bar and old crush cans.
• Fitted cradle to inside of bull bar bumper
• Fitted the new crush cans to that
• Bolted in the Winch (had to shorten two of the longer supplied bolts with the angle grinder)
• Fitted the rest of the bull bar braces
• Fitted Roadsafe recovery points
• Mounted Bull bar back onto car

All up it did take me best part of the weekend, although it was a slow start with the weather.
The new brackets are really heavy compared to the old ones, which seem like paper.
Havent tested yet, still got to wire up the control box (there was no way it was going to fit where the bull bar instructions wanted it mounted)

Trip planned across the Simpson in August, so considering suspension lift next

I am really wanting ditch the airbags and fit conventional springs, has anyone done this? I have read too many stories now of failed airbags and people running on the bumpstops. It all seems to limiting to keep them just for the sake of auto levelling and adjustable ride height.



I want to lift 2 inches. Not sure if I can lift the front first (therefore ditching ride comfort control), then worry about the back later? - thoughts???

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

Just checked my car today and it looks like it has the old style brackets. Rang my local dealer and provided the VIN and they said there is no outstanding recall for the mounts but a CSE for the towbar to be checked. I bought the car 2nd hand and sent in the new owner details to Toyota but the dealer I rang had the previous owner still recorded. Rang Toyota Aust and they told me they have my new details recorded so I don't know what is going on.....I will wait for my loal dealer to get back to me to see if I can get the brackets replaced under warranty. I find it odd that a CSE from Toyota can have an expiry date attached for an item which may fail!!!!

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

Just checked my car today and it looks like it has the old style brackets. Rang my local dealer and provided the VIN and they said there is no outstanding recall for the mounts but a CSE for the towbar to be checked. I bought the car 2nd hand and sent in the new owner details to Toyota but the dealer I rang had the previous owner still recorded. Rang Toyota Aust and they told me they have my new details recorded so I don't know what is going on.....I will wait for my loal dealer to get back to me to see if I can get the brackets replaced under warranty. I find it odd that a CSE from Toyota can have an expiry date attached for an item which may fail!!!!

This is exactly what happened to me over the last few weeks. I also have the towbar recall - thanks for reminding me Apparently once the recalls expire, they are not kept against the Vins anymore, the guys in service have limted access to even see the recall notices. Worst of all you have to pay the labour.

The old brackets had been on my car since new, so for 10 years, there were no issues, it was strong and did not move. I bought the car nearly 3 years ago but did not contact the old owner. If I was not fitting the winch, I dont think I would have changed the brackets - I probably would not have known about it.

Toyota wanted a 2-3 hours work to change them, so probably $300 + parts $300, I did it myself and it was not too bad.

If you are going outback on 100's of KMs of corrugations, they might be worth changing - I see a few posts in this thread about that, probably very good advice.

If you are fitting a winch using the winch cradle - then you HAVE to change the brackets as you cannot get the old winch cradle anymore, and when you see the difference in the brakets (look at my photos) you would not winch using the old ones.

Good luck
Regards
Mark

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

I find it odd that a CSE from Toyota can have an expiry date attached for an item which may fail!!!!

Sorry meant to mention, Toyota said it was not a recall for saftey reasons, it was a "customer service excercise" or "customer satsifaction excercise" they refused to do mine.
Let me know if you have any luck - i might try and reclaim the cost of the parts from them !

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I don't believe recalls have an expiry date, but CSEs do. Recalls relate to safety issues and therefore should not expire. The bullbar mounts is a CSE. Apparently, bullbars falling off at high speed is not a safety issue....

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

Are the federal authorities made aware of these CSE's which are put out by manufacturers. I would have thought that if you are replacing something which 'may' fail, you would continue to replace them until they have all been done regardless of the timeframe due to vehicles changing hands etc. Toyota obviously think there may be an issue otherwise why would they replace them. You don't just replace things for no reason!! I will await the return phone call from my local dealer and let you all know how I get on. I am more than happy for them to just supply the brackets and I will fit them.