Has anyone had one of these rot away with rust? I have recently inspected this and it's half eaten away with rust. It's sited transversely across the chassis at the front end and supports the underside of the front bumper valance. Although it's not a structural member it's better replaced now.

http://www.brit-car.co.uk/product.ph...ction_bar_dis2

I've found some 50mm galvanised square hollow section (SHS) tube with 4mm thick walls and I'm going to fabricate a new bar using 5mmx50mm wide end plates welded on each end. I doubt if that'll rot away anytime soon.

 

I get one in ten that are still useable. The rest are range from minor swiss cheese to completely rotted away.

 

The one on my truck looked brand new, but the one on my parts truck was almost completely gone. I took off the one on my driver because it was interfering with me mounting my brush guard.

 

Hmmm, I believe you guys have answered my question, they are a piece of cr@p pressed 'tin' fabrication which has a very limited lifespan. How they've got the 'brass neck' to charge so much for this rubbish part I'll never know. At least my new fabricated part will outlast anything they produce.

 

yes both of mine are roughed luckily the TF bumper got rid of one

 

I was wondering if this tube was essential and found my answer in this thread.
Here are pictures of my rusted protection bar.
I used black duct tape to cover the rust to keep the bees out of the tube.
Maybe I'll have a friend with a welder make me up a sturdy replacement.

 

That just keeps the stock bumper cover from flapping in the wind

 

Yep, that's the one .......... lump of cheap (expensive) cr@p. As Drowssap says, keeps the bumper valance from flapping in the wind ................. nothing else more subtle I can imagine.