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Installed Wild Boar Grab Handles Today

6K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  Mark_D 
#1 ·
First off let me say AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh.

Now that the screaming is over and blood pressure back to normal, here's a few tips. The product is excellent. The installation sucks. In the end all is well.

I strongly recommend running the bolts in and out a few times without the grab bars. Observe the angles. Too easy to cross thread.

For the dolts that say 10 minute installation, my bs meter wound up so strong that it is still powering my house off net while unwinding. More like 30 minutes per side.

Anyhow, once you get everything lined up, they are a great addition saving you many bucks over others out there.
 
#3 ·
Here is my writeup with pics (on yhe Opar thread in the vendors section), and yes you can install the fronts in about 10 minutes per side, but there are some 'gotchas' if you are not careful:
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f123/o...mfortable-to-grip-1792689-8.html#post26918673

Just the text:

Just installed my 'stealth' (black on black) Opar Grab Bars. No instructions included, but only took a total of 20 minutes.

You need a 13mm (or 1/2") socket, preferably magnetic to remove 2 bolts per side.

The first bolt is right by the sun visor mount.

The second bolt to remove is in the uppermost of the 2 holes in the A-pillar. This is where you need to be very careful or use a magnetic socket so you don't drop the bolt down into the hollow bowels of the A-pillar. I used a 1/4" hex drive 13mm magnetic socket.

The bar mounts consist of 2 allen head cap screws and 2 hex spacers. The bars are different side to side. Notice which side the screw recess/countersunk hole is on (screw recess on the right side of the grab-bar is the drivers side grab-bar).

The long allen head cap screw and long hex spacer go into the A-pillar. I installed this one first. Note that the bolt does go in at a slight angle. To get a idea of the angle I installed the bolt by itself. Easier to see without trying to hold the grab-bar, bolt and spacer all at the same time. I used a long handle 6mm allen-wrench to tighten. I only screwed this bolt in a couple of turns to give room to install the 2nd screw.

Now place the shorter hex spacer into position and put the shorter allen cap screw in.

Tighten the screws in a alternating fashion a little bit at a time, if not they will bind and the grab-bars will not be firmly mounted.

After using the 6mm allen wrench, I switched to a 6mm allen bit on my 3/8" drive ratchet to snug them down.

These things are solid. No movement or flex what-so-ever.

They do prevent the sun visors from going completely against the windshield, but not by much, so it makes no real difference.

And they work with the Rugged-Ridge switch pillar as well.

Very nice product, especially for only $40.
 
#6 ·
I installed similar grab handles I got off amazon. Was easy and quick. Luckily I had read the reviews that mentioned the angle on one of the 2 bolts. It helps immensely to run that bolt in by hand without the handle first to beat an idea and feel for the angle. Once installed the handles are rock solid and awesome.
 
#7 ·
Holy cow I got them! The driver side went on easy again but the passenger side I did the opposite I started the horizontal bolt the gently bent it in the direction it needed to go. Then put the top bolt in. Both sides were extremely tight but it pulled itself together. Hope this helps others. I was ready to print a return label from Amazon. Haha glad I didn't becuase they are nice.
 
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