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Legalities Of Replacing Hicas With Lock Bar…

BAMR33
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BAMR33 Mentor

BAMR33

Posted
Posted

I’ve replaced my HICAS with a lock bar and it’s been in there a while now, couldn’t be happier with it, but unfortunately my old man found HICAS unit and was instantly worried :laugh: .

Are there any legal issues with doing what I have done? Will it wipe my insurance? More importantly does anyone know if insurance assessors would look for something like this so vehicle specific?

Now I’ve I called around to a couple places and no one can seem to tell me what I need. My Dad seems to think I need an engineers report, but this seems a little excessive for something that essentially just making it the same as every other car on the road without HICAS. Would a mod plate cover this sought thing or is it deeper than that?

Cheers,

Brett.

DJRIFT Veteran

DJRIFT

Posted
Posted

i would be thinking that yes there would be a legal issue with them. say for example you was in a car accident that killed someone than your car may be examined and it could be found that because you had a un-tested lock bar it may have caused the accident. then you would be in the shit. like any mods thoe.

the chances of this senareo ever happening would be very slim but if you was conserned then just get a engerneer cert ant it should be all good.

hope that help and its only my oppinion so it has not legal bearing or anything like that.

i had a simmilar issue when i made myself a set of adjustable castor rods. i was told if they snapped and i had a bad accident then i would be at falt. but that goes for any mods you do.

BAMR33 Mentor

BAMR33

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i would be thinking that yes there would be a legal issue with them. say for example you was in a car accident that killed someone than your car may be examined and it could be found that because you had a un-tested lock bar it may have caused the accident. then you would be in the shit. like any mods thoe.

the chances of this senareo ever happening would be very slim but if you was conserned then just get a engerneer cert ant it should be all good.

hope that help and its only my oppinion so it has not legal bearing or anything like that.

i had a simmilar issue when i made myself a set of adjustable castor rods. i was told if they snapped and i had a bad accident then i would be at falt. but that goes for any mods you do.

Cheers, that's kind of confirmed my fears. An Engineers report costs lots I believe, so looks like I'll just have to put the standard equipment back in.

BHDave Grand Master

BHDave

Posted
Posted

Unless the lock bar you have installed is made of tin foil, you really have nothing to worry about. It's not going to break, it's not going to be the cause of an accident.

It's a certainty that the lock bar hasn't been tested to conform to ADR's, so unless it's engineered it's not legal. But seriously, who's going to spot it?

If you are really that concerned then reinstall the stock rack and make up a couple of 5mm washers to fit on the end to lock it up that way. You end up with a 3kg or so weight penalty, looks stock once the boots are reinstalled, no hicas.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

yes, it's definately illegal to remove a rear steering rack from a car that was fitted with it form factory. as for your insurance being voided by it that is a question for your insurance company.

BAMR33 Mentor

BAMR33

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Unless the lock bar you have installed is made of tin foil, you really have nothing to worry about. It's not going to break, it's not going to be the cause of an accident.

It's a certainty that the lock bar hasn't been tested to conform to ADR's, so unless it's engineered it's not legal. But seriously, who's going to spot it?

If you are really that concerned then reinstall the stock rack and make up a couple of 5mm washers to fit on the end to lock it up that way. You end up with a 3kg or so weight penalty, looks stock once the boots are reinstalled, no hicas.

Yeah true, but just cars are assholes. Even if my car is in an accident and I'm not at fault they'll probably still look for a way to screw me out of my money.

dangerous_daveo Grand Master

dangerous_daveo

Posted
Posted

Really, it shouldnt cost you more than $120 you being in QLD. When I had my rb25 box put in, the standard mount was moved backwards. I had that engineered and mod plated, cost $120. I cant see a lock bar being too much different to that for an engineer to look at and plate.

RBwhatever Veteran

RBwhatever

Posted
Posted
Yeah true, but just cars are assholes. Even if my car is in an accident and I'm not at fault they'll probably still look for a way to screw me out of my money.

I told just cars insurance about my lock bar, they just said "as long as you get it fitted professionally you'll be right." I just described it to them as a unit that removes the 4wheel steering and they understood. They didn't whack me any extra money for it either. As long as notify them of all the mods on your car, they'll insure you for them.

BAMR33 Mentor

BAMR33

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I told just cars insurance about my lock bar, they just said "as long as you get it fitted professionally you'll be right." I just described it to them as a unit that removes the 4wheel steering and they understood. They didn't whack me any extra money for it either. As long as notify them of all the mods on your car, they'll insure you for them.

Cheers, never thought they would. Think I might do as dangerous_daveo said too and get it engineered and mod plated to be safe.

Sydneykid Grand Master

Sydneykid

Posted
Posted

The fact is if you are not using genuine Nissan windscreen wiper rubbers then you car is "illegal". Non genuine brake pads, non genuine brake fluid even non genuine mud flaps........basically you can't use anything that isn't genuine Nissan. Think about it, you have "insert name here" brake pads, so you couldn't stop to avoid the accident, sorry no insurance. But they are "better" brake pads, so what, they are not genuine. Winscreeen wipers, accident in the rain, bad luck, no insurance........

Check you old man's car out and find every non genuine part on it and pick on him for a change.

:P cheers :nyaanyaa:

BAMR33 Mentor

BAMR33

Posted
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The fact is if you are not using genuine Nissan windscreen wiper rubbers then you car is "illegal". Non genuine brake pads, non genuine brake fluid even non genuine mud flaps........basically you can't use anything that isn't genuine Nissan. Think about it, you have "insert name here" brake pads, so you couldn't stop to avoid the accident, sorry no insurance. But they are "better" brake pads, so what, they are not genuine. Winscreeen wipers, accident in the rain, bad luck, no insurance........

Check you old man's car out and find every non genuine part on it and pick on him for a change.

:P cheers :nyaanyaa:

:laughing-smiley-014:

Good point SK I'll hassle him about his non-genuine heater tap he's about to put in his car. Yeah, so I ended up calling just cars and they accepted the lock bar, so it's staying in there. cbf getting a engineers report and mod plate now.

Beer Baron Grand Master

Beer Baron

Posted
Posted

well this is the thing. there is a difference between a mod being illegal, and being unsafe (or unroadworthy).

as long as:

1. your insurer has been informed about the modification

2. they were installed/peformed by a professional or at least installed/carried out correctly and safely

3. they do not reduce the safe operation of the car

then you should be fine.

MANWHORE Grand Master

MANWHORE

Posted
Posted

Sorry, but I don't agree with you on that one gary. Basically, there are Australian Standards (ADR). Your car has to comply with ADR.

Essentially, say for example,w hen you first bought your car, it would have had nissan brake pads. They would have been ADR compliant. When bendix make brake pads, they are ADR compliant, and therefore, they are legal.

Same as the window wipers, etc.

If you check the RTA's website, there is a fact sheet about suspension/chassis modifications.

But I do agree with you in regards the insurance and accident point :laugh:

The fact is if you are not using genuine Nissan windscreen wiper rubbers then you car is "illegal". Non genuine brake pads, non genuine brake fluid even non genuine mud flaps........basically you can't use anything that isn't genuine Nissan. Think about it, you have "insert name here" brake pads, so you couldn't stop to avoid the accident, sorry no insurance. But they are "better" brake pads, so what, they are not genuine. Winscreeen wipers, accident in the rain, bad luck, no insurance........

Check you old man's car out and find every non genuine part on it and pick on him for a change.

:P cheers :nyaanyaa:

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