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Clustered

Member Since: 03 Nov 2023
Location: NL
Posts: 5

Got a cheap NAS rear bumper: crossmember holes to large?

Picked up a cheap NAS rear step bumper for my 110. When I slide the bumper’s arms into the rear crossmember jacking points, there’s a lot of play.

Is the issue that the jacking point holes on the crossmember are oversized on older Defenders? Or could it be that the bumpers arms have rusted away? Strange thing is, if they did rust out, both sides would have gone in almost exactly the same way. There is some rust on them, but don't really expect it to have rusted out over 1cm, and so round as well.

Or is this just how these bumpers fit from the factory?

Click image to enlarge

28th Sep 2025 5:42pm

Screbble

Member Since: 26 Apr 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 2346

2004 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Zambezi Silver

I’m intrigued and hope someone will enlighten both of us 👍

28th Sep 2025 6:03pm

BrickBox

Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 1100

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver

To me - it’s looks like the bumper arms that slide into the crossmember are heavily corroded and have lost a couple of layers of metal…. 2017 5.0 V8 Supercharged RRS SVR
2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.

28th Sep 2025 6:45pm

Clustered

Member Since: 03 Nov 2023
Location: NL
Posts: 5

Hmm, but both arms seem of equal thickness. That would mean some very equal rust decay.

28th Sep 2025 7:14pm

Mdm

Member Since: 11 Sep 2013
Location: Sunny Lancashire
Posts: 1678

assume your crossmember is original as some aftermarket ones are very poorly buit,l i suspect like others its heavily corroded and lost a fair bit of metal.

the nas step design is a very poor one and helps the rear end of defender rot faster, the bars themself are poorly made and rust quickly.

you could replace the tubes with correct size if there is any good metal to weld to.

or buy a galvanized new nas step

28th Sep 2025 8:29pm

90 Dreamer

Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2307

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

have measured a little used stored one in good condition and the pins are slightly over 26mm........

29th Sep 2025 8:53am

Clustered

Member Since: 03 Nov 2023
Location: NL
Posts: 5

That is still significantly less than the holes in the rear crossmember?

29th Sep 2025 9:56am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 18009

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

I suspect that the pins are designed to be a very loose fit in the holes due to LR's legendary manufacturing tolerances. The pins serve little purpose and are hardly critical.

I though, but could be wrong, that the front end of the pins (i.e., the end that goes into the hole) was drilled and tapped for a setscrew and washer, further rendering the fit in the hole irrelevant. However I freely confess to knowing relatively little about the NAS step since I have always regarded it as a unattractive and pointless rust trap.

29th Sep 2025 10:34am

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8463

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

chassis may have lost a bit, pins look to have lost alot. just fit with bolt on other side which genuine ones have that Blackwolf eludes to. Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

Last edited by jst on 29th Sep 2025 1:37pm. Edited 3 times in total

29th Sep 2025 11:27am

Martin
Site Admin

Member Since: 02 Apr 2007
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 6718

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Montalcino Red

Fitting instructions:

https://www.defender2.net/gallery/albums/u...Bumper.pdf

Step 13 is the large washer and bolt into the end of that tube.

1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top

2015 D90 XS SW

29th Sep 2025 11:34am

Mo Murphy

Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2414

1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey

It was cheap, it doesn't fit well, it's well used and quite rusty. I think perhaps your expectations are a little too high.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey

29th Sep 2025 4:28pm

Linds Hanson

Member Since: 16 Jan 2021
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 537

They are like that from new they come with a large stepped washer that sits in the chassis tube and overhangs the chassis tube to clamp the step spigots to the chassis l

29th Sep 2025 8:14pm

TexasRover

Member Since: 24 Nov 2022
Location: Paris
Posts: 1353

2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Chawton White

Martin wrote:
Fitting instructions:

https://www.defender2.net/gallery/albums/u...Bumper.pdf

Step 13 is the large washer and bolt into the end of that tube.

Lol interesting how the NAS rear bumper bracket has no USA type certification. Also as per the drawings it does not have the square receiver, which I would consider the main benefit of an NAS rear bumper.

Why exactly is it named NAS exactly?

29th Sep 2025 9:17pm

jst

Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 8463

NAS - needs another solution Cheers

James
110 2010 XS Utility
130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper
90 2010 Hardtop
90 M57 1988 Hardtop

29th Sep 2025 10:01pm

Mo Murphy

Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2414

🤣 The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey

30th Sep 2025 1:56pm

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