A grate bar is provided for use in forming a grate bar assembly of a sintering pallet car. The grate bar comprises an elongate body having top surface for receiving a load, a pair of opposed arms, and a pair of opposed feet, with each arm and foot pair retaining the frame of the car therebetween. Each of a pair of peripheral spacers extends laterally away from the body to distance the body from a body of an adjacent grate bar. Each of a pair of central spacers is located between the peripheral spacers and extends laterally away from the body to distance the body from the body of the adjacent grate bar. At least one of the plane defined by a peripheral spacer top wall and the plane defined by a central spacer top wall is below the plane defined by the top surface of the elongate body.