Weight reduction
Weight reduction
Ok, I know this topic in general has been covered numerous times as I have spent several hours doing searches on it. I also want to make it clear that this car is not my daily driver/family car.
I am looking for some specific answers in relation to the front and rear bumper supports. I know everyone says not to remove them for safety reasons etc., but is there any other drawback to removing them? I currently have the front of my car torn apart and it seems that removing it would weakin the cars frame. Is there a lighter weight alternative? Is it safer to remove the rear one than the front? Like I said I only drive the car in good weather or to the track so keep that in mind.
Also most of the threads on this topic are older so is there any new tricks people have come up with for weight reduction? Im thinking about maybe starting a thread just listing various items that you could safely reduce weight by changing out. What do you guys think? I would keep all the weight savings listed on the first page and people could either PM me with their suggestions or post it and I would keep track and post the results. It would be nice to find out what various people are doing.
I am looking for some specific answers in relation to the front and rear bumper supports. I know everyone says not to remove them for safety reasons etc., but is there any other drawback to removing them? I currently have the front of my car torn apart and it seems that removing it would weakin the cars frame. Is there a lighter weight alternative? Is it safer to remove the rear one than the front? Like I said I only drive the car in good weather or to the track so keep that in mind.
Also most of the threads on this topic are older so is there any new tricks people have come up with for weight reduction? Im thinking about maybe starting a thread just listing various items that you could safely reduce weight by changing out. What do you guys think? I would keep all the weight savings listed on the first page and people could either PM me with their suggestions or post it and I would keep track and post the results. It would be nice to find out what various people are doing.
Evolving Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Obviously you are going to weaken the cars frame, you're essentially removing part of it.
That being said, I don't see how bumper supports provide any kind of structual rigidity (ie: lessen/improve handling)
So, besides the risk of death and a minor fender bender wrecking your car, I don't personally see any real negatives.
Not something i'd do to save a few pounds unless it wasn't going to see any street use at all. I've seen too many nasty accidents.
That being said, I don't see how bumper supports provide any kind of structual rigidity (ie: lessen/improve handling)
So, besides the risk of death and a minor fender bender wrecking your car, I don't personally see any real negatives.
Not something i'd do to save a few pounds unless it wasn't going to see any street use at all. I've seen too many nasty accidents.
bumpers are your call. your safety. I am not sure how much structural support they have. you save 30 lbs though
http://www.buschurracing.com/weight-reduction.htm
http://www.buschurracing.com/weight-reduction.htm
It had been suggested that the front bumper beam is not for occupant safety or frame rigidy, but to do well on the DOT 5 mph bumper tests.
EDIT: Actually, I don't think this particular test is run by the federal government. I think that 5 mph one is a product of the insurance highway safety folks (hence the the emphasis on dollars rather than well-being of the occupant).
"The IIHS also conducts bumper-bashing tests. They run cars and trucks into barriers at 5 mph to see how much damage results, in terms of dollars. Front ends are smacked into flat and angled barriers, and they back vehicles into poles and angled barriers. Each vehicle is crashed four times; the lower the total cost for repair after all four tests, the better the vehicle scores. Federal law requires bumpers on passenger cars that can withstand an impact at 2.5 mph. Light trucks are not required to meet bumper-strength standards. "
--edmunds section on vehicle safety.
One difficultly in getting the evo here in the first place was the FMIC -- or so mitsubishi execs claimed. Although I guess without that beam, the intercooler would get destroyed if you hit _anything_. I believe this is also the reason that the US IX did not get the new rear bumper.
Furthermore, JDM evos has the same chassis but do they have either bumper support beams?
d
EDIT: Actually, I don't think this particular test is run by the federal government. I think that 5 mph one is a product of the insurance highway safety folks (hence the the emphasis on dollars rather than well-being of the occupant).
"The IIHS also conducts bumper-bashing tests. They run cars and trucks into barriers at 5 mph to see how much damage results, in terms of dollars. Front ends are smacked into flat and angled barriers, and they back vehicles into poles and angled barriers. Each vehicle is crashed four times; the lower the total cost for repair after all four tests, the better the vehicle scores. Federal law requires bumpers on passenger cars that can withstand an impact at 2.5 mph. Light trucks are not required to meet bumper-strength standards. "
--edmunds section on vehicle safety.
One difficultly in getting the evo here in the first place was the FMIC -- or so mitsubishi execs claimed. Although I guess without that beam, the intercooler would get destroyed if you hit _anything_. I believe this is also the reason that the US IX did not get the new rear bumper.
Furthermore, JDM evos has the same chassis but do they have either bumper support beams?
d
Last edited by donour; Jan 1, 2006 at 09:45 PM.
Originally Posted by NIevo
I am looking for some specific answers in relation to the front and rear bumper supports. I know everyone says not to remove them for safety reasons etc., but is there any other drawback to removing them? I currently have the front of my car torn apart and it seems that removing it would weakin the cars frame. Is there a lighter weight alternative? Is it safer to remove the rear one than the front? Like I said I only drive the car in good weather or to the track so keep that in mind.
jdm cars dont even have the rear, so i wouldnt worry about weakening the frame on that.
Originally Posted by NIevo
Im thinking about maybe starting a thread just listing various items that you could safely reduce weight by changing out. What do you guys think? I would keep all the weight savings listed on the first page and people could either PM me with their suggestions or post it and I would keep track and post the results. It would be nice to find out what various people are doing.
Trending Topics
the evo doesn't have a frame. its not going to weaken anything if you remove it.
-without the brace the evo passes crash tests in Japan and Eurpoe.
-the laws that require these braces are from the 50's when law makers didn't have modern crash test technology.
-the passenger compartment saves lives, not the front bumper.
-it blocks flow to the intercooler.
-it might save your intercooler in a collision with a small dog.
-without the brace the evo passes crash tests in Japan and Eurpoe.
-the laws that require these braces are from the 50's when law makers didn't have modern crash test technology.
-the passenger compartment saves lives, not the front bumper.
-it blocks flow to the intercooler.
-it might save your intercooler in a collision with a small dog.
Like Max said. There is no frame... it is unibody.
It is a 5 mph bumper and would not honestly cause you anymore harm in an accident I doubt. It may kill the front mount more in a slight accident but other than that it is fine. Both mine are removed.
It is a 5 mph bumper and would not honestly cause you anymore harm in an accident I doubt. It may kill the front mount more in a slight accident but other than that it is fine. Both mine are removed.
Ok to those that have removed it, does it weaken the front bumper cover when you put it back on? Aren't there 2 screws that attach to the support? Or was there some way you fixed that problem.
Check out the link someone just posted above for some good weight reduction tips on our website. I went through quite a bit of time and trouble to make the list up, it's there if you want it.
David Buschur
www.buschurracing.com
David Buschur
www.buschurracing.com
The question hasn't been fully answered. I think we all agree it is there to pass the US crash tests but does it actually help? Does the front or rear bumper support stiffen the car in any way?
Mattj
Mattj
I could be wrong but I believe that the small bumper reinforcements for the 5 or 10 mph front crash tests are in place for insurance purposes. In other words I believe the insurance industries were behind getting that implemented at some point to keep the cost of repairs down in very minor front end collisions.
This is just like the insurance companies being behind the mass slaughtering of the deer now. Too many people moving to the country ruining it and driving the deer into smaller and smaller plots of wooded areas. Causes over crowding the deer have no place to go. They eat peoples bushes, gardens and are forced more and more into the road ways. Huge cost of insurance companies repairing cars that hit deer. They lobby to have the deer populations decreased etc.
David Buschur
www.buschurracing.com
This is just like the insurance companies being behind the mass slaughtering of the deer now. Too many people moving to the country ruining it and driving the deer into smaller and smaller plots of wooded areas. Causes over crowding the deer have no place to go. They eat peoples bushes, gardens and are forced more and more into the road ways. Huge cost of insurance companies repairing cars that hit deer. They lobby to have the deer populations decreased etc.
David Buschur
www.buschurracing.com