Well, I know that the actual rating is done, and you cant change it. The one thing holding me back from getting a evo is the side impact rating particular in the front seats. Is there a way I could get a fabricator to weld in some more crash beams in the front doors for added saftey. I know it would increase the weight of the car a little bit more. But im not worried about it. Because, if I can get someone to do this for me. I would for sure go pick one up soon.

 

Fab some old Cadillac Eldorado doors on it for super safety! Haha.
I'm sure you can take off the door panels and have a cross bar fab'd into the door and put the panels back on without any obstruction. If you have the money, a 3-point cage with door cross bars would be cool as long as you don't mind hurdling them to get into the car.

 

Where did you find the ratings for our cars. I did some searching and just found alot of "not tested"

 

If you search here, and type in crash test. Therese a bunch of threads that come up with links. Most places dont have the data for the evo. But some do, and they all have in common a 2 out 5 star frontal side impact rating. So if I could beef up the doors with some more cross members, I think it would would stiffen up the doors, which would make the car safer. I just cant have my wife sitting next to a door that is fabed up like cardboard. I will take the extra 10-40 pounds of wieght, to ensure a higher rate of saftey.

 

that is for a 2004 evo VIII. they changed the side crash beam to aluminum for the evo IX.

 

I havent found any different data for an ix. However, I couldnt aford an IX right now, anyways. I can however afford a 03-05 evo. So back to the topic. Anyone here, know about this, can shed some light, it would be much apreciated.

 

Actually I was reading in a article that the 05 got the new side beams as well. Maybe someone can expand on that. Since it doesnt have side airbags is why I'm guessing it ranked low.

 

Without side airbags you are not going to significantly improve the side impact rating of the vehicle. If it is that much of a concern for you then look at a different car or save up for a X, which should have side airbags.

-Paul

 

wouldn't aluminum just sheer in half in a side impact? Aluminum is a strong material, but from what I am told it does not deal with impact well...

 

I cant afford an x for a long time, and I want the 4g63 motor, so the x is not a option. There are plenty of cars that have a decent side impact crash rating without air bags. So again the question stands. Can I add more crash beams to the doors to make it stronger. And would this actually benifit the structural ragity of the doors. I believe it will. But i dont think it will make the rating a 5 out of 5. I am not looking for that. I am just looking for a way to improve the ragity of the doors. I am sure there is a way to do that would be benifical. And I dont want a STI so dont go say get an sti.

 

it is probably forged aluminum. as you already know most of the suspension pieces of the evo is all-aluminum. the front and rear cross member, lower arms are aluminum. of course the hood and fender and roof are aluminum too. with aluminum it allows you to put a thicker side impact beam with less weight but just as strong or even better. who told you that it does not deal with impact well?

 

In the old days cars did not even have door crash bars.

The Evo does have Steel or Aluminum door crash bars.

Both materials will work fine if designed for the application. Typically the aluminium bar will have thicker walls and a larger dia to make up for the lower stiffness of the material. Neither is better or worse, just has to be done right. Aluminum is lighter if used properly.

You are asking a door to stop a SUV in 6"-12" without killing you. Very hard to do.
No mods that you could do yourself will do any good. Because they will be untested, ie worthless.

The guy is right about side air bags, but not the sort of thing that DIY should try.

Wear a Helmet or buy a different car, nothing else to do


Mitsuatb

 

Well, no kidding about the SUV. Even with an airbag if you got broadsided by a suv going fast, the airbag isnt going to do much. I am not asking for a door to stop a SUV going 60mph. What im looking for is a way to HELP, reinforce the doors. I am sure if you added more beams in the door, it would aid in taking some of the blow from a side impact. I know it wouldnt hurt it. So thats where the question stand again.
1. Do you think it could be done.
2. Do you think that by adding another beam or two would HELP in taking a blow from a sideimpact.

 

buy another car

 

Have you really seen an Evo crash rating of 2/5? I know that there were plenty of Lancer crash ratings of 2/5 when I looked at my 04 but no Evos were tested then. There was some chatter going around that the Evo would fare better in accidents due to the stiffened chassis. I never bothered to investigate any further so I don't know what to believe.