Hi guys I did a search but couldnt find a valid answer... Will removal of front and rear crash beam make handling worse on the evo? Since I would think these beams tie all the frame together to make it stiffer...

I was thinking of doing this for a bit more weigh savings and better airflow to the intercooler...but I wont want to mess with it if it makes handling or rigidness of the evo worse..

thanks

 

Im not sure, but i'd imagine it wouldn't handle any worse that the Japanese EVO 7 or 8, which don't come with the crash bars.

 

hmmmm removing only the front would help with our weight distribution.... anyone tried this?

 

I weighed my EVO recently.

from the factory, with a 1/2 tank gas, no spare tire, and no sunroof I have a perfect 50/50 cross weight.

With the driver it becomes 60/40 split. IMHO, removing the front bumper beam may help, but a safer option might be to put the battery in the trunk.

 

Or you could do both and remove the spare tire/jack/tools.

has anyone out there released a good battery relocation kit yet? can I still use my grounding kit?

 

Don't do it. Not worth to risk your life do to an accident.

 

Well the crash beams were not designed to save your life in the first place. They are just there to protect against very slow crashes. If you are going fast enough to be killed a 20 pound metal beam is not going to prevent serious injury.

 

There may be issues with your insurance company if you remove it. I am sure they wouldn't be pleased to find it missing if you were to get into an accident that would have been helped by the bar.
I bet there is a clause in the fine print stating something about the removal of safety equipment -- you may find that you are not covered at all.

 

the crash beam will not save you if you do a big crash.. its only meant to reduce damage at low speed fender bender...

i discussed this with my friend but insurance companies know crap about evos, they will not even know it was suppose to be there or not... if they ask, i will say it was missing from manufactorer anywayz

 

yeah it was added for the US 5 mph bumper restrictions....

 

Thanks guys! Didnt know the japanese evo's didnt come with crash beams..interesting...

 

thats actually part of the "Excuse" as to why the EVO couldn't come to the states for the longest time . . .

 

Yeah, it was something like, in a 5mph impact, the damage cost cannot be more than XX% of the car's MSRP. Since Mitsu likes to charge $1600+ for rinky dink intercoolers, having a big front mount to be damaged would throw the fix-it price over the limit.

 

Let’s say that you have a serious accident and destroy both the Evo and another car. If the insurance company gets smart and someone realizes that something has been done to the car that voids your coverage you could be in serious trouble.

There was an incident with the Porsche club and a modded 993 several years back out here in CO. The 993 had some fairly significant side impact damage after a collision with a wall but because it was a driver education event and they were not running times it was going to be covered by insurance. When the adjuster came out to appraise the damage he noticed that the car had non DOT approved Hoosier slicks mounted -- the claim was denied for this reason.

Insurance companies are not always stupid and will screw you if they can.