Bumper madness, he's mad I tell you, mad!

A forum for the legendary Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4.
Mike W.
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:59 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti QX4 with a drinking problem. Gas and oil.
2002 BMW 525it
1998 BMW 328is
Location: California Whine Country

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Got the QX4 a couple of years ago now. After close inspection it was apparent it had been in at least a minor front end accident before and I saw it had no bumper! Yes, a bumper cover, but nothing underneath. I figured it was ignored by a body shop taking short cuts. Finally got time, found one in the DIY yard so I set out to harvest it. Donor looked pretty clean in front. After much ado tearing things apart, I found it had nothing under there either! No wonder all I could find on the parts breakdown was a support whose role appeared to be to hold up the plastic bumper cover. Almost thigh high, a little high for a bumper, plus it is just heavy gauge sheet metal, 16 or 18 gauge I'd guess.

So, with what I had on hand I set out to make something. Not a full 5MPH bumper, but something to do a little bit of good, I mean I could push the bumper cover in 4-6" just with a firm push of my foot. And I'm not a big guy nor talking about kicking it. So a 2x4 and some scrap metal later I have a bumper. In retrospect I really should have used a 2x6, but maybe next year.

First pic, what is the purpose of the brackets circled in red. Nice HD brackets, but they attach to nothing! Originally I figured they were what the bumper attached to. After reflection and inspection I would declare them just artwork. Now I've seen worse art, but they weren't doing me any good, just using up .0000001 MPG with added weight.

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Next a sample of my handywork. Yes, it could be better, but it only took an afternoon and will be many times stronger than nothing. Well engineered if I may say so, all of the force should go into the round brackets which mount where the useless ones were.

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Yes, all this I'm sure is heresy, along with my auxiliary electric fan and BMW door brakes that now keep the doors open on a grade. Oh well. :biggrin:


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Niti QX4
Posts: 173
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2017 6:45 am
Car: 2004 Nissan Xterra

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creative!

Hawairish
Posts: 462
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2014 1:43 pm
Car: 2004 Nissan Pathfinder SE 4WD
Location: Surprise, AZ

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The circled thing we've just been calling a "crush can". Nothing mounts to it. It's designed to spread apart when struck as far as I can tell.
As for the bumper, the QX4 version is slimmer than the R50 one, but both are relatively flimsy.

Mike W.
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:59 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti QX4 with a drinking problem. Gas and oil.
2002 BMW 525it
1998 BMW 328is
Location: California Whine Country

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Hawairish wrote:
Mon Aug 12, 2019 11:59 pm
The circled thing we've just been calling a "crush can". Nothing mounts to it. It's designed to spread apart when struck as far as I can tell.
As for the bumper, the QX4 version is slimmer than the R50 one, but both are relatively flimsy.
Interesting, I had no idea it had even an informal name. One of mine was bend up from a shunt before I bought the car but I couldn't see where it would have done any good.

PNW CALI
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:48 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti QX4

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I’m currently doing this project. Had an animal strike and repairing the passenger side. I was able to find an off road style bumper that you have to weld together, but fits to all the current mounting points. Look up coastal off-road and select the pathfinder high clearance bumper. I’ll post something when I’m finished.

Mike W.
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:59 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti QX4 with a drinking problem. Gas and oil.
2002 BMW 525it
1998 BMW 328is
Location: California Whine Country

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Interesting, I hadn't even thought about something like that. A little more than I want to spend on the vacationmobile, but not really unreasonable. And 3/16" steel plate? Might be overkill, but that thing is going to be strong. I might keep an eye out in the yards just in case something similar pops up.

I'm still dumbfounded at a bumper cover with no bumper under it, just a support way up almost to hip level, not bumper level.

PNW CALI
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:48 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti QX4

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Here’s an update on the bumper. Got all the parts, welded them together. Lots of welding sanding and then found great shop to do powder coating. Got a 9K winch b/c why not when harbor freight is making deals. Plus the point of the rig is to handle all terrain for outdoor excursions. All I have left to do is finish some turn signals and flood lights.

Downsides to doing this overhaul, the fog lights and turn signals on the qx4 are wired together and I will need to do some splicing to get those front turn signals going again.

Enjoy!
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Mike W.
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:59 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti QX4 with a drinking problem. Gas and oil.
2002 BMW 525it
1998 BMW 328is
Location: California Whine Country

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I like it. And that's a good lookin' truck. Appears to be a bit higher than mine, or is it just perspective?

PNW CALI
Posts: 16
Joined: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:48 pm
Car: 2003 Infiniti QX4

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It’s a some lift and a bit of deception.

Lift is by Old Man Emu. Fits all pathy and qx4 models of this gen. I got the stuff springs up front to deal with bumper and the winch. That suspension upgrade is said to give about 1/2” lift, maybe a smidge more.

But... I also took the runner boards off and kept them off which def makes it look much taller.

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AZhitman
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Proper!


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