How many people run w/o bumper supports??

[rsmithdrift]

Ok, so my bumper supports are pretty much screwed and the only way to make my bumpers sit right is to remove the supports and not reinstall them or to get new ones. Both front and rear. (sideswiped a guard rail a year ago) The body/chasis are all straightened out but the bumpers are pushed over cause the supports for them are pushed over/bent badly.

New ones are kinda hard to come by atm and they're heavy as hell anyway and I figured most people with body kits don't use them cause they don't fit, I'm considering just going without... Even though I know i'll really be screwed if I get rear ended or rear end somebody/something, even a minor collision I assume would do horrible damage without them.

I know people on here go with out so I want to hear from them. Is it that bad of a idea as to not consider doing?? My car is my DD and I drift it/track it on occasion.

Edit - Read my post farther down this page. The long one, post #36 in this thread. If you want to read something intelligent and intelectual about physics, that is.

[Metal Angel]

you will die if you run without bumper supports.

[Razi]

You could find some at a junkyard.
Some people run without supports, but that usually causes the bumpers to sag.
Or you could cut them?

[conno707]

Looks horrible with out them, well at least the front does.IMO never took the back one off.

[OM3GA]

Look for a used Bumper Support. Really.

[chaosli]

make one welder + tubings
that what i am doing when i get bodykit

[simmode1]

make one welder + tubings
that what i am doing when i get bodykit

Like this one?

[rsmithdrift]

I think I'm going to end up cutting the m'f'er's one of these days. I seem to got it aligned a little better but still not perfect.

I really just can't stand the thought of my car being totalled by someone touching my bumper at 5mph or less and it just caving in cause of no support structure... but god they weigh a TON. That back bumper support easily weighs more than I do so I'm going to cut out the entire middle section and just leave the two ends so I'll still have tow hooks and crash resistance and hopefully remove about fifty pounds in the process. Christ after I do that and plexi my hatch glass and replace that foam/lead 100lb spoiler with a lighter better looking one I'll have removed 100 lbs from just the rear end alone....

[EnjoiNismo]

I don't have one. Haven't had one for over a year.
I've been meaning to get one fabbed up though.

[S14toRPS13]

Check at the local tuning shops to see if they have any lying around. That's where I got mine. They happened to have the jdm version which isn't quite as thick but that also meant I didn't have to modify it to fit my fmic.

[badbob2121]

i had to slightly cut out a little of the lower lip in mine to fit the fmic...took me 20 min...whammy

[krash]

Get a new/used bumper support. Its there for a reason and it weighs so much for a reason.





And thats with a cut support.

[l2edken]

^ holy f***

[nissans13240sx]

Cut or not that car would have looked like that regaurdless. That bumper support isnt going to stop much over 10mph.

[krash]

Uhm. The bumper support would of helped. I don't know if you see the big piece of crushed car where the middle of the bumper support would have been.


Thats a head on collision, both cars going faster than 30. Compare the relative damage.

[badbob2121]

but what he means that any accident over 10mph, damage is going to be severe, with or without a bumper support. yes a bumper support will help...some. but either way your car is f**ked

[krash]

yea the important thing is how f**ked you are though. The bumper support absorbs a good amount of shock.

[EnjoiNismo]

If your going at higher speeds, regardless of bumper support the car is pretty much done for.
Although yes I believe the bumper support would help some, but it will not save the car if its at high speeds.

[badbob2121]

yea the important thing is how f**ked you are though. The bumper support absorbs a good amount of shock.

very true, i agree

i have mine on

[simmode1]

Goddamn. That's some crazy damage! No wonder the USDM 240's weigh more than the JDM ones! Stricter collision standards FTW...

[allenms240]

They save the motor if anything at high speeds. SOOO glad I had one when I had my accident. I don't think I'd be typing this to be honest if it wasn't there. And I was able to move all the parts/motor to a new one because of the support.

[OM3GA]

You definitely need one, that is not even an option.

[HasakiS14-5]

When I bought my car from the previews owner it already had a sloppy S15 front on it, which after I took all of it off and redone it again noticed didn't have any bumper reinforcer or bumper support. Do you guys think a factory Zenkai bumper support work on a JDM S15 bumper!??

[OM3GA]

try it

[HasakiS14-5]

Yeah that's what I have planned, that is whenever I come across a junkyard in the near future.

[Didderson]

You definitely need one, that is not even an option.

[rsmithdrift]

Those pictures say so much more than all the words in the world ever could... holy crap . And yes all those smileys are necessary.

I'm glad I decided to keep mine.

Now I'm reconsidering cutting them... Maybe I wont end up cutting them entirely but just take some weight off of them a little bit. Like keeping the part that attaches to the frame good and strong but cutting off the ends and the middle part of the center almost like that white car but with the top and bottom of the support uncut and just the heavy part inbetween removed. That way the two parts that connect to the frame are still connected to each other so they cant separate like that white car did. I hadn't even considered a center punch with a pole... christ.

[simmode1]

Stuff like this is why I REALLY want a V-mount setup.

[TheBlaiant]

A PBM HMIC is A good IC system too. No need to touch the support.

[SolaraOnBronze]

I have the kouki 180sx bumper support on mine, mainly to keep the bumper from sagging- it does wonders for the bumper fitment. However, it is a lit thinner than the USDM one, as previously mentioned.

If you are so concerned about saving weight, your car should be a dedicated track car. There is no point in compromising your safety while driving to the grocery store to have your car be 20 lbs. lighter. I highly doubt you will actually be able to feel any difference with the weight of the bumper supports gone. Invest in lightweight parts that reduce the rotating mass as well- that's where you can make good gains.