Run the front bumper brace or not

Post by **rbsileighty** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Who all has or hasn't removed their front bumper brace to install their FMIC? If it really helps in an accident I would like to keep it, but I would love to pull weight out of the front of the car (especially that far forward) and help FMIC placement. I know some people just cut theirs for fitment, but wouldn't this just negate any structural integ. of the brace?

Let me know your opinions...

Post by **nnkfws333** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

I took mine off. I dunno how much you have to cut off but I agree with your comment that if you cut off too much it doesn't do as much of a job. Im sorta scared at times but what can you do.

Post by **MadSideways** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

I still have mine, I only had to shave the middle a little to clear my greddy FMIC, although it is visible when standing infront of the car. I opted for rigidity over looks.

However, I have heard that the JDM front bumper beam can be substituted as it is much smaller, and will clear without modifications, (I have not substantiated that yet though).

Post by **extheflow** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

i removed mine, even torched off the framerails that extend past the rad support. i'll just try not to crash.

Post by **Kenji180** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

That thing is useless.. take it off.. I got into a front end collision a while back with my frist S13.. didn't do nothing..

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

I would leave it if at all possible, I hacked out the bottom "lip" of the bumper brace and cut out chunks of the supports right in front of the radiator, but I feel much safer knowing that that bumper brace is still 99% intact. Kenji, if it crumpled all up and looked like it didn't do anything, thats kinda the idea

Its not made to deflect a hit without damage, but rather to take the force of the impact and help disipate it BEFORE the engine ends up in your lap. Oh, and this was for a 20x10.5x3 in. intercooler, it now fits perfectly

Post by **ride4lame** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

i like it for peice of mind, a minimal amount has to be cut off for it to fit...i would rather have that hit something in a fender bender then my intercooler,ac condensor, and radiator(as these aren't strong structures)

Post by **ItzGenX** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Mine is off. I kept the little bracket and mounted it back onto the car to help hold the bumper up and in place for the middle areas instead of letting the side screws on the fender hold all the weight. If a frontal collision is strong enough to sandwich the whole fmic and begin to crush the radiator support or motor ends up in your lap, then the hit was too hard to begin with (same amount of damage probably would have happened with the brace there). The FMIC serves as a soft aluminum cushion to me. I didn't like how much the brace weighed and just tossed it.

Post by **zion** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

I agree, even if you get into a front end collision or bump if it is hard enough to move the bumper support than it will move it enough to slam it into you intercooler. either way intercooler=gone

Post by **Cyberkreig** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

I took mine off. I didnt have anything to cut it with. but i have mixed feelings about it. In the event of a very low speed encounter it would certainly have protected my IC.. I'm not so sure about how it would protect me in an event faster than that tho. at the same time.. nissan put it there for a reason..

Oh well its in my attic if a future owner wants it.

Post by **rbsileighty** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

ItzGenX wrote:Mine is off. I kept the little bracket and mounted it back onto the car to help hold the bumper up and in place for the middle areas instead of letting the side screws on the fender hold all the weight. If a frontal collision is strong enough to sandwich the whole fmic and begin to crush the radiator support or motor ends up in your lap, then the hit was too hard to begin with (same amount of damage probably would have happened with the brace there). The FMIC serves as a soft aluminum cushion to me. I didn't like how much the brace weighed and just tossed it.

This is kind of what I was thinking. I wonder if anyone in here has been in a wreck with the brace out?

Post by **unfrgivn** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

The brace will crumple in a head-on collison. The biggest protection up front believe it or not is the styrofoam on the backside of the bumper. Styrofoam absorbs a great deal of the shock in the event of a crash. Once again maybe at VERY slow speed the metal brace will protect you or your car, but at any reasonable speed which someone would be moving, it is worthless.

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

And what does the styrofoam use as a brace while it crumples? Oh thats right...the front bumper brace

Post by **rbsileighty** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

To bad I don't have an autoclave to make a lighter/smaller dry carbon fiber (choosing a weave with similar elasticity to steel) bumper brace. That would solve the whole problem. Oh well...

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Hmmm, now THAT is a good idea, a CF bumper brace thats made to fit FMIC's easier

I'll add that to the list of CF projects to do when summer comes! Well, if you dont mind me stealing your great idea

Post by **rbsileighty** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Go for it... but I want a 10% cut on the profits

Website · Post by **fliprayzin240sx** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

If your so worried bout the bumper itself...id say jes cut as much to fit your FMIC then you can go to a welder and have him weld some rebars into the wut evers left of your bumper to help strenghten it back up. *just an idea*

Post by **RobDET** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Mine is gone... I autocross and i wanted the weight gone so far out front.

Post by **rbsileighty** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

RobDET wrote:Mine is gone... I autocross and i wanted the weight gone so far out front.

Again... I agree with this reasoning, and this is most likely what I will do with my car.

I like your sig... it is definitely true. I have converted 4 honda guys myself.

Post by **BlockHead** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Get rid of that crap, just drive safe and dont wreck. Bumper supports are for sissies.

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Oh dear, I'm a sissy because I like living an un-crippled life

Post by **RobDET** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

BlockHead wrote:Get rid of that crap, just drive safe and dont wreck. Bumper supports are for sissies.

Name Calling?? Just curious do you have bumper support issues?:rolleyes

Post by **180fan** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Dunno guys, the metal part does quite a bit. The previous owner had an accident, and the bumper support did take the brunt of it. He didn't have that energy absorbing foam. The stuff is made of rebar according to the body shop I get my body work done at too, and that stuff's pretty strong. Also it's probably a good idea to not get into accidents in the first place, but if they were completely avoidable they wouldn't be called an accident now would they? I guess it comes down to whether or not you're willing to risk your skin for a little bit less weight or not having to cut the bumper support a little bit to fit an fmic or not.

Post by **BlockHead** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Hell no I dont have any bumper supports. And I wouldnt drive my car if its ever been wrecked, and if it does its time for a new chassis. Do I have bumper support issues, I dont know, I pulled the bumper support before I even tried to fit my intercooler. I live an un-crippled life also. If you are going to wreck your car hard enough that you need a bumper support to stop the collision from continuing into the engine bay, then you deserve to get your stuff jacked up.

Post by **Nathan** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Dude, you live in Dallas...haven't you driven here? There are some crazy ****ers. I'd still prefer not to have someone pull out in front of me when I dont have time to stop or swerve and destroy the front end and make me eat engine. Or the idiots that slam their brakes on on the highway for no apparent reason, or any number of other countless ways you can get in an accident that is UNAVOIDABLE. Besides, nobody is perfect and its extremely likely that at some point you will be the cause of an accident no matter how well you think you drive. Its just smarter to keep the bumper brace on if you daily drive the car, the weight isn't that big of a deal compared to the possible ramifications of taking it off.

Post by **BlockHead** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

Nathan, I didnt see you lived in dallas, I will give you that the ppl here drive like crap. I will also give you if its a daily driver it probably is a better idea to keep it if you can, or make your own bumper support. My front mount it my bumper support :-P. Sileighty depending on where you live and how bad the drivers are you might want to keep it, also if you are daily driving it I would say keep it.

Post by **RobDET** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

BlockHead wrote:Hell no I dont have any bumper supports. And I wouldnt drive my car if its ever been wrecked, and if it does its time for a new chassis. Do I have bumper support issues, I dont know, I pulled the bumper support before I even tried to fit my intercooler. I live an un-crippled life also. If you are going to wreck your car hard enough that you need a bumper support to stop the collision from continuing into the engine bay, then you deserve to get your stuff jacked up.

http://members.aol.com/intwg/flamewars.htm#IPYW

Post by **BlockHead** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

I dont get it, what are you trying to say??? I still have no bumper supports and wont.

Post by **rbsileighty** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

I guess this is what will happen without one...

Post by **180fan** » Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:53 am

yikes.

Run the front bumper brace or not

Run the front bumper brace or not

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