Bumper Beam Delete?

[Anorexic 86]

So the track only 86 is going on another diet and I'm wondering if removing the bumper beams would compromise the frames structural integrity on this model... mainly up front.

I have seen bumper beam replacement braces from Beatrush but don't really want those or any other except for strut tower and suspension.

And does anyone know the weight of the stock beams?

Thanks in advance


Updated thanks to @Anthony


Front bumper beam weight: 15 lbs.



Rear bumper beam weight: 12.4 lbs.

[7thgear]

yeah i'd like to know too

my old 01 Impeza had steel beams at 25 lb each (front and back) that could be replaced with japanese aluminium pieces at like 6lb each.

if you're going to do track only you can get rid of the whole thing and just weld a hollow pipe between the two beams to maintain rigidity

just keep in mind your car will become much more susceptible to frontal damage in the event of a crash, how confident are you that you will never hit anything head on?

[Superhatch]

I can't speak for Subarus but I know that with my track Hondas removing the front beam was always like removing a front sway bar. It reduced understeer and made turn in a lot sharper, but also made the car more loose up front in esses.

The intention of these are to distribute the frontal forces in a crash to the rest of the frame and are usually an integral part of the front structure. I can only imagine that removing it will result in a change in the way the car reacts.

I will say that the JDM front rebar pieces were always thinner and lighter due to their less stringent crash testing, so using that as a replacement was always a good choice to loose some weight. Not sure if that is an option for us or not?

[Anorexic 86]

My only other experience deleting a front bumper beam was on a 2005 STI.

It shaved 30 lbs. off the nose of the car...

Then I deleted the huge U crash-brace under the engine which didn't even come on the Spec. C version in Japan. That was another 30 lbs. of dead weight off the front of the car. Then 20 lbs. were cut with a lightweight battery

So in total, 80 lbs. were removed off the front end and it transformed that STI from a dull box cutter into a weaponized X-acto blade.

Never did I find any cracks or broken spot welds after the deletes... even after heavy track abuse for 7 years.

Thanks Fuji Heavy for the memories!

[sw20kosh]

Resurrecting this from the dead to see if there is new insight into the crash being integral to structural rigidity of the frame.

[philooo]

I assume you could remove it without problem

But if you have any front impact the your frame will certainly be toast right away without that important part which absorb crash energy.

[xwd]

I'm sure it adds some tiny bit of rigidity but I can't see it being all that much. The frame in those areas is already fairly rigid.

As for the frame being toast, there is no frame behind the beam except on the sides where it attaches. There is stuff like the radiator core support, etc. but those aren't really part of the frame. If you took an angular impact where you hit where the beam attached to the frame, the frame would likely be shot anyways with or without the front crash beam.

[sw20kosh]

Going to see if this solves the 230+ coolant temps. I am being told that heads lift at temps that high...

[mike the snake]

I'm running the Drift Armor drift bar on my BRZ. Loving it so far, it lets a lot more air in through the front, especially with my intercooler covering basically the entire front grill opening.

I also cut holes in the solid plastic "mouthpiece" that also helps let more air in. The stock crash beam is directly behind the mouthpiece, so cutting the holes and going with the drift bar actually added a lot of opening area.

[sw20kosh]

Originally Posted by mike the snake

I'm running the Drift Armor drift bar on my BRZ. Loving it so far, it lets a lot more air in through the front, especially with my intercooler covering basically the entire front grill opening.

I also cut holes in the solid plastic "mouthpiece" that also helps let more air in. The stock crash beam is directly behind the mouthpiece, so cutting the holes and going with the drift bar actually added a lot of opening area.

You would t happen to have any before/after impressions or data?

[KevinS]

Fwiw, I think I remember reading a post from Robispec that they removed both F & R beams and found zero difference in frame flex.

[mrk1]

Given how the beam attaches (small bolts on one plane) I don't believe it has any effect on torsional strength. Sure looks like it meant for what you would think, frontal crashing.

Rigidity or not I'd like to have at least something in front.

[abraxis]

Originally Posted by mrk1

Rigidity or not I'd like to have at least something in front.

Here you go.

[VacantSky]

I mean if you hit something hard enough, cage bucket and harness or not, I hope your legs like eating fa20 for dinner... I'd at least have something up there.