What is inside the US bumper shock absorbers?

[Pazuzu]

I've searched, and found nothing.

What exactly is in there? A spring? Compressed fluids? Can they be gutted?

I want to take mine, disable them, shorten them, and use that extra room finish shaving my rear bumper, and possible pull the entire bumper blade inwards, tucked further under the car. Can I drill them out, shorten them, and pin them? Can they be disassembled?

[the]

I'd think they are like most bumper shocks - some kind of compressed air/oil.

I know that's how they are on an 80s BMW. People used to drill them, shorten them and pin them. I did it once, when the drill breaks through, you get a squirt of oil and the compressed air comes out, not a big deal but best not to have your eyes wide open and 2 inches away at the time.

[oneblueyedog]

I want to know too. Hope it's not anything like the acid in golfball centers.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by the

I'd think they are like most bumper shocks - some kind of compressed air/oil.

I know that's how they are on an 80s BMW. People used to drill them, shorten them and pin them. I did it once, when the drill breaks through, you get a squirt of oil and the compressed air comes out, not a big deal but best not to have your eyes wide open and 2 inches away at the time.

That's fine with me! As long as their fluid/air, I can deal with them, but if they were a spring or something it becomes harder. I figure that I might even be able to pierce them, compress them somewhat, then seal them again, and retain a (tiny) but of shock absorption.

[the]

Even with a small hole, they retain some shock absorption (or all least some "sticktion"). On my BMW, I didn't even pin them. Just drilled the tiny hole to let out the pressure, bumped the front end into a post to compress it, and left it. Sometimes a car would bump it during parking maneuvers, that would push it in. It would not bounce back out, but I'd be able to just pull it back into place.