Anybody using aftermarket fiberglass bumpers and NOT using the bumper shocks?

[nippy]

I have the bumpers and my car doesnt have the shocks...one mechanic told me its normal for weight cutting/track car...true?Should I install them?
82 SC

[stormmaster]

shocks are useless with glass bumpers...if you have an impact they are toast anyway....just enjoy the look...I just redid my car with glass bumpers....just be careful driving....

[pete917]

Some people just go back to crush tubes and some install nerf bars.

[James Brown]

Anything you do will just be crushed. Even a small impact will shatter the fiberglass and thats ok, its cheap to replace.

[pplkook]

I am sure this has been covered, but lets say you get in an accident, and the cops/insurance notice that you have modified your car and have fiberglass bumpers, what is your liability (in the US)?

-Jack

[dicklague]

liability? fiberglass probably does less damage that the steel bumpers on the old cars.

[SCOTITUDE]

glass bumpers, no bumper shocks but its a track car. id do it on a street car too. all is toast anyway if you crush it. No liability, manufacturers are mandated to 5mph bumpers, not owners.

[David]

I have no shocks on my fiberglass bumpers. I just try not to hit stuff

[magnuskgc]

Now-a-days even factory bumpers are plastic covers for an "impact" bar. If you want to use the shocks get a 2x4 peice of aluminum stock and make a piece that will fit behind the fiberglass bumper and attach to the shocks.

If it is good enough for the new cars it should work ok.

[pete917]

Originally Posted by magnuskgc

now-a-days even factory bumpers are plastic covers for an "impact" bar. If you want to use the shocks get a 2x4 peice of aluminum stock and make a piece that will fit behind the fiberglass bumper and attach to the shocks.

If it is good enough for the new cars it should work ok.

+1

[MrPerkles]

Originally Posted by magnuskgc

Now-a-days even factory bumpers are plastic covers for an "impact" bar. If you want to use the shocks get a 2x4 peice of aluminum stock and make a piece that will fit behind the fiberglass bumper and attach to the shocks.

If it is good enough for the new cars it should work ok.

new cars are designed and tested that way ours arent ,fibreglass bumpers are cosmetic only on ours and useless in an impact with our without a nerf bar
But I suppose what should work ok means,as people say above best not to hit something isnt it

[pete917]

Yep, modern cars are design to crumple, where's the older 911's werent. The impact tubes were only designed for something like 5mph impact.

Having a nerf bar attached to crush tubes will achive a similar impact resistance, but above very low speads are worthless....

So best to avoid things that go bump

[drl911]

I did this several years ago...

[magnuskgc]

My point was if you fabricated a bar that attached to the shocks and mounted that behind the figerglass bumper, it may offer some protection against that 5 mph crash becoming a lot larger problem.
let say you only have the cosmetic fiberglass bumper with nothing else... you "bump" something straight on... fiberglass breaks and next in line it he front bulkhead.. but if you had a bar there attached to the shocks.. at least there is something that acts just like the metal bumper that Porsche intended fron the factory.
As far as the testing.. yes you are all correct but mounting a bar to use with the shocks staty with the way the car was disigned.

[pete917]

Originally Posted by magnuskgc

My point was if you fabricated a bar that attached to the shocks and mounted that behind the figerglass bumper, it may offer some protection against that 5 mph crash becoming a lot larger problem.
let say you only have the cosmetic fiberglass bumper with nothing else... you "bump" something straight on... fiberglass breaks and next in line it he front bulkhead.. but if you had a bar there attached to the shocks.. at least there is something that acts just like the metal bumper that Porsche intended fron the factory.
As far as the testing.. yes you are all correct but mounting a bar to use with the shocks staty with the way the car was disigned.

I agree. That's what I was trying to say in my earlier posts.

[Pazuzu]

The only thing that would actually impact a FG bumper would be a sports car, anything else on the road today is gonna go right over that and directly smack your engine lid...

[GaryR]

No shocks behind my bumpers but I think if I was building it again I would leave them and put a bar connecting them to keep any light/medium hit away from the tub. I may even add them back up front as I am at the edge of my weight in class and the weight low and up front would be fine..

[pmason]

None here also, originally was thinking some kind of nerf bars but never worked that out.

[Bill Verburg]

Mine was a European model which came w/ crush tubes not the hyd. US bumper shocks,

I use the rears in the front w/ a nerf bar between them & to hang the center mount oil cooler, the fronts are in back but shortened, also w/ a nerf bar.

Neither set is used to attach the f/g bumpers they are a separate system that floats behind the glass.

I don't expect them to do much in any serious impact.

[Jim Garfield]

I don't think having the crush or shock tubes is going to help much unless you are running into another 911 at walking pace. In most cases the other cars bumper is going to be higher, and the impact will be at headlight or engine cover level.

Assuming the car is not at Paris - Dakar Rally height.