V2Rocket

wondering what people's experiences have been over the years with crashes etc with regards to the actual effectiveness of the front panzer bumper. its supposed to be a 5mph bumper but how often do you hit things at that speed...

Potomac-Greg

I've heard that offset hits cause the bumper mounts to bend/tear the frame. Some 944 racers actually modify the bumpers so the mounts break rather than transfer the blow to the frame.

M758

I went into 4 layers tires at 40 mph or so. No damage other the bumper being pushed in and some slightly bent sheet metal. The radiator support was moved back, but I was able to get it back in position. Frame was perfect.


I also saw car to car contact where the 944 front bumper works a battering ram. It crushes the other car while only pressing in the bumper shocks.

In gentle impact it helps reduce frame damage.

In a medium offset impact it can twist the bumper shocks damaging the front frame.

In a hard impact it will distribute load from one side to the other frame rails this allowing each to deform less while absobing the same loads.

So 2 of 3 cases it nice benefit. Plus the bumper work great for a tow point and even can be used the lift the entire front end of the car if needed.

V2Rocket

good to know...have you ever hit anything more solid though? or seen other racer's after stuffing into a wall/other car?

Lemming

A few years ago I hit a concrete wall at about 25 mph. Hit occurred on the front right of the bumper. Both frame rails were bent towards the driver's side about 3 inches but suspension points were not moved. Tied it to a tree and jerked it straight

V2Rocket

just tied it and reversed? lol

starting to sound like the bumper/shocks are only really useful in a head-on crash, from the side or an angle they cause more damage than they prevent?

elzergone

Welp,

Last year I slid into the tow hitch of a truck going about 35. Pushed in one side about as far as it can go, and kinda tweaked everything else up front out of alignment.

ideola

elzer, you're lucky. On the street nowadays, they're pretty much useless, as just about everything you will smack head on or in a front-to-rear collision is going to go over the bumper anyway.

V2Rocket

think like a collapsible sheetmetal bracket like the euro bumpers use would be better? probably would do a better job of absorbing a crash, wouldnt tweak the frame (probably bend or shear) and would weigh nearly nothing

M758

One racer plowed in to the back of another at speed. 40 mph difference.. Bend the rear frame on the lead car zero damage to following car.


In anothe case one driver got spun around and hit a wall a 90 MPH. However due to spin he did not hit at 90 mph directly. It was more of glancing blow and the car was going about 90 when it got turn sideways and then nosed into the wall, but at that speed alot of bad things can happen. Bend the frame. I could not tell if it was bend past shock towers, but it appered so.


Another... Street wreck offset-head on a withe chevy pickup. Drivers side hit hard and severely bent tub. Bot frame rails bent and pass compartment got a litttle tweaked. However driver with 3pt belts un hurt.

M758

Keep it stock. I have seen lots of time a bumper gets pushed in from light contact. All you need to do with bumpershocks is pull them out or a worst replace them.

5pm impacts may seem rare, but on track 5-10 mph impacts are pretty east to do. Just consided the lead car car slowing from 70 to 60 mph and ctching out he trailing car.. Whack....

Geldfalle 944

Seems like there are more and more good chassis' out there since they get parted out for other reasons. I am leaving mine stock. I can always pick up another.

ideola

Would be good to know the context of your original question: street or track?

My point was unless you hit another 924/944, the bumper is probably below the bumper of a modern car. The type of bumper shock you have is irrelevant because the bumper won't take the collision, your header panel or rear taillight panel will take the brunt of the hit. I've seen it more than once.

I have no qualms getting rid of the ugly US bumper shocks, whether collapsing them or switching to a Euro style. A good insurance policy is all I need for peace of mind.

josephsc

I've t-boned another vehicle at a fairly low speed in a 968 on the street (maybe 30mph?) -- impact bent the frame on both sides pretty good....

Wipeout

I had a front to rear collision at about 25mph. Same as josephsc - frame bent on both sides.