Lightweight quick detach front bumper

[ross_jsy]

I have been thinking of solutions for removing the heavy fibreglass bumper bar from inside my m-tech kit (and possibly standard bumpers?). The reinforcement and shock absorbers weigh around 7.2kg's and I am keen to remove as much weight from the front to offset the heavy m50.

I had seen a few solutions where people have used bonnet pins, but I wanted a cleaner way of doing it. I purchased these:

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorspor ... on-release

My plan is to make a bracket that bolts in place of the standard shock out of 10mm ali (thanks to ross2009 for sorting me out with that) and mount the pin, a bit like this:



And then epoxy in a bracket to hold the head of the quick release to the bumper



When it's all finished it will be super light and will look standard, with no ugly bonnet pins

[rix313]

Sounds like a plan mate How easy are the buttons to 'release'? Be a nice idea on the race car but be afraid about bumping into some one and then the bumper just falling off.

[ross_jsy]

I've pulled on it as hard as I can as that was something I was worried about but it won't release without pressing the button. The button will be hidden behind the plastic cap on the bumper so no chance of that happening

[327ire]

Interesting stuff. I made fiberglass wings recently and plan on reducing some more weight over summer. I see you can get a full bumper and lower section in fiberglass for £135 posted from lativa on fleebay so Im not bothered making my own.

Are you still using the standard bumper side fittings? Is it road legal to remove the shocks? Id love to get the measurements of the brackets when you make them.

[ross_jsy]

Yep, will be using the standard slide mounts on the side. No idea on the legality of it, but would imagine it's fine.

Brackets are just going to be a rectangle that's approx 20mm x 110mm with 3 holes drilled in it

[Demlotcrew]

I bought a pair of these too ;)

But I got them from the UK sellers of the original US manufacturer.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 1149521199

They are a little less but essentially the same thing.

Theres a cool video on youtube of these being used to hold up an engine so I think you will be just fine. My only comment would be to add reinforcement to the inside of the FG bumper skin

If my doors didn't have the cutouts for the external handles then this is what I would use

[ross_jsy]

They are nice bits of kit, very well made.

I really hate bonnet pins and Aerocatches showing so going to try and get clever with these mounted upside down to hold the bonnet down so you won't see anything

[Demlotcrew]

Sounds like a good plan, you would need at least three for the front of bonnet and two at the back, will be interesting to see what solution you come up with

[ross_jsy]

I'm thinking of using the standard rear locators on the DTM spec bonnet, then I hope to get away with 2 at the front as they are reinforced, not the lightest, but they won't be flapping around and have pins all over it so a good compromise.

Are you using a carbon bonnet? Can't remember

[Demlotcrew]

Yeah I have a carbon bonnet, the outer skin is Carbon fibre but the inner skin is FG so not terribly strong. for a metal bonnet two at the front are enough, for a composite panel I would say three at the front with one behind the badge as a minimum.

[rix313]

My FG bonnet has been fine with 2 at the front. I have a 3rd to fit but haven't felt the need at the present moment.

[Demlotcrew]

Going too slow if the bonnet is not lifting in the middle, it's quite a problem. My full carbon bonnet is having quite a bit of reinforcement in the leading edge to stiffen things up.