I'm in my garage staring at the front bumper beam. It looks heavy. It's the forward most weight on this car. Is the JDM bumper beam a direct bolt on? If so is it lighter? Or can we find a company to make us something lighter. I just don't have the cajones to remove it altogether but there is serious weight loss potential. Any ideas fitfreakers?


Or maybe I could fab something up with an aluminum pipe?

 

I also worry if it plays a roll in the structural rigidity of the front end suspension and motor mounts.

 

edit: You are talking about the bumper - disregard this post.

To summarize what I thought along the lines of the bumper cover in the old post, removing the fog lights, or getting the base model version might shave a few pounds.

Double edit: As for swapping bumpers, I think that, at the very least, it would cause problem with your insurance company if you got into a wreck.

 

The bumper beam, aka 5mph bar (5 mph crash-bar)? I would not remove it, but that's me. We tested the weight of the 5 mph bumper beams on some Acura Integras back in the day (94-01 models), the bumper bar was under 15 lbs in weight, and thus I deemed it not worth the removal. You could try and weigh the one on the Fit, but I doubt it's anything worth jeopardizing front-end collision safety.

Here's the purpose of that bar, its required by US law. "The most rigorous requirements applied to 1980 through 1982 model vehicles; 5 miles per hour (8 km/h) front and rear barrier and pendulum crash tests were required, and no damage was allowed to the bumper beyond a 3⁄8 in (10 mm) dent and 3⁄4 in (19 mm) displacement from the bumper's original position.[5]" They reduced the speed regulations to cut costs later, but many say it has had an impact on safety.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumper_(automobile)



#6 and #16 in the diagram are the 5 mph bumpers on the Fit Sport.

 

light batt + fiberglass hood + a/c delete + retarded passenger side wiper assembly delete + a quarter fill or less of window washer fluid instead of full tap would shed significant weight without any law bending, safety compromise and does not make any insurance company raise an eyebrow if god forbid an accident.

 

But, I am the insurance company. I'm going to talk to one of our adjusters about it tomorrow. What if I had a lightweignt bumper and beam AND all the above

 

**Rise from the Dead**

Was looking at something like this moments ago.
OEM Honda Part 71130-T5R-A00ZZ | Front Bumper Beam

16.6lbs on the 2015 Honda Fit. Item #14


Yeah, I wouldn't change this out. Obey the law! Safety First!

HOWEVER, if anyone find something significantly lighter, send me a PM.

 

be aware that modifying your bumper WILL cause your car toi fail inspection if you have to pass annual and the inspector catches you. worse, if your insurance company catches you you're in for being dropped from insuror.
that goes for all safety and emissions regs.
if you are an adjuster you'll also get a sound tonque lashing for tampering with government required safety requirements.

 

Why try to replace it? Save gas? I would think the cost of doing any replacement would be far more than any fuel savings. I would like to think Honda knew what they were doing when they designed it.

 

Typically the OEM "Re-bars" (industry agnomen for reinforcement bars) are very heavy. I have removed and weighed the rebars and there isn't much of a weight savings on the FIT. Maybe a 5 lbs savings, maybe.

Bumper Bars are for racing/ track purposes (only) to shave weight. On the track typically you are harnessed and caged into the car; an OEM rebar wont do much. But on the street the OEM rebar absorbs impact force in an accident. The Bumoer Braces are very unsafe for the street.

BRZ Bumper Brace example:


If you have a pipe bender you can make a custom one:



I have seen teams "hole saw" patterns into the OEM rebars to save weight also (I am having a hard time finding a good pic):

 

Thanks for sharing the pictures.

 

For the 2015 they had something like a recall where they replaced the front bumper beam to get the cars rating up in the small overlap crash test. If I were gong to replace the one in my 2013 I would be looking to put in a stronger stouter one that would shift some of that corner impact to the other side of the car!