Front Bumper Quick Release/Removal

[95CarbonEclipse]

OK, so i've done a pretty extensive search and haven't found anything similar or related to this in anyway. I also apologize ahead of time if this isn't the correct section to post something like this.

How many of us DSMers have found themselves in need of a tow? How many of us dread seeing the flatbead load/unload and then scrape the crap out of our front bumper? How many times have you pulled that front bumper off to tinker with something under the hood of your car either at home or at the track?

I'm thinking about rigging up some sort of quick release latch or some way to quickly remove my front bumper. I was thinking of some sort of latch on the outside fender that would clasp the fender to the bumper. Something like http://www.inlandrv.com/parts/19183-latch.jpg But, i can't think of how to attach the upper front part between the headlights. Anyone have any ideas on how to do this or seen it done before? What are your guys' thoughts? ANY help, or ideas on this would be greatly appreciated. THX

For the outside fenders I was thinking that a latch that locked would be WAY more practical so I did some digging online and came up with this.

 

[silver eclipse]

You best bet would be zues fastners. That what they use on race cars with fiber glass bodies. The little twist deals that have a hook on one side, I will try and find a link.
-Chad

Summit calls them quarter turn, but at the shop I used to work on, these are what was on the drag car http://store.summitracing.com/partd...&N=700+4294922918+4294915935+115&autoview=sku

 

[snox135]

It would take some work but you could try mounting it with quarter turn DZUS fasteners. A lot of race cars use these for panels.

http://www.southco.com/product/default.aspx?hid=7514

 

[VPrime]

My bumper is held on by zip ties..
I have bolt sin the easy access spots, but on the sides where it connects to the fender i used zip ties.

Works perfect, Its strong, no issues in the year I had it on. Snow didnt rip bumper off or any thing.

Only down fall is that you cant get the zip ties super tight, and the sides have a small gap (like 1 or 2 mm more then stock)

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

My bumper is held on by zip ties..
I have bolt sin the easy access spots, but on the sides where it connects to the fender i used zip ties.

Works perfect, Its strong, no issues in the year I had it on. Snow didnt rip bumper off or any thing.

Only down fall is that you cant get the zip ties super tight, and the sides have a small gap (like 1 or 2 mm more then stock)

Yea, that's how my stock bumper is held on right now, but aside from all of the annoyong things about zip ties that you just mentioned, it's a major PITA to have to re-zip tie and re-stock your supply. It's just not that practical in my book.

I do like the Moroso quick release fasteners from Summit, but i guess i just don't understand how they work really? Would these work for both the outside fender>bumper AND underneath the hood between the headlights?

 

[1FASTRICE]

Under the hood take less than a minute to unbolt. Thats a quick enough release for me. Leaving that stock along with the zeus flush fasteners is the way Im going... Thanks for the idea! Im done with my zip tied sides too!

 

[silver eclipse]

They have a bar that is riveted to the chassi. The "quarter turn" part is riveted to the body panel. They are spring loaded and when you push in and turn they clip on to the bar.
Sorry if thats not a good explanation. I just wasnt sure how to word it. They are extemely simple to use and may work really well for this.
-Chad

You would want to take a piece of tubing that would support the bumper cover because they wont support it themselfs

 

[knighteclipse1]

I'd love to see someone do a tech article on this. Any takers?

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

I'm going to be having some body work done here very soon and am definitly going to do this mod in order to preserve my paintjob. I'm thinking i might even paint the fasteners to make it more cosmetically appealing, but even if i decide to leave them polished, i think it'll look pretty tough. If nobody has done an install/write up on this when i do mine, then i'll definitly write a Tech Article up on it.

They have a bar that is riveted to the chassi. The "quarter turn" part is riveted to the body panel. They are spring loaded and when you push in and turn they clip on to the bar.
Sorry if thats not a good explanation. I just wasnt sure how to word it. They are extemely simple to use and may work really well for this.
-Chad

I think i understand... the hook/bar would be riveted behind the actual bumper and the quarter turn w/ plate would be mounted to the fender, right? That'd make it look pretty clean.

 

[snox135]

If you use them in place of the stock fasteners, no one will see them. They will be harder to get to but it will still be quick.

 

[silver eclipse]

Yes the plate mounts the the fender/bumper cover.

 

[SnowBird]

Just bolt a couple easily acessible holes, and ziptie the rest, but pull the shit out of the zip ties with pliers to get them tight/snug

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Okay, so i've been looking into the Zeus Fasteners and after thinking about how i could make this work, i've decided that the best way would be to do it would be to install some sort of a mounting bracket to the inside of the fender and then hanging down below so that you can mount the bumper 'over' the bracket and then screw the fastener through the bumper and into the bracket, like so:

 

[silver eclipse]

I really like that idea.
Keep in mind like ive stated before that you arent going to want to Zeus fastners soley supporting the wieght. Make a piece of straight tubing that slides inside a slightly bigger tube or something of that idea to hold it on.
Maybe have the bracket L shaped with a hook that can slide on top.
-Chad

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

I didn't realize that was what you meant in your earlier post. That makes a ton of sense though. It'd have to be 2 brackets, one on the fender and another on the bumper, that slide together and then bolt up with the Zeus fasteners. Good thinking.

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

subscribe. I can yank my front end in about 6 minutes with the tooks in my car, but I think a nice clip or some sort on each side would be sweet. I think about it too and give my 2cents later on..gotta run to class

 

[silver eclipse]

Im definatly contimplating doing this now that ive been thinking about it .
Maybe when I do my FMIC, but wont be for a while.
-Chad

 

[BigRedMonster]

Brilliant!!!!

 

[BigRedMonster]

It's cool to come to a new forum and see new creative ideas, sorry

 

[EclipseTrbo420A]

Im gonna try something like this it will be flush and CLEAN

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Im gonna see all the ones I can find

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Kind of nice idea but worth the effort? I have 4 bolts holding my bumper on. It's pretty much quick release already.

 

[thegchild04]

Kind of nice idea but worth the effort? I have 4 bolts holding my bumper on. It's pretty much quick release already.

i know, i can take the front bumper of my car off in the dark way before the tow truck gets there

 

[Raph]

Im gonna try something like this it will be flush and CLEAN

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Im gonna see all the ones I can find

ust that combined with a bracket.. place them where the side marker light is.. easy

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

Nice! Matt, where did you find those at? As i was saying in my first post, i was thinking something that locked would be ideal.

 

[crazy_skier]

yeah but the whole point of this is being able to do it without any wrenches which I think is awesome... if you figure something out post it in the tech section and you will have followers (me)