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.

 

[snowborder714]

Bringing this back to show what's on my car now.

My brother and I just installed these on our cars.

Pegasus - Adjustable Toggle Latch with Strike Plate
Pegasus - AN416-1 Light-duty Retainer Pin, 0.75" Capacity

The latches and strike plates are Camlock brand. The retainer pins are an extra safety measure to prevent the latches from opening unintentionally.

We bolted them in with SS 6-32 Tamper Resistant Pin-in-Hex Socket screws and locknuts, with 1/8" aluminum backing plates to distribute the load. I'll be the first to agree with anyone who calls them ugly, but I'll be darned if this isn't one of my favorite modifications! The latches are adjustable, so it actually made my bumper to fender body lines better than they used to be!

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If you're really bored, here's a video
YouTube - DSM bumper latches

 

[dalesmitsu]

thought doing this mine also. Those look good but do they come in powdercoat finish to prevent rust.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

Im gonna be honest, next time i see you, im gonna kick both of you in the dick for finding the ugliest way to do that. . Seriously. Its super functional, but wow that looks ugly.

 

[MrP]

im confused as to why you couldnt do the exact same latches from the inside of the fender/bumper cover.

and just have a pair of black screws on the outside?

 

[snowborder714]

thought doing this mine also. Those look good but do they come in powdercoat finish to prevent rust.

My brother said they do have some coating on them so they shouldn't rust.

Im gonna be honest, next time i see you, im gonna kick both of you in the dick for finding the ugliest way to do that. . Seriously. Its super functional, but wow that looks ugly.

im confused as to why you couldnt do the exact same latches from the inside of the fender/bumper cover.

and just have a pair of black screws on the outside?

But how would that be quick release then? You'd have to take stuff off (i.e. fender liner) to get to them, which negates the purpose.

 

[MrP]

oh right i forgot about the fender liners, but i would rather just cut out a section of fender liner and reach in and release it, not like your in a nascar pit stop hurry right?

 

[dalesmitsu]

oh right i forgot about the fender liners, but i would rather just cut out a section of fender liner and reach in and release it, not like your in a nascar pit stop hurry right?

^this is what I have in mind.

 

[Kyle_T]

But how would that be quick release then? You'd have to take stuff off (i.e. fender liner) to get to them, which negates the purpose.

Yea, but you have to take the fender liner off the bumper anyways to get the bumper free.

 

[JStrateger]

Yea, but you have to take the fender liner off the bumper anyways to get the bumper free.

Ditto,

The latches look really good though snowboarder. I would maybe get them powder coated or painted to match your car.

Whats on the bumper that makes them snap to the fender?

 

[yukiz]

why would you put quick release on bumper? i mean, that's giving chance somebody to steal your bumper.....

 

[Bishikid]

why would you put quick release on bumper? i mean, that's giving chance somebody to steal your bumper.....

some of us get towed so often we have tow trucks on our speed dials! and our bumpers always get scraped when getting towed onto the flatbed

this idea is so that we can take our bumpers off nice an quick, to save our bumpers

 

[turbosax2]

If anyone can show me how those latches could have been installed on the inside of the fender to actually serve as a quick release latch, hold the bumper cover on reliably, and stand up to road racing (even with aero pieces on the front), I would like to see it done. We didn't see this being possible.

These cars aren't really driven on the street enough to worry about someone stealing the bumper. And even if they tried to, there are still fasteners under the hood they can't get to. The purpose of the latches is for getting the bumper off quickly, obviously, to allow working on the front end of the car easier. This is meant to be a mod for racing where making the car easier to work on is very important.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

If anyone can show me how those latches could have been installed on the inside of the fender to actually serve as a quick release latch, hold the bumper cover on reliably, and stand up to road racing (even with aero pieces on the front), I would like to see it done. We didn't see this being possible.

These cars aren't really driven on the street enough to worry about someone stealing the bumper. And even if they tried to, there are still fasteners under the hood they can't get to. The purpose of the latches is for getting the bumper off quickly, obviously, to allow working on the front end of the car easier. This is meant to be a mod for racing where making the car easier to work on is very important.

Dude, your car is monster truck status. And is completely stock, dont kid yourself or us, you arent road racing.

 

[hubz91talontsi]

Quick release Bumper Kits - DSM Classifieds

Whats wrong with these?

 

[4gst]

Those are the ones that I have on my car. I think they look good and come on and off easily.
The install took no longer than an hour.

http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k632/4gst/2011-02-01_16-48-41_385.jpg

 

[frostyzx]

Quick release Bumper Kits - DSM Classifieds

Whats wrong with these?

If I had to choose, I would go with these. Way more classy with the minimalistic look. They are also flush to the bumper.

 

[aba60620]

Dude, your car is monster truck status. And is completely stock, dont kid yourself or us, you arent road racing.

BAHAHAHAHAHA road racing, get real I would have done suspension mods long before putting those hideous latches on my fenders.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

BAHAHAHAHAHA road racing, get real I would have done suspension mods long before putting those hideous latches on my fenders.

Jokes on you dude. Im making fun of him because i know he has a 2 thousand dollar suspension waiting to be put on. GTFO dude.

 

[TSI from Hell]

Quick release Bumper Kits - DSM Classifieds

Whats wrong with these?

Hmm. Those does look pretty good/practical.

The one on snowboarders car are fugly but seem easier to work with, and I'm sure that if they where poweder coated black or something they'd look alright.

 

[turbosax2]

Dude, your car is monster truck status. And is completely stock, dont kid yourself or us, you arent road racing.

Ok ok, you got me there. But someday I'll be racing!

And we just felt these latches were better suited for the task than Dzus fasteners. But I will agree that gixrman's kit is very well designed and they do look much better than the way we did it. He did a great job with those kits!

 

[Sik95TSI]

Im gonna be honest, next time i see you, im gonna kick both of you in the dick for finding the ugliest way to do that. . Seriously. Its super functional, but wow that looks ugly.

++++++2 yeah that shit is ugly haha!!!

 

[V8killer23]

Quick release Bumper Kits - DSM Classifieds

Whats wrong with these?

Might have to make this myself, very easy and wont cost $45

 

[JStrateger]

Snowboarder/turbosax2, whats on the bumper that makes them snap to the fender like in the video?

 

[snowborder714]

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The little gold part is mounted to the fender. Then the arm from the silver section, which is mounted on the bumper, hooks on to it, and you close the clasp. You might be able to see, but the circle tube that's on the bottom of the arm section passes through the hole in the body of the silver section, and then seats down in to it, 'locking' it in place. You can kind of see how the hole size in the silver section shrinks towards the bottom of it in the left image.

Hopefully this helps!

 

[JStrateger]

I was actually talking about where the bolts would originally hold the bumper to the fender. It looks like some kind of snapping pins. These guys:

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