It's not a 5-mph requirement; it was changed to a 2-mph requirement many years ago. I remember that they came out with new bumpers to address complaints that bumpers were so light (to reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency, and to reduce costs) that they didn't really serve to effectively mitigate damage. After we got new, 5-mph bumpers (ATT), it cost a mint to have even a very minor accident (>6-mph or <5-mph at an angle that wasn't tested) that people started seeing soaring insurance rates to pay for soaring repair costs. After enough complaining, the law was reduced to 2-mph--don't you remember your insurance rates and repair costs dropping sharply? LOL. NOT! Anyway, the bottom line is that the bumper standard does not even apply to SUVs and trucks--which I guess is where the Jeep must fall. Here's everything you could possibly want to know about bumpers, without having to read fed-speak in some technical manual:

NHTSA Website Bumper FAQ

I found of particular interest the comment that bumpers are designed only to protect the vehicle, not the occupants. So, any company or person that suggests Jeep put crush cans into the JK for sound engineering reasons, and that removing them will reduce protection of the occupants, is reaching a bit.

 

Wow! This thread has become very informative. WOL should filter out the facts from this thread and make it a sticky ;-)

 

there are dozens of threads on this subject already.

 

I would love to see some pics of them, and if possible one with the substructure pulled out?

All the pics I have seen to date of the euro bumpers suggest this structure is the same, but until i see one purposefully dismantelled to show the differences i obviously cant be 100% sure.

 

Well, there's the proof!


Thanks for the pic.

Seems to add more proof that the dumb cans where added just to pass some stupid Federal mandate.

 

I know...isn't crazy!

 

Here's the proof. Read it and weep, defenders of the stock bumper. The crush cans and even the bumper are NOT A SAFETY FACTOR! Quote from NHSTA:> "It is not a safety feature intended to prevent or mitigate injury severity to occupants in the passenger cars. Bumpers are designed to protect the hood, trunk, grille, fuel, exhaust and cooling system as well as safety related equipment such as parking lights, headlamps and taillights in low speed collisions."

Here's the article for those that don't trust a newbie. > http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/proble...-Federal-_-DOT

 

Thank you! RIP crush can threads! :-p

 

that looks like a TJ bumper!

 

PIAJ just wants to keep this thread on life support for a while longer. Lol!