s14 rear bumper bar removal...OK?

[Brentbohn]

So i just got my vis body kit and got the front bumper on no problems... went to the rear and found the exhaust cut out on the bumper is hitting my rear bumper crash bar... what are you guys doing about this.... i see alot of custom exhaust that is very flush with this area... did ya remove the bar,, cut it in half or am i just stupid?

[garagelu]

I actually had the same problem with my exhaust. I wouldnt remove the rebar because it will do more damage if you dont have that there. What you need to do is just take an angle grinder and grind it down a little. Just be careful not to hit your bumper. Oh and you will have to remove your muffler to do this of course.

[Brentbohn]

right well id have to remove about 3.5 inches and the bar is 5 inches top to bottom.. seems like taking it out would do the same... weaken it too much

[khilgers]

if you have to take out that much I would just get rid of it all together. Either that or cut out what you need to and weld something in to at least give it some additional strength.

edit: I didn't realize you said the exhaust cutout on the bumper was hitting. If that's the case I would just trim the cutout instead of removing/cuting the bumper beam.

[garagelu]

Im suprised you have to take 3.5 inches out to clear your exhaust. Are you sure your exhaust is sitting right? At the most you shouldnt have to take more than an 1 or 2 inches out. For a daily driven car I would like that rebar there. It absorbs alot of the energy in a rear end collision. You know, its there for a reason.

[jackjack]

its hitting the crash bar? hmmm thats weird. not worth the hassle if you ask me. i wouldnt remove the bar. one crash, big or small and your car is DONE. get rid of the kit, or start cutting.

[projectRDM]

A lot of N1 style exhaust hit the rebar, mine does, but it only needed maybe 1/2" grinded/cut off for clearance. The rebar sits above the loweest line of the body, so if you're cutting it that much the tips must be pointed straight up.

[Brentbohn]

its not the exhaust that its hitting its the rear bumper cutout flange thingy thats part of the fiberglass bumper,,, new bumper is not fitting well with the bumper bar brace... i mentioned the exhaust because it seems that it would have to be raised up from stock to flow with the bumper cover....

[khilgers]

cut the bumper, paint and be done with it.

my HKS exhaust cleared fine, pic just for reference.

http://www.khilgers.com/forumpics/s14_rear.jpg

[Brentbohn]

cool, i just wanted to find a way so i dont need to hack the bumper up.... the issue is between the first and second hole on the picture... draw a line between them and cut it down to remove a square