To ensure you’re safe on the road, your car’s rear needs to have adequate protection. This is where the rear bumper bar comes into action! Rear bumper bars help mitigate most of the impact of a rear-end collision to protect you.
Therefore, you can see why ensuring that your rear bumper bar is always in the best condition would be in your best interest. In this article, we’ll let you know everything you need to know about rear bumper bars, how to choose one, and how to keep yours in peak condition.
What is a rear bumper bar?
A “rear bumper bar” is a metal bar located behind the rear bumper of a vehicle. It is designed to absorb impact during low-speed collisions, protecting the car’s body and occupants by distributing the force of the crash over a larger area.
Essentially, it is a key component of the rear bumper system that helps reduce damage in minor accidents.
When should you replace a rear bumper bar?
Now, completely replacing your rear bumper bar can cost you quite a few dollars, so in order to save some money, it’s a good idea to consider whether it’s necessary to replace the bar or if you can get away with repairing it.
You should replace your bumper bar if there are:
#1. Cracks And Dents.
If you’re an avid off-roader, chances are your bumper has seen its fair share of cracks and dents. Even if the damage only seems minimal, minor dents and cracks can compromise the bumper’s structural integrity.
Even if the damage is repaired, if the bumper sustains a future impact, the bumper will no longer have the same strength and integrity to absorb the impact safely.
If the bumper is unable to absorb the impact fully, this could lead to further damage to you and the body of your vehicle.
#2. Damaged Hooks.
Bumper hooks are responsible for securing the bumper to the frame of the vehicle. Over time, vibrations from the road can weaken and compromise your vehicle’s bumper hooks.
If your bumper falls off while on the road, you are potentially putting yourself and other motorists in danger.
Even if your vehicle was not involved in an impact, we still recommend that your vehicle’s bumper hooks be replaced when installing a new bumper.
#3. Foam Material.
Special foam materials are placed on the front of your vehicle. This foam material helps absorb vibrations and impacts. If your bumper sustained damage from a collision, chances are the specially placed foam is damaged as well.
When replacing your bumper, a certified mechanic will inspect and replace the foam material before installing the new bumper.
#4. Insurance Claim Issues.
Insurance adjusters know that a previously damaged and repaired bumper may still have compromised structural integrity. Due to weakened structural integrity, your vehicle may sustain more damage if involved in a future impact.
The insurance adjuster may try to attribute the current damage to your previous accident because of the inability of your repaired bumper to fully absorb and protect the vehicle’s body from the impact.
This can lead to a smaller insurance payout, leaving you with a more costly out-of-pocket expense.
#5. Vehicle Devaluation.
Insurance adjusters aren’t the only people who know that a repaired bumper can compromise structural integrity. Most car savvy buyers will also be aware of the safety risks a compromised bumper can have and ultimately will affect the value of a vehicle.
If you plan on selling your vehicle, the cost of replacing your bumper rather than just having it repaired may recoup more on the resale value.
Different types of rear bumper bars
When it comes to bumper types, not all bumpers are made equal. Some use different
materials for the bumper bar, while others have a better manufacturing method to produce
better quality rear bumper bars. Here are some of the differences you need to know about:
Original Equipment Manufacturer Bumper Bars
Designed and made by the vehicle’s original manufacturer, OEM rear bumper bars are
typically well-made, and several tests are performed to ensure that they’re strong and
durable.
If you ever have to buy an OEM bumper bar, you’re assured that it’ll fit, granted that you bought the right one. However, they are typically more expensive.
Aftermarket Bumper Bars
These are bumper bars that are made by third-party manufacturers. The issue with
aftermarket spares is that there’s usually such a large range of suppliers that you don’t
always know what quality product you’re getting.
That said, some aftermarket manufacturers make bumper bars that are of exceptional quality, even sometimes exceeding that of the OEM parts. It just takes a bit of research to find these parts.
What materials are rear bumper bars made from?
Originally, they were made just to protect the car’s body and important parts. But now, they’re also designed to keep people inside the vehicle safe. They work by absorbing the impact during a crash, which helps to protect you inside the car.
These bars consist of a combination of materials, including
The bars are carefully designed to soak up and spread out the energy from a crash. More advanced designs include special features like
- Energy-absorbing mechanisms
- Deformable structures.
These features all work together so that less force hits the people inside the car during a crash. This helps keep them safer if an accident happens.
The Safety Impact of Bumper Bars
Bars do more than keep the car’s structure intact. They affect many things that keep passengers safe and help prevent accidents. Let’s understand bumper bars’ safety impact in detail:
- Collision Mitigation. Bumper bars are important because they help make crashes less severe. They do this by absorbing and spreading out the energy from the collision. This means that the force felt by the people inside the car is not as strong, which lowers the chances of them getting hurt.
- Pedestrian Protection. Bumper bars aren’t just for passengers but also help protect pedestrians. Bumpers designed with pedestrians in mind use unique materials and structures that absorb the impact of a car hitting someone walking. This helps reduce how badly someone might get hurt in a collision with a vehicle.
- Compatibility with Safety Systems. Modern vehicles have advanced safety features like airbags, pre-collision braking, and adaptive cruise control. The design of bumper bars must work well with these safety systems. This ensures that all the safety features function correctly together during accidents, providing the best possible protection for occupants in the car.
- Regulatory Compliance. Strict rules and regulations control how bumper bars are made and how well they work. Car manufacturers must follow these rules to ensure their vehicles meet basic safety standards. This is crucial for keeping everyone inside the car and people walking on the road safe.
Potential drawbacks
Despite the potential benefits, the safety impact of bumper bars is not without controversy. Here’s a closer look at the other side of the argument:
- Increased occupant injuries. Research shows that bumper bars can stiffen a car’s front. This means that in a crash, more of the force from the impact could affect the people inside the car. This stiffness can also be risky for pedestrians and cyclists who get hit by the car’s bumper bar, as it could make their injuries worse.
- Compromised safety systems. Bumper bars might block airbags and crumple zones, which are essential to how cars keep people safe nowadays. This could prevent these safety features from working correctly when needed most, like in a crash.
- Increased vehicle weight. If a car’s bumper bar is too heavy, it might be harder to control and slow down. This could create new dangers on the road, making it harder to drive safely.
How to choose the right rear bumper bar?
If your rear bumper has been damaged and is beyond repairable, it must be replaced. Thankfully, most body shops usually know exactly what bumper is needed, but this also allows you to upgrade. Likewise, if you are planning on fixing the issue yourself, here’s how to choose your new bumper:
- Be sure to check the year and model of your car as well as use the right model number when searching for the right bumper spares
- Consider what type of car you have and the lifestyle you lead. For example, if you’re offroading, you might need a more robust bumper
- Set a budget. This will help you decide whether you can afford OEM parts or if you need to look for aftermarket spares
Tips on Rear bumper bar maintenance
Thankfully, bumpers don’t need a ton of maintenance. Like most parts of your car, it is recommended that you clean your bumper regularly and use a protective polish to protect it from the sun and other elements.
Check it for damage regularly, and if it needs to be fixed, don’t hesitate to get it fixed ASAP!
Final Thoughts
Maybe you’ve had someone hit bump your car from behind by accident, or you reversed into a pole by accident. Whether you’ve done one or the other, having a quality rear bumper is essential for your safety.
Follow the tips above to choose a new one if you need to and how to maintain your current one.