Elle <honda.lioness@gmail.com> wrote in news:00476f13-f562-43bc-a945-
9cd4d707f02e@c36g2000yqn.googlegroups.com:


>
> To clarify and/or double check: There is no deformation of the bumper
> that appears on an external inspection. I asked the policeman about
> the styrofoam inside, and he said the external plastic would often
> bounce back, showing no deformation, but meanwhile the styrofoam
> inside could be permanently deformed.
>
> Is this not so from your understanding of bumper construction?



The cop is correct. A junkyard crawl will confirm this.

The steel bumper rebar is bolted to the car. The foam is affixed to the
bumper skin which covers the rebar.

The foam is meant primarily to hold the bumper skin out to its finished
dimensions and shape. It also absorbs very minor "parking lot" type nudges.
Under heavier impacts, the foam tends to compress and break up into large
chunks. Those chunks often stay in place on account of the shape of the
skin, but they can become dislodged and even fall out.

Theoretically, the rebar comes into play above 2.5mph (5mph in Canada), and
theoretically protects the lights and other safety systems from damage
during those impacts. Although I've seen too many instances where the
bumper appears to have provided little more protection than a 1960s bumper,
while costing a lot more.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/