Steel vs aluminum bumper cores.

[Clone TIE Pilot]

We all know Regals came with either steel or aluminum bumper cores and that the alum ones save alot of weight. However, are the aluminum bumper cores weaker than the steel ones?

Just to be clear I am talking about the bumper cores, not the mounts.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Both would have had to meet FMVSS for the time...that said, a lot would depend on alloy/thickness/hardness of each. In my day to day as a collision tech, the aluminum bars seem to be more likely to break versus bending/deforming on domestic cars.

 

[williamattop]

Isnt there and old saying/generalization about steel vs aluminum?
Something like twice the strength, 3 times as heavy?

What is the weight difference between the two cores?

 

[Clone TIE Pilot]

Steel bumper reinforcements are 64.5 lbs front / 69.5 rear. Aluminum bumper core reinforcements are 45.8 lbs front and rear. Then there is also the front bumper export brace that was used sometimes instead of a front bumper core which weighs 33.5 lbs. My Regal has a steel rear bumper core and a export brace in the front bumper.

 

[455'ed80Regal]

Is it just the 81-87 Regal that had them or did the 78-80 also have them?

 

[MeanBuicks]

We all know Regals came with either steel or aluminum bumper cores and that the alum ones save alot of weight. However, are the aluminum bumper cores weaker than the steel ones?

The steel braces were, no doubt, stronger than the aluminum but both were able to meet the 5-mph federal impact standard. The lighter, export brace setup was rated for 2.5-mph impacts iirc. I run the export setup up front and aluminum out back in the GN.