I think that James (Trakstar) is making the interesting and fairly sensible point that the diameter and the fixing of the front bumbper (for example) is SO much less than the main chassis rail which parallels it (below) that it (the bumper) has only a VERY small effect on the overall stiffness at the front.
Blatantly, if it doesn't have SOME effect, then we can all remove our anti-roll bars on our cars as the front bumper replicates them, precisely. However, the front bumper is MUCH less stiff than an anti-roll bar and the mounting of the front bumper is SO feeble that the difference on the stiffness of the chassis between tight or loose bolts is MICROSCOPIC! We can also look at the size, stiffness and solidity of the mounting of 'front cross members'. These DO have an effect on stiffness but have to be MUCH stiffer than the bumpers to 'do their work'. If not, why aren't THEY the width of a bumper tube and mounted feebly?
He DOES have a point; but I have always done the 'loosen the bumpers' trick in the rain. It may just be 'historical' or it could be that the combination of loosening the front, rear and side bumpers DOES have a minute but detectable combined effect.
Ian
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