How effective do you guys consider Roll Bars to be, safety wise. I have one in my convertible and I like it for the sporty look it gives the car but does it have true safety benefits. I've heard some people say they work really well and others say it honestly doesn't help. So, whats the truth?

 

Which roll-bar do you have? That makes all the difference.

 

its umm black? lol I need to check what kind it is.

 

How many points does it attach to the chassis at? Is is fully welded in, or is it just bolted together?

 

I'm going to have to check for those details. The previous owner installed them so I have no clue about certain details of it.

 

A true well put together roll bar will provide additional protection from an impact or roll over. There has been a lot of debate on the issue of having a roll bar/cage in a street driven vehicle, as having a lot of bars around without having a helmet on or a proper harness, is less safe than not having a bar or cage. You don't want your unprotected melon bouncing off some DOM steel tubing. The concern with most cages is where it is welded or bolted into the floor. Your going to want to make sure it can't punch through the floor. NASA limites the area of the floor plates to be 144 square inches. Some people will also brace the underside of the plates and tie them into something like subframe connectors. For a convertable, a lot of bodies require you to pass the broomstick rule. You have to be able to put a stright line from the top of the windshield to a roll bar and be over the top of the driver's head.

 

Very well put, Matt

 

Roll bars are better thought of in modern aftermarket parts descriptions as being chassis stiffening devices more than safety. A roll CAGE is a different story and is designed (or should be) to be very effective at keeping body panels away from your brain case if you put it on its lid.

Very few roll bars out there are much for saving your life but they're better than nothing if at least properly installed.

You want it welded in no matter what or it's just decoration.

The cautions regarding unpadded bars and un-helmeted heads apply nonetheless.

 

This is what he is calling a "roll bar." Although I'm sure it would provide some protection, I doubt it would do much.

http://www.americanmuscle.com/cldecocoli9b.html

 

Absolutely ******* NO PROTECTION from a light bar.

 

It's plastic. It's an appearance mod.

 

I would think that it would offer some structural integrity.. Minimal at best, but better than nothing. It is made from steel round tube. Similar to a roll bar, but not welded into the sub-frame or anything like that..

1 1/4" Round Steel Tube with a 1/8" Wall Thickness. Poly Urethane form molded over tube and wrapped with vinyl.

 

Better than nothing, yeah. But even the thought of it having any bit of protection is a dangerous thought. What do thoes things bolt to? There is close to zero chance that that thing will support the weight of an impact that the convertable top wouldn't have protected from.

 

the first thing it'll do is lay back over or into the back seat or break completely off. That they bolt in and are stoutly built is fine but it does not extend all the way to the floor and has no bracing to keep the bar from bending front or back. Best case it's not going to help at all in a wreck, worst case it becomes a dangerous and possibly mobile thing inside the passenger compartment such as it is.

Coupe FTW!

 

Boo! Convertible FTW! lol but my "roll bar" is designed for safety but still has a sporty look to it. No plastic on mine either, it is quite structurally sound.