what do you call the steel strut that supports the bumpers?

[Drewster]

what do you call the steel strut that supports the bumpers? the shock absorber looking thing

 

[GNICETRY]

I think they are just called absorbers or bumper absorbers

 

[John Larkin]

bumper shocks

 

[1984 t-type]

I always thought it was just bumper supports, could be wrong.

 

[Hotfoot]

gm calls it a energy absorber # 22018157

 

[captndave737]

They are indeed energy absorbers and I have personal experience in how they work. I was rear ended sitting at a red light. The only damage was the paint peeled off the bumper fillers. The bumper went in a few inches and back out. The car that hit me was towed. I think if I had had fiberglass fillers, which I do now, not only would the fillers be destroyed but also I'd have body damage.

The absorbers did what they were designed to do.

 

[b4black]

Mine didn't go back out. I chained it to a tree and drove forward until it popped back out.

 

[Drewster]

thanks for the info!!