I know it doesn't fit because of the rebar, but why is this? is it because of the fog lights? If this is so, does that mean we can replace the bumper and use fog light covers without modifying the rebar?

Yes it's the foglights. the two large lights results in the shortening of the front bar. Alternatively, you can saw off your current bar to make it fit.

I know it;s the fogs, and that you can saw off the lower half of the bar, but if you don't use the fogs, and have covers instead, can you keep the bar the same?

Good question, if so, I wouldn't mind going 'foglightless' and just have those STi foglight covers, or replicas for that matter. Anyone know?

Yeah, I was thinking after looking at Mike Moffas car, that the rebar might fit with the skin, just no place to put the lamps. In which case, we may even be able to replicate some covers that have holes in them for our fog lamps, for a little P1 look.

Hmmm... I'm going to look into this.

James

The Subaru OEM Fog LIghts do not use any structural rgidity from the inner beam. They attach to the bumper skin using clips. After seeing what can happen from a slow speed crash, I would not use a cut beam inside my US spec bumper. For the cost of the proper beam, I feel the trade-off is not worth it. This is my opinion and yours might differ, but a lot of damage can still happen with only a small bump.

P.S. The canadian bumper has foam surrounding the inner beam, while the US bumper doesn't have any foam. Making it more likely to be damaged.

Skip

All I'm asking is if the US spec Skin will fit on a Can spec car without modifying, changing or removing the original rebar. if it can, then this may be more viable to us canucks, change the skin, but lose no structural strength to the front of the car.

Chances are in a fender bender, I'd probably spring to pay for the damage anyway, keeping my insurance co out of it period.

I agree though, I'd like maximum safety first, so if it's safer to get the us rebar, even though it costs more I'd be likely to get it.

Hey what if my bumper is fibreglass? Wouldn't it start cracking before I have damage on the other parts of my car?

ok ok...im lazy to read anymore =P but in the end does the us spec front bumper work on a canadian spec rebar without modding and no WRX fog lights in them?

It shouldn't from the pictures that Mike put up in the General Board I believe it was... the entire half of the rebar was shaved off...
PS. Did you ever play Rainbow Six on the Zone Freeman? SDU?

In short. No, it will not fit.

If you decide to go with fog light covers instead, youll need to cut the sides of the holes for the foglights, as well as do some trim work on the rebar. Probably not worth the time/risk associated with it. Spend the money on the proper bar and do it right.

Ok, since we are on the topic...
I am getting the message that instead of shaving the rebar I can get a nonshave rebar to fit onto my car?
Like I can get a rebar that actually fits my car? and it keeps the 10km majiger?

No. You can only get the US rebar which is 5km.

Thats why we don't get the US spec bumper in Canada. It doesn't meet Canadian safety requirements.

you mean modifying the skin instead of the inner beam? you need to cut the parts where they support the fog lights cause that's where the problem is. That may work only you are not intended to put any fog lights there.