Knee Bar Removal

How does the knee bar come off on my '91 clipper? I have removed the two clips that are in the middle of the panel on each side, but it still seems to be held on by something?? :dontknow:

There are some bolts on either end (where the knee bar meets the car frame) that need to be undone.

There are push type clips that are hidden by the dashboard it's self. You will need to hang upside down in the foot well to see where they come though.
When these were made the knee bar cover went on first then the dash.
The proper way is dash out first.

The knee bar is in two pieces the metal reinforcing bar as downster points out is bolted in, the cover goes over.
The knee bar forms part of the cars structural integrity, it is not advisable to remove this component.

You've just answered my next question:

"Is it safe to remove the knee bar?"

I've got it out of mine at the moment, and keeping it out would make my dash swap that bit easier, but does it make the car structurally unsafe?

no its not safe!!
the kne bar, as im aware, is like a strut brace, holding the front pillars and stoping the front end collapsing in,
you have one in the boot too, and all i can imagine is if you remove either/ both the only strength you have holding the car up is the rool bar!! :dontknow:

may be wrong, and am sure someone will advise otherwise if i am

Well personally mate its there because it reinforces the car due to having no roof to spread the stress load.
These cars suffer from scuttle shake as it is. Plus think about frontal impact in a crash the knee bar will take a lot of the impact after the energy goes through the front core support and pushes the engine back.
Could you end up with the engine over your knees trapping you!!  Just a thought about scenarios.
If it wasn't needed then I don't think VW would have included it in the first place, as the car would be lighter.
If it was me I wouldn't want to be in a car without one fitted.
It's your car at the end of the day though.

I think the main thing to remember here, is that your Insurance would be void without it.

Removing a major structural component could be said to compromise the car in every way (handling, braking, acceleration, damage limitation to yourself, passengers and the rest of the car's body and possibly an increased fire risk.  I suppose they could even say theft would be easier, as access under the dash to wiring etc would be easier!

Remember the guy who killed his family in that heavily modified Land Rover 110 which went into a river - he was imprisoned for modifying it to a dangerous condition (I don't what he'd done to it though).

Insurers do look at things like this.

Well my knee bar will be staying in then!

Lol, you know it makes sense.