What is this?

[JamesWhite]

For the sound deadening and speaker installation, yesterday evening I removed the front door panel. I found the plastic foam block as shown in the pictures. What is this stuff for? Can I remove it?

Thanks for the help!

 

[PAYNE]

The I-CAR term for that is "solid foam energy absorbing block" or also known as "set-in position foam" which is there for collision energy absorbing purposes. For those of you who follow NASCAR you know that the sides of the cars have this stuff all in them as well as the new "safer barriers". Long & short of it is that I would not remove this from mine. I believe that particular piece is designed so that if you were to be T-Boned quite hard & the door were to be crushed into the cabin area it would be forced into the seat hopefully stopping or slowing the door from being crushed into the passenger. Most vehicles have the same material behind the front and rear bumper covers called "bumper energy absorbers".

 

[Stifler]

I dont think that foam block has anything at all to do with safety LOL

I think it prevents something like glass shatter when the windows are down and blunt force to the flimsy sheet metal door panel is had

 

[JamesWhite]

Thanks for above replies. I will keep this stuff. It must have good reason to be there

 

[Go JayBee]

Thanks for above replies. I will keep this stuff. It must have good reason to be there

Just unbolt it...then there is some double sticky tape to the door.
Pull firmly and it will come out. Apply your sound deadening behind that bracket
and re-install the foam block using the original bolts.

 

[westwind77]

:rtfm: it is in the fine print. It is flotation foam for when you take the 4R in too deep with the TRD snorkel accessory. There is enough positive buoyancy so you will be able to float until your tires touch again. If you don't live near water you should be all set to remove!

 

[Ducmonsta]

Thanks for above replies. I will keep this stuff. It must have good reason to be there

Vehicle manufacture engineers generally don't add stuff to vehicles for their entertainment. There is always good reasoning for, what seems to be needless to us, additional parts. Just like the weird stupid mini mudflap that's in front of our rear tires.

 

[cbielat]

Hey, that's the piece that was broken off my styrofoam cooler!