Rubber gaurd on front strut brace

[EvolvedDSM]

I think this is in place as a safety issue in case the vehicle is involved in a big boo-boo. The rubber peice is just held into place very loosely. Reach around on the backside and feel for the seam. Then just pull apart (like a clamshell) and remove. Much cleaner look and you've still got the plastic gaurd on the + battery terminal to keep the two from hitting each other.

[EvolvedDSM]

Pics:

[DSM614]

ahhh.. stage one of the lightweight process has begun...muuhahaha :thumb haha

[BlackEclipse]

Are you sure it isn't there because it comes real close to the hood and it keeps metal coming into contact with metal???

I don't know how many times I have almost shorted out my battery with a wrench and my strut tower bar.

[EvolvedDSM]

That's one thing I didn't check, but I can assure you that the rubber piece had no indications of rubbing. It's a pretty thick piece, so if metal-metal was a concern, I'm sure I would have seen it. Besides, these are Japanese engineers we're talking about here ;)

[koritina]

Time to put the battery in the trunk! :D