Just how compromised is the front if I remove the styrofoam bumper support?
 

Considering an intake snorkel that will have to require removing or cutting the middle portion of the styrofoam support, but I'm curious how helpful that styrofoam is when in a front collision. Obviously it's there for something, but is it more for frame protection, reducing bumper flex or pedestrian safety? Figured if I ever get in a front end collision, the bumper is going to need replacing anyway and that the impact would more than likely destroy that styrofoam.

i wouldn't do that if i was you...anything that comes to safety i wouldn't mess with it.... it takes on a huge amount of force when it smashes into another object...it takes and dissipates most minor collision impact....it doesn't guarantee total protection against collisions....but it can help the bumper significantly reduce the severity of potential damage.

IMO it is there because: it is light weight, cheap, helps the bumper stay in place when it is really hot, and so that when you re-install you bumper you can forget it on the bench! "Damn! Gotta take the whole stupid thing back off to install the foam."


Edit: I knew I read something a long time ago about doing this...
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29807

It's there because Styrofoam is great at absorbing impacts and distributing stress; which keeps minor impacts like grocery carts or children from damaging the bumper beam and totaling the car.

2 cents .. I removed my styrofoam months ago (doesn't cause any rattle or fitment issue)

Cut that out and stick a drift bar in, that should protect you right...... I see all types of people putting drift bars in due to turbo setups or for whatever reason. I ASSURE you that if the manufacturer could get away with removing stuff from your car they would have so it didn't cost them $$$$. Have you seen how this car is put together? Its 2-ply toilet paper with a motor and seats. This $hit isn't even Charmin strong.

Just a note- I am not saying by removing the styrofoam you losing all types of safety, but think about it and your safety, next time that shopping cart hits your car.. or something larger.

This is one of those hot topics that brings out all the arm chair mechanical engineers.

I will quote the IIHS:
Personally, I have no idea why Subaru/Toyota put the styrofoam there, so I wont remove it, and will avoid any mods that do remove it.

BS, this car has a very high safety rating.

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/veh...hatchback/2015

https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/201...overnment.html

http://www.autotrader.com/car-news/s...-scores-228586

And that's totally fine, because as a system the system works well. Cutting away, making changes to the system might cause a larger unintended change. Look at the wheel area from the engine bay, its bendable by hand, however once the system has an impact force you have crumple zones, high impact foam secondary bracing etc kick in to take the force and "move" it away/around the occupant space.

Just my .02

I've wondered about removing that Styrofoam as well, but for an entirely different reason.

I'd like to remove it and cut the moustache out of the bumper so I can install a custom mesh grille insert and mount my licence plate exactly in the center of the newly enlarged bumper opening. I've never seen this done before.

The one thing I don't like about my BRZ is the moustache, and I currently have a black mesh Grillcraft grille insert. I wanted the chrome one but it would have accentuated the stache on my black BRZ.

Right now I think the front end looks too black. Thankfully the headlights look like predatory bird eyes, but everything else is dark.

Pondering also the potential insurance impact (pun intended) of removing the styro if a claim was made.

It's a progressive system. The bumper fascia itself, then the foam, and then the bumper beam. Each stage absorbs, and dissipates different amounts of energy. When I designed the front crush structure on the Mosler MT900, it was originally pyramid shaped columns, that would crumple progressively. Later the design was changed, after seeing how the first successful crash test went, making the radiator more of the crush structure.

Think of it all, as a progressive spring.