Hello! I'm a bit of a predicament and need to regularly transport a large, wide object in my 12 Civic Sedan. The trunk/backseat pass thru is not quite big enough and I'm considering removing the metal braces behind the rear seats (4 easy bolts) to widen the hole. I can't tell if these are structural braces or back seat supports for the rear seats... Or both. No one ever rides in the backseat or even the front passenger seat so I'm not concerned with passenger safety. However.. any unintended safety issues for me or unintended consequences you guys can think of? What's going to happen in the real world when I take these out and start driving around town? I remember way back in the day a friend of mine cut the roof off a 70's Mercury with a sawzaw and the doors never opened or shut quite right after that (body flex) I definitely would like to avoid anything like that! Check the pic and let me know what you guys think. Thanks!!

Btw... This is pretty much a last ditch solution. Love my car but if I can't figure this out I'm going to have to sell it and buy something else.

 

If they bolt in, I suggest cutting/modifying them to accommodate the product you need to move... then buy another pair of those brackets for use when you aren't carrying your stuff... or if you end up selling the car. Either way, you will be better off than leaving them completely out if your concerns are about safety/structural integrity.