While it would appear they are a nonstructural piece, you do need the bumpstops in good condition to keep the shock absorber from being the limiting factor in your upward suspension travel.  Imagine bending the bottom shock mounts or spring perch, or worse, the upper shock mount.  At a bare minimum, wiping out those expensive shock absorbers with a bent piston rod or blown cylinder.

I would also think they might play a small roll in keeping the shock towers from twisting or bending as the car is driven.

"Hides my New Coilovers.."

Hmm... My fenders hide mine

Bob

MustangSteve wrote:

While it would appear they are a nonstructural piece, you do need the bumpstops in good condition to keep the shock absorber from being the limiting factor in your upward suspension travel.

The New Coilovers have bumpstops on them, progressive type in fact. I do agree that my Fender and wheel hide the coilovers, but these hide them even more. But it sounds like I should probably put them back on the car.
Thanks for the responses.

The basic shock tower brace I have shares bolt holes with the bump stops which tie in to the shock towers so I think the shock tower brace would not be nearly as effective if simply bolted to the sheet metal.  Other more elaborate braces tie into the towers directly but I would still run the bump stops either way.