QUOTE(VaccaRabite @ Sep 9 2021, 08:18 AM)
Those pads are to hold moisture against the tanks so that the tanks rust out at those points and you have to buy another tank.
Betty and I spent about 3 months trying to hunt down a fuel smell when the tank on her car was more than half full. I replaced lines, fuel pump, charcoal canister, everything that was in the tank area. On a rainy day, we pulled a full fuel tank trying to find the issue. I thought it was just water from the ran, but Betty found gas leaking on her hand. The tank rusted out where the carpet pad was located.
A new tank fixed the issue.
Clay