The rod it as Carma say but it's more to hold the foot plate at 90 degrees to the frame.
The frame and foot plate are held by a singel bolt and these rods. The rod takes the force of the springs when in compresses. This force travels from the hoof along the plate from the spring the foot plate and up the rod to the frame and up to the srping again.
If you took the rods away the bolt wouldn't hold and the foot plate fold up crushing your foot.
There very little you can remove safely