Ebay style bars - something isn't right with my one!!

zorak · Postby **zorak** » Sat May 27, 2006 12:35 pm

Hi guys - I just bought a style bar off that guy in WA and recieved the bar yesterday. I went to fit it and noticed that it wouldn't sit flat where it goes on the passenger seat belt mount area.

I took the bar back off and had a closer look at it, and just as I thought the bar itself isnt straight. The passenger side is at more of an angle than the drivers side. Its hard to describe so I took a photo - http://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?imag ... ium5tv.jpg

I emailed him and he said he would replace it. But I tought I would check whether all the bars are like this for those of you who already have one.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:59 am

From all the ones I've seen, they are all very slightly bowed up along the bottom but most of that comes out when it's tightened down. 2 out of the 3 I've fitted have a slightly higher bow (5-10mm?) on the passenger side.

The bar won't sit exactly flat because of the way all those sections of metal join at the seat belt tower. It sorts itself out as you tighten the bolts.

It will be interesting to compare with the replacement.

chrislevingston · Postby **chrislevingston** » Sun May 28, 2006 1:24 pm

Here is mine.

Astroboy and I put it on yesterday, and it took around 2 1/2 hours.
We reckon that it will take a lot less time when we install his.

We put his hard top on my TOY to check clearance, and it is fine - but one side is about 5mm higher than the other.

We reckon that it was money very well spent, and I am now going to design a windblocker to clip to it.

This is Astroboy's new set of lights - certainly very distinctive!

Chris

Lucky_Luke · Postby **Lucky_Luke** » Sun May 28, 2006 2:25 pm

Hey Zorak!
Some seem to lucky and some not... theyre all slightly different..some worse some better...

Whats the name of the dude you bought it from? We just bought one from the same dude.. drifterr32 in WA?? we have exactly the same problem, problem with the passenger side!!!!!!!

its because the bar is not symmetrical you'll notice that that passenger side hoop is about 10mm higher than the driver side and this is why it doesnt fit, we followed all the installation instructions from racing beat (which were supposed to be supplied but werent)

Firstly the first bar sent was 'supposedly sent' .. but lost during transit... who sends a $300 item by non-registered mail?? so he sent 'another' one (also non-registered mail).
Once we told him it didnt fit the dude kept telling us that we must have installed it wrong..and honestly.. my dad and myself are both engineers and it doesnt take einstein to install one of these things.

To his credit though he was willing for us to send it back, but everytime we do that it'll be costing like $50 postage and no guarantee that the next will be different.
We havent made ours fit yet but are in the process still. so far its almost been a 6 weeks, since our purchase, a month of which it took to finally get here.

The bar is good quality and my dad and my self like it thats why we havnt sent it back...
but ...it doesnt fit with the soft or hardtop!! :shock:

not happy.

now that weve filed half the bar away, weve found it can fit just with the soft top but bulges out the soft top and Im concerned about it stretching.
With the hardtop the passenger side hoop solidly hits the glass while the driver side has a good 10mm clearance..

manufacturing tolerances just a smidge out..

Some things your lucky with i suppose, some u arent.. especially with ebay, but thats the risk.. some things are better bought as genuine items!!
for me its been one of those learning experiences.. and your not the only one, Just to be sure of ourselves we've tried to install the bar on both mine and my dads mx5's with the same result.

Theres not much i can do about it now with out loosing money.. so i just have to 'make' it fit.. so my word for future buyers is

... buy a second hand one that you know already fits!

zorak · Postby **zorak** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:38 pm

Thanks for all the replies. Having read that most of the bars seem to be like the one I got - I think I might have another go at fitting it before I go ahead and send it back.

Rickster · Postby **Rickster** » Sun May 28, 2006 6:44 pm

I've been trying to get one on Ebay for a couple of weeks but seem to be getting just pipped at the end.

I like the look but am concerned about the installation drama... I'm no engineer!

Postby **Okibi** » Sun May 28, 2006 7:53 pm

The photo might not be dead center but this might help better show the issues.

Lucky_Luke · Postby **Lucky_Luke** » Sun May 28, 2006 8:02 pm

Nice one okibi... Thats precisely about 10mm... exactly what im talkin about.

Finally ive made it fit, after posting earlier i went outside and took to it with the grinder and hammer and it finally fits!!
I actually hollowed out the base of the mount to allow it to slot over the tower mounts of the car and bent the big rear tabs back slightly.
Still not happy about the whole thing but it fits now.

actually looking at that photo ... that makes it look really out with the straight lines there.

Postby **Okibi** » Sun May 28, 2006 8:16 pm

Well i'm glad Dylan offered to swap it for you.

I haven't seen him for years but he's a great bloke.

ma64rk · Postby **ma64rk** » Sun May 28, 2006 10:58 pm

Zorak
My bar was from 'drifta' and sat poorly untill tensioned down by the bolts...now sits fine and is very secure 3 months on. It might not be 100% perfect, but it's 99.9, so i'm happy. And it does fit with my soft & hard tops...about 14mm clearance.
Good luck dude

chrislevingston · Postby **chrislevingston** » Mon May 29, 2006 12:50 pm

Mine was also out a little in the fore/aft plane.

I purchased some 25mm M10 HT bolts, and used one in the horizontal hole.
However, it was a turn or two too short on the other side, so we needed a longer one to get the nut/spring washer on.

It tightened up fine, and fits flush everywhere.

I have a Dremel plus a battery-powered one, and that was ideal for scribing where to cut the plastic, so that the bits broke cleanly when cut.

jules · Postby **jules** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:45 pm

Hey Chris,

You do know you can unclip that steering wheel horn cover to show what's really under there don't you????

The Ebay style bars fitted perfectly in both Malibu and Calrose. JBT is right, they do \"tighten\" into place. I had no issues whatsoever with the steel spacing blocks.

I think you should try tightening the bars down first before returning.

Jules

chrislevingston · Postby **chrislevingston** » Mon May 29, 2006 3:56 pm

Jules,

I'm not game to have the Momo centre showing, 'cos I reckon that it would be pinched in short order :cry:

Chris

zorak · Postby **zorak** » Mon May 29, 2006 6:58 pm

Ok. I just installed the bar and have decided not to return it afterall. You guys were right - The bar does straighten out and sit flush with the seat belt mounting points as the bolts are tightened. I am quite happy with the fit now.

Just took the car for a quick spin - and wow what a difference! The car feels so much tighter

For the price this was definately one of the better upgrades I have made to the car.

Oh and no dramas with the soft top here. The bar fits under it nicely. The only thing I was concerned about was the seats rubbing on the bar when fully reclined. It looks like the sort of thing that could tear the material after a while.