MX-5 Plus Rollbar installation question

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 1:15 pm

Hi, I am in the middle of installing my rollbar. I have placed the rollbar in the car and done up the forward lower bolts (the ones for which I had to drill a small hole and rivet in a tear drop shaped captive nut) and am finding that the rear feet do not sit flat on the parcel shelf. Is this normal. Is there any risk of the sheetmetal distorting when I torque the bolts.

Did anyone need to cut the spacers that sit vertically on top of the seat belt tower. How did you do it.

de Bounce · Postby **de Bounce** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:11 pm

snshami wrote:Did anyone need to cut the spacers that sit vertically on top of the seat belt tower. How did you do it.

A. Luckily, No
B. Hacksaw or angle grinder would have been my weapon of choice

You do have the instructions don't you?
Available HERE, have a read of Step 28

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 2:30 pm

Hi, I do have the instructions and am following them religiously

Its just that according to my engineering judgement the footpads should sit flat. On my car they only actually touch the parcel shelf on the forward inboard hole. There is is air under the rest of the holes. I just wanted to make sure it was normal and I was not making some massive cockup.

rob53 · Postby **rob53** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:29 pm

Hi I had the same issue when I fitted my bar, spoke to Richard at mx5 plus and he seemed to think that it was normal. In the end just followed the instructions and everything worked out ok and am happy with it. The only thing I had to do was put some carpet where the seat rubbed up against the bar because it kept making a squeaking sound and also made a wind blocker out a bit of perpex.

snshami · Postby **snshami** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:37 pm

Thanks for your reply. This makes me breathe easier. BTW, did you feel the nuts got really tight as you torqued up the bolts?

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 3:57 pm

You might have to put in all the bolts loose and go around tightening them a bit at a time. This should leave you a bit of jiggling room as you go and will help make sure it all goes in even.

Postby **orx626** » Fri Apr 22, 2011 6:26 pm

snshami wrote:Thanks for your reply. This makes me breathe easier. BTW, did you feel the nuts got really tight as you torqued up the bolts?

The captive nuts are known as "deformed nuts" or "conelock nuts". ie. anti-vibration nuts so there is a slight interference fit between the nut and bolt threads......and as stated by rob53 it is normal for there to be an airgap between the shelf and footplates prior to torquing up the bolts.

Cheers,
Danny