Roll Bars rubbing on hardtop

[mx5_blondie]

Hey guys,

I've just brought a standard mx5 hardtop for my car and the problem I am having is that when I put it on my existing aftermarket 'style bars' are in contact with the glass of the hardtop which is not good. What I'm trying to do is to take the style bars off and have them modified so that they will sit a little lower to allow room for them to sit. I have removed the 2 main bolts on either side of the style bars and can't really see anywhere else that they are attached to the car yet they will not budge a millimeter. Does anyone know how to remove these bars or how they are fixed to the car?

[Jeo]

I had the same problem. Quote is from my build thread.

After much confusion and swearing, turns out there are also two bolts that are inserted from underneath the bar, behind where the seat belt roll lives. Figured out fairly quickly it was a 16mm nut, needed a deep socket to reach it.

If you take off the plastic trim piece behind the seat you'll quickly see how the seat belt roll comes out.

I'm guessing your style bar looks like mine?

[Old Dude]

Hi Blondie
I fitted a roll bar to my car, but I don't know about the Style bars, having said that, they would have less mounting points than a true roll bar, if you need a hand let me know and I will come and see what I can do for you.
I also have all the tools you would probably need.
Cheers
Old Dude

[meanmx]

I put it in there so I guess I can answer this best. Jeo is correct. It is where the seatbelt roll is and from memory it is an absolute pain in the ass. From memory try not to unbolt the seatbelt roll or you could have difficulties getting it to unravel enough to bolt in. Instead undo the bottom bolt and bend it up to get access. I think Jeo is right about bolt size as well, it is either 16 or 17mm

Ben

[Benny]

Even if you remove the style bars, how are you going to mount them lower so they clear the hardtop?

There are probably a couple of big washers under the bars at the seat belt mounts, but you will also have to re-drill the lower mountings so they line up.

That's part of the reason I went for the RB2 bars and not the e-bay ones, as they fit really well and don't hit the hard or soft tops.

[mx5_blondie]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to have a look at it on the weekend and see if i can remove them.

Not too sure what the exact plan is with them but ill find a way to make them sit slightly lower. I just can't have them rubbing on the glass incase it breaks.

Thanks Again
Ell

[Jeo]

I just removed the bar for the winter while my hardtop was on, then put them back on once the roof came off.

[mx5_blondie]

I'm planning on having the hardtop on majority of the time. And concidering i have a soft top with a massive hole in it which isnt going 2 be fixed anytime soon it will be like that for a while so im hoping i can somehow get the bars to sit lower. Insurance is being a bastard and won't pay up for the soft top. I may end up having to go to court over the whole things. Its honestly a load of crap.