Mx5 nc towing eye

I have just noticed that I don’t have the detachable towing eye in my boot of my Mx5 NC that I should have. Iplan to git some TRS tow straps instead but need to find out what thread type/size bolt I need to attach them to the original towing eye hole. Does anyone have this info? Thankyou…

Hi

the threads won’t be standard they very rarely are

the best way to do it would be measure the top pitch of the thread which will give you the diameter and then measure the distance between the thread peaks length ways this will give you thread pitch 

this is best done with a vernier but could be done roughly with a ruler 

and don’t forget to look if it’s right or left hand thread

obviously you can’t do this so someone on here could do this for you 

i would measure it up but I’m away at present 

??

20 mm diameter with 2.5mm pitch. So 20mm metric standard coarse thread.

HTH

Towing straps usually bolt through the towing eye hole rather than into it I think…

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sports-High-Strength-Racing-Tow-Strap-Set-for-Front-Rear-Bumper-Towing-Hook-Well/263218161438?fits=Model%3AMX-5|Plat_Gen%3AMK+III&hash=item3d4906671e:g:dioAAOSwFntZbX1g

The pitches on the usual towing hook are abnormally coarse, so would be a specialist supplied fixing.  

You also have the option of modifying a mazda tow eye by cutting off the excess and drilling and tapping a hole to accept the new tow strap bolt.this would reduce bodywork damage if the strap is pulled from off centre.

https://www.mx5parts.co.uk/hook-mk3-35-p-3675.html

^^^ Yes out of stock but that doesn’t stop you ordering one.

 

Or try eBay or breakers, always see these type of things being sold off.

Slightly off topic but the Mk 2.5 doesn’t have towing points at the front.

 

They are referred to as chassis rail test points instead. 

 

Paul G

Wrong! The apparent towing eyes at front and back of a Mk 1/2/2.5 are ‘Tie Down Eyes’ used primarily for shipping (you wouldn’t want your car to be a bit bent on board while travelling from Japan to Europe - would you?)

These are totally unsuitable for towing the car, and can either be removed or ignored. Where you get the ‘Chassis rail test point’ from? -  .God only knows. The front ones are bolted lower down onto the Slam Panel, and at the rear, they are welded onto the bodywork If you have a grille fitted, then the front eyes can either be removed (you use the bolt and fixing to fix the grille instead) or you can get a grille suitable for fixing over the Tie Down Eyes. I did the latter.

 

1 Like

I think you’re right Gerry, but you might have missed a joke there :slight_smile:

 

On my Mk3, I have the two tie down hooks but it was quite a job to screw them because the female threads had rusted. I ended up cutting a slot in one hook so I could use it like a tap. It took a couple of hours working it in and out with some oil.

I still don’t know if they are up to towing at all e.g. at a track.

 

You could be right John, but I don’t joke about MX5’s, whatever Mk they are. I’m used to comments that don’t make logical sense - after over fourteen years in this Club - you’d be !

I’ll grant that using the tie downs to tow a car can pull the chassis rails out of alignment, but comments like this are guaranteed by some as serious remarks, with dire consequences. As Saz remarked some time ago that the chassis rails on an NB/NBFL are telescopic and glued together, then it’s debatable whether an unequal pull can yank the bonding apart. I’d hate to see someone try it. 

 

 

 

Wow ! I’m gobsmacked !

 

I didn’t realise that one line of text followed by a grinning emoticon would be taken seriously. I can only apologise.

It was intended to raise a smile.

 

Paul G   

 

So guys can someone just confirm for me that the towing eye on an MC Mx5 has a standard M20 right hand threaded thread please?.