Can anyone please tell me the size of the threads, and bolt for the tow hook on my 2002 MC. I am trying to make my own no hole license plate bracket. I know I can buy it but that is not what want to do.

 

Did anyone ever get you an answer to this? I've got an R56 and had the same idea as you.

Just curious.

 

Take your tow hook to Home Depot or Lowes and have them size the threads.

Or look for nuts large enough to take it.

 

Home Depot doesn't have it. Not sure about Lowes though. Found out that it is a very unusual thread that I don't believe is very easy to find in a shop. If we could find the size I think we would need to find a specialty shop that might have them.

 

I've read that it's an Acme thread, and 5/8"-8 is the size.

 

Available from Wiley Coyote Hardware Distributors?

 

Then again, I've also read that it's a metric thread; M16-3, which is VERY close dimensionally to 5/8"-8.

 

I had an ACME nut at work and tried the tow hook it started but stopped 1/2 thread in ... Guessing the metric is correct

 

Zimmerman's Hardware in Burtonsville, MD has the most complete inventory of automotive metric and SAE hardware I have found anywhere. I drive by there every day and will see if I can find a matching nut for the towhook tomorrow night. Stay tuned. I'll see which is a better fit.

 

Thanks for the look lhoboy.

 

OMG!!! I just shot Dos Equis beer out of my nose reading that!!!

 

MMMM nose beer.Gives it that chunky salty taste.MMMM


joe r

 

Couldn't find a match, but it looks like it is either an M16-3 as stated or an M16-2.5, both far coarser than is normally available (M16-2.0 is a standard metric coarse thread).

 

Thanks for that. Almost seems like a better idea to just buy another tow hook and use that instead.

 

Yeah, I had thoughts of making my own offset license plate mount with this thread as well and it seems like I will waste more time and money trying to find a bolt that fits in there than I would just buying the one from alta.

 

This is why we have our bolts machined, the tow hook thread is not a standard thread. Our machinist made a tool to cut the thread.

We went through everything you did.

 

I just got my profit sharing check today so you can expect a new order.

 

Anybody know where I can get one of these on the cheap?


I don't need i to function. It only needs to hold less than .5 Lbs.

 

Hi i want one of those where is the best price for those tow hook

 

You are practically in my back yard. Crossing the reservoir into Howard County puts you in my front yard.

 

Moss mini or outmotoring. About $40. Cheap considering my autoteknic tow hook that is very similar was $110 when I bought it and now they sell it for $80

 

Xnotfunkylex, Fact is it is all of the above it is a special thread. This is done so only rated safety tow hooks can be installed in the hole. Okay with that said unless you are a machinist with tool and die experience it can not be purchased at your local hardware store. It is 8tpi and depending on the fit I guess you could call it 5/8. But the real kicker like Mini-Rolls states the thread its self is not a standard thread. Meaning it does not look like a triangle if you look at it from a cross section. It is more like an Acme thread and a tool has to be ground so you can cut this thread. The bolt and mount the Go Mini Go sells is very universal and could be easily used for other things unlike tow hooks out on the market
Don't know if that helps but just my 2 cents
John

 

Thanks johnf36. Very good info. Just sucks that I can't get anything to fit because I would never spend that much money for the Go Mini Go piece, even if it is a very nice part. I don't really want to run a plate anyways, just a euroaplate. Looks like I will look into some other options for this then.

 

It makes sense that they would use something stronger than a standard 60-degree thread.
What I wonder is just how strong the aluminum piece is.
I'm no engineer, but it seems like that would be the weak point.

 

Well I just bought another oem tow hook on ebay. So I am going to look at some different options with that. Might need to do some cutting/welding. No idea what is going to happen here though.