Bolt and washer sizes for Skid Plate installation? I have a line on a plate without hardware and need to source my own hardware.

Thanks!

 

Here is a link to the install instructions for the Cobalt plate: Link
You can see that all the hardware for install is already there - don't need anything new except the plate.
I installed this a couple of weeks ago. It is very easy unless, like I, you have the M7 USS. Then you will need to cut out some notches in the skid plate to fit under the USS. The notches are for the bolts that are part of the USS.
Still not hard at all.

 

Thanks! When I read through it the first time, it sounded like the allen-head screws were included 'new' hardware.

 

Make sure you buy stainless steel hardware. If you don't you will end up cursing the next time that plate has to come off...RUST

 

Does anyone know what SIZE hardware is needed? It would be really convenient to buy the hardware before i jack up the car to install the plate!
thanks..

 

You don't need any hardware. You use existing screws and bolts to attach it. Once underneath your MINI, if you hold the skid plate up you will see the attachment hardware is already there.

 

You re-use the existing three bolts at the front & the two strange ones to the sides that hold the factory plastic piece on. The four bolts that do the majority of holding do come with the plate. They screw into the cross-member. Those are the ones that should be replaced with Stainless Steel. I just took the supplied bolts to the hardware store & matched them up. I also used blue Loctite 242 on those bolts. Sorry I don't remember the size of those bolts.

EDIT...The four bolts that came with mine were an allen head. The stainless steel bolts I used were regular hex head bolts & they worked fine for the job.

 

Perhaps I've forgotten getting any hardware with the skidplate. Sorry if that was misinformation. I really don't recall any special bolts or screws coming with the plate however.

 

Nobody answered the question! It obviously does NOT come with hardware ......Can somebody answer the question?

 

Call Moss and ask: 805-681-3411
Sorry, that's the best I can offer.

 

I have to change my oil today requiring me to remove my skid plate. If you can wait a while I'll get back to you later today about the bolt size and how to.

 

Mine obviously DID come with hardware....I've answered to the best of my knowledge. Limited as it is.

Maybe one wiser than me will answer.


See I told you someone would.

 

no need for a how to....but bolt size and thread pitch is what is needed. I am eager for this info as well as the original poster because when I recieved and installed my skidplate moss left out the hardware, I eamialed them twice with no response so moss will not be getting any more of my buisness.... I made many trips to the hardware store trying to get the right hardware only to end up getting non-stainless hardware that required me to get a shop to remove the bolts when I changed my oil....right now my plate is sitting in my garage waitng for me to find the time to re-install it but I dont have 3 hours to spend making 6 more trips to the hardware store guessing ad thread pitch and bolt size

 

Just a thought here.....I've changed my oil 4 times with the plate on & did not have to remove it. There is a hole in the plate that lets me access the drain plug. My plate is an aluminum one made by Cobalt & sold by Moss. Hope this helps.

 

I needed to buy bolts for the rear mounting holes. They are M10X1.50x20 (10mm diameter, 1.5 thread pitch, 20mm long(found this out on another thread)). For now I picked up hex-heads from Lowes and installed with some anti-sieze. I had the car already on ramps when I realized I needed them (this is why you should be sure when you post MiniMayBee, and calling Moss got me nowhere prior to install). Now that it is mounted and I am not in 'need it now' mode, I will source some nice button-top allen head bolts that will not only look better, but reduce the minor chance of snagging hex-head on something.

 

Let us know where you get those stainless button heads.....Because that was my mistake. I installed the common black button head cap screws and they rusted in tight! the ace hardware did not carry(or i couldnt find them) those sizes in stainless

 

Personally, I recommend against this. When we first installed the skid plate, I used the hardware that came with it: those fancy-looking button-head hex-bolts. After a Winter of driving through slush and salt, they thoroughly siezed into the subframe. Yes, I DID use a liberal amount of anti-sieze when I installed them. Stainless steel is really too soft of a material for his application and 6mm is too small for an M10 bolt. A recipe for stripping.

Ours is apparently not an isolated incident. When we had a pully installed at Helix, Eric thanked me for changing the bolts as he's had trouble with that hardware as well. I keep pre-made extra bolts around to swap out whenever I work on friends' MINIs with the skid plate.

Still use a ton of anti-sieze on the threads. I put a split lock washer on as well.

I also replaced the front lip hardware with longer bolts and larger fender-style washers. Makes installation easier.

FWIW, I always remove the plate when doing oil changes. This has less to do with drain plug access and more with checking for leaks and CV-joint condition.

 

Should have pm'd me for the answer

btw, I had used hex bolts

 

Ian,
So what bolts do you use and recommend??
Thanks