Removing Tie-Down Hooks

Removing Miata Front Tie-Down Hooks

The front tie-down hooks (sometimes called tow hooks), are NOT meant for towing but are properly called tie-down hooks. They are used only for shipping the Miata - first from overseas and then aboard a car hauler to the dealer. The dealers should probably remove them as part of the prep work - but they don't. If they are ever used by a tow truck operator to tow your Miata it will cause serve damage to the nose of your Miata. Of course the operator is not responsible for any damage and their mistake will cost you some big bucks. If you ask the dealer to remove the tie-downs during a regular service visit they will usually do it free of charge.

General Cautions

1) This job is more tedious than difficult, so expect it to take longer than you imaginedespecially if youve performed the same operation on an M1.

2) If you have large-sized hands, youre in trouble. The working space is very tight.

3) Lay a couple layers of towel on the bottom of the grill opening to protect the paint when you drop a tool.

4) The fins on the radiator are sharp and easily bent, so if youre going to slip and hit something with your hand, slip in a direction away from the radiator!

5) Unless you have 14mm tools, dont try this job. 9/16" wrenches and sockets wont work and youll just round off the bolts.

6) If your Miata has air-conditioning, watch out for the a/c plumbing on the passenger side.

From the '99+ (M2) Models

Tools needed: 14mm open end wrench and/or socket set, 6" extension, a 3" extension, a universal joint.

You can keep your car on the ground, jacking up the front end could just make this task more difficult.

Each of the hooks has three boltstwo in front and one in back; all have 14 mm heads.

Fortunately, in most of the cases weve seen the bolts are not torqued to very high values, so they should be easy to break loose. However, the threads are fine enough so that removing the bolts with your fingers is out of the question until theyre almost all of the way out. And, since the threaded portion of the bolts is about 7/8" , you may feel like youre unscrewing each one for close to forever.

The two front bolts are easy to reach, but theyre a real pain to turn out because the room for swinging the wrench is so limited. Start with the "inside" bolt on each side. A 14mm open-end wrench and a 14mm box-end wrench, alternating between the two when you cant swing one of the wrenches far enough to turn it over, grab the bolt and swing it again. You may only be able to turn the bolt about a 1/4 turn with each throw. Youll know when each bolt is ready to come out (the last thread or two), because it will finally turn with very little resistance. Grab it with your fingers if you can, so it doesnt fall and damage something. Otherwise, the lock washer and the larger washer will keep the bolt from falling off your wrench when you carefully pull them both out.

The rear bolt on each side is even easier to removeif you have the right combination of tools. A ratchet attached to a 6" extension, a 3" extension, a universal joint, and a 14mm socket. You can fish your socket wrench assembly up from underneath the car on both sides through holes behind the black air dam and near the ends of the radiator.

Using a universal joint will allow you to angle the socket assembly toward each bolt and still get a square fit on the bolt with the socket. (If your universal joint is loose and keeps flopping over, you can run a strip of tape lightly around the center of it to limit its movement.) Once youve grabbed the bolts on either side, its easy to turn them out. Remember to hold the tie-down hook with your other hand so it doesnt crash down and damage whatevers underneath it when the bolt is free. You might want to prime, paint or rustproof the threaded holes in the cars frame that now are open and exposed to the elements or perhaps even the bolt back in.

The rear tie-downs are welded on and are for all practical purposes, not removable.

'90-'97 (M1) Models

Tools needed: 14mm and 10mm open end wrenches and/or socket set.

Some of the advice/instructions given above can apply. But in general the hooks on the '90-'97 models are a bit easier to remove.

First you will need to remove the front tie down hooks (sometimes called tow hooks, however these are NOT meant for towing but are properly called tie-down hooks). This is done with a 14mm open end wrench or if you have the room to work, a 14mm socket & ratchet set. Simply remove the three bolts that hold the tie-down hook in place. (Note: after the hook is removed you may want to replace the bolt, so that if you ever need to transport your Miata and want to use the tie-down hooks, dirt wont have collected in the empty bolt holes.)

Both years have hooks in the rear but they are welded in so they can't be removed without a blow torch.

Alternate Method

Some can not not figure out how to remove the tie down bolts using the above method Some people find that the best way is to remove the 12 or so small screws that hold on the front plastic splash guards in place. Once the guards are removed it is fairly easy to get at the bolts. There isn't enough clearance to do that without getting the front of the car off the ground. If you don't have ramps, jack up the front end and rest the front wheels on a couple of 2 x 4's laid flat on the floor. This gives enough clearance to remove the myriad number of splash guard screws.

Good Luck!