The time has come to finally install my MS bumper, and I'm hoping to bolt my towhook on while I'm at it.
I know full well that the MS bumper is longer front to back than the OEM one, and that the towhook will not clear the bumper without modification...
My plan at this point is to cut the section marked in green, and replace that with a longer U-Bend, effectively lengthening it beyond the front of the MS bumper. I would prefer to break/grind the welds, and replace the entire forward portion of the towhook, but the means to bend it to the correct shape is beyond what I am capable of currently.
not going to lie....terrible idea. Your putting your car on the tow truck the tow hook snaps because the weld is not good enough and down the street your car goes lol I thought MX3´s had 2 tow hooks under the car anyway? Why do you need 3? Mine actually are now part of the traction bar that bpt323 made but still funtional thank the stars. I have been put on a tow truck many many times now.
I would just get an aftermarket one. The loop portion is virtually unusable with most hooks because it is so small (unless you added a fabric tether to the end or something...)! Basically I have yet to be able to use it when my car was actually towed
I guess I never realized that the OEM towhook wouldn't fit with an MS bumper. You've test fitted this and everything?
The JDM tow hook fits with the mazdaspeed nose just fine. The presso had both but if u wanted to tow from the front the front nose would have to come off. Im guessing he just wants to cut his corksport front nose so the hook is seen for looks??
Mark, I'd like to keep it factory if possible... I know you can relate to this.
Ironically enough, I had planned to use a tether as you suggested.
It will "fit", but as kulluminati said you will have to remove the bumper to use it. What the hell is the point then?
With the EDM bumper, there is a convenient slot that the towhook sticks through. This slot is not present on the MS bumper, and the bumper is longer front to rear, and would completely conceal the towhook.
It's definitely not for looks, save to protect the MS bumper in the event that I need a tow... I broke my MINT GS lip towing the car, and I won't be repeating that mistake with the only "rare" aesthetic mod I'm putting on my car.
It's going to be such a PITA to bend a new piece of steel to the right shape to redo this towhook, but I am afraid I agree with kulluminati, he shared my concern with re-welding it differently. Maybe I'll just bend the sides of the bar out partway, keeping it simple enough and allowing more room for welding. If anything, it'll be beefier than stock if I do that...
I had my Mx-3 towed with my MS bumper, twice I beleive, and with the flatbeds and some steep driveways; the underside would scrape, but never to the point it would get ripped off.
1992 Mazda Mx-3 GSR - 2.5L KLZE : Award Winning Show Car & Race Car ['02-'09] (Retired) 2004 Mazda RX-8 GT - Renesis Wankel : LS3 Coils, BHR Mid-Pipe + Falken RT-615K 245/40r18 2011 Mazda Mazda2 GS - 1.5L Manual : Yozora Edition (1 of 500) 2003 Nissan Xterra SE - 4x4 Supercharged : 2" Body Lift, 4" Suspension Lift & 33" MTR Kevlar 2001 Nissan Frontier SE - The Frontrailer : Expedition/Off-Road Trailer Project
It's not something I'm leaving up for debate... I will figure it out one way or another, I'm just hoping that maybe one of the lurkers who seldom posts will have done this, or maybe one of the regulars will remember a thread... search yielded nothing, shockingly enough.
nope sorry. The only one with a MS front and OE hook was they guy who made the replica MS front from an OE front in Brazil. And as you can see in his the hook is not very accessible. Mazda did not have one, but if you were bound and determined I would cut off the loop on the OE hook and weld a threaded sleeve in its place, then use a later model round shaft loop style hook.
