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2nd Generation / 1999 - 2005, item #R2
- Jack up the rear of the Miata. Be sure to support the car with sturdy
jack stands. BE CAREFUL!!!!
- The hitch will mount between the tie down loops welded under the
rear of the car. Remove the bolts, washers and backup plates attached
to the hitch.
- Push the hitch up until the mounting brackets are approximately even
with the bottom of the structure to which the tie down loops are welded.
Check clearance under the bumper and using the hitch as a template mark
the chassis for the 8 holes to be drilled. Take the hitch back down
and drill 3/8" holes at the previously marked spots. Depending
on the type drill you are using it may be helpful to remove the heat
shield over the muffler and / or the rear bumper cover. Put the hitch
back in position and push a bolt through on either side to hold it in
place.
- Slide the backup plates into place. The outer plates go inside the
square "hole" just inside the tie down loops. Align the plates
and start all bolts before tightening any. Tighten the bolts to 35-40
ft lbs (the bolts will seem hard to tighten because of the self locking
nuts used on the backup plates).
2nd Generation / 1999 - 2005, item #R2H
- Installation requires removal of the rear bumper cover and the bumper
support.
- Open the trunk, remove the carpet and plastic trunk wall panels.
The side panels are attached by reusable plastic rivets that are loosened
by lifting the center button with a knife blade or fingernail which
allows the fastener to be removed.
- Remove the tail lights. Unplug the tail light wiring, 1 plug per
side, remove the two nuts per side that hold the light assemblies
in place. The lights are usually stuck to the car, be careful not to
let them drop.
- Remove the rear wheel splash panels.
- Remove the rear bumper cover. There are screws behind the splash
panels you just removed inside the wheel wells, behind the license plate
and on top in the trunk opening. Once you have all of the fasteners removed pull the bumper
cover loose by slightly twisting while pulling on the wheel and tail
light openings to unsnap the attachments.
- Remove the aluminum rear bumper support by removing the three
hex nuts per side using a ratchet, 6" extension and deep well socket
through the holes provided.
- Install the hitch over the bumper studs and snug one of the nuts
to hold it in place. Put on the safety glasses. The three threaded studs per side that hold the bumper support
in place should protrude through the hitch plate leaving one hole empty.
Drill a 3/8" hole through the empty hole. Remove the nut you initially
installed to hold the hitch in place and reinstall the aluminum bumper support.
Use Locktite or some type thread locker on the stock nuts and torque
to 40 ft / lbs. Install the bolts, washers and self locking nuts provided
with the hitch into the holes you just drilled and torque to 40 ft /
lbs. From the rear drill a 3/8" holes through
the holes the hitch reinforcement plate through the flange at the lower edge of the body. Install the bolts, washers
and self locking nuts provided and torque to 40 ft / lbs.
- Reinstall the rear bumper cover, make sure you don't have any extra
parts.
- Reinstall and plug in the tail lights. Do NOT over torque the tail
light fasteners, remember these are plastic. Check the lights to make
sure everything is operational.
- Reinstall the splash shields, trunk panels and carpet.
3rd Generation / 2006 and up, item #R3 & R3H
- Installation requires removal of the rear bumper cover and the steel
bumper. This seems like a lot to do but is a relatively easy task. No
need to raise the car off the ground for this one.
- Open the trunk, remove the carpet and plastic trunk wall panels.
The carpet is held in place by simple plastic buttons that pull out
easily. The side panels are attached by reusable plastic rivets that
are loosened by lifting the center button with a knife blade or fingernail
which allows the fastener to be removed. Unplug the wires attached to
the rear panel for the trunk latch and light.
- Remove the tail lights. Unplug the tail light wiring, 3 plugs per
side, remove the three nuts per side that hold the light assemblies
in place. The lights are usually stuck to the car, be careful not to
let them drop.
- Remove the rear wheel splash panels. These are held in place by screws
behind the rear wheels and on the bottom.
- Remove the rear bumper cover. There are screws behind the splash
panels you just removed inside the wheel wells, behind the license plate
and on top in the trunk opening. There are two more of those plastic
rivets in the tail light opening.(larger than the ones that hold the
trunk panels) Once you have all of the fasteners removed pull the bumper
cover loose by slightly twisting while pulling on the wheel and tail
light openings to unsnap the attachments.
- Remove the steel rear bumper support by removing the three 17mm hex
nuts per side using a ratchet, 6" extension and deep well socket
through the holes provided.
- Install the hitch over the bumper studs and snug one of the nuts
to hold it in place. Put on the safety glasses. Using the hitch as a
template, drill 3/8" holes through the upper mounting plates. Install
the bolts, backing plates and self locking nuts and torque to 40 ft
/ lbs. The three threaded studs per side that hold the steel bumper
in place should protrude through the hitch plate leaving one hole empty.
Drill a 3/8" hole through the empty hole. Remove the nut you initially
installed to hold the hitch in place and reinstall the steel bumper.
Use Locktite or some type thread locker on the stock nuts and torque
to 40 ft / lbs. Install the bolts, washers and self locking nuts provided
with the hitch into the holes you just drilled and torque to 40 ft /
lbs. From under the steel bumper drill a vertical 3/8" hole through
the bumper and the hitch reinforcement plate. Install the bolt, washer
and self locking nut provided and torque to 40 ft / lbs.
Reinstall the rear bumper cover, make sure you don't have any extra
parts. You can notch the cover if you like to somewhat obscure the hitch
but this is not an absolute necessity.
- Reinstall and plug in the tail lights. Do NOT over torque the tail
light fasteners, remember these are plastic. Check the lights to make
sure everything is operational.
- Reinstall the splash shields, trunk panels and carpet.
Do not exceed the vehicle towing capacity.
Updated
October 9, 2009 11:12 AM
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