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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - check strap mountings!!!

Will have to upload a pic on this but whilst revamping interior decided to fit some new check straps complete with the 2 metal brackets which support the fixing screws and guide the strap round the edge of the door opening. No problem with the passenger side, (just used longer bolts as my footwell liner is a bit more luxuriously padded than the original!).However, the drivers side is being a pain. It would appear that there is the remains of some very minor accident damage here as the inner face of the footwell bows out slightly where the check strap mounting bolts are.There should be captive bolts on the inside for the check strap bolts to go into but the top one is starting to strip its thread and the bottom one is missing altogether, having been replaced with a self tapping screw!(This panel looks completely normal on the outer side btw).

Questions.
1) I don't want to go to the expense of replacing this panel this is its only defect so is there an easy fix to secure the check strap bolts?
2)If a check strap is loose or not fitted would it be a MOT fail?
cherokeev8

a couple of riv nuts would do the trick
Mick - still wiring!!

My car didn't have check straps for five years before I stripped it down. Passed MOT no problem - more at risk of denting the A post without though....
Nick P

A Post dents with check strap if the edge of the inner panel is allowed to bend to much or forced enough. Bent mine back to normal when fixing floor and all's well after 2 years. Dents really annoying and no doubt will show up when filled :-(

Must have been a lot of force by PO.
Dave Squire

I Mick is right, fit a Riv-nut or Nut-sert (there are a few different brands). The kits aren't all that expensive and they're very useful for all sorts of minor fixings. I need to do the exact same job on one of my door check-straps where one of the threads is stripped. I might have to cut a section out around the old captive nut and weld a patch back in to get rid of the old captive - so I could just weld another nut onto the inside of the patch prior to welding the patch.... Anyway, don't worry, you don't need to replace the whole panel.
Nick Nakorn

They look pretty useful.
http://www.memfast.co.uk/shop/vprod4.asp?cat=2250000415

Loads on Ebay too.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=riv+nut&_sop=15
Lawrence Slater

Better ebay riv nut link here.

http://tinyurl.com/qdu6xtu
Lawrence Slater

This thread was discussed between 24/11/2014 and 26/11/2014

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