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WRX license plate frame

I'm required to change license plate every few years.

Today when I replace the front plate, I noticed the screws are not very tight. They are just 3/4 inch long pan head sheet metal screws screwed directly into the front bumper. I'm afraid to tighten it too much because it may strip the "thread" in the bumper.

I put some loctite on the screws, but I'm not sure loctite works on sheet metal screws.

What's the best solution?

Aside from the holes made by the two screws, there are two pre-punched round holes almost 1cm diameter on the front bumper near the two screws. They are spaced about 1 inch further apart than the license plate screws. What are these holes for? Is there a subaru license plate holder that uses these holes? I searched in subaru parts web site and didn't find any.

The rear plate is different. There are two holes with plastic anchors for the sheet metal screws to bite into, and spaced just right for the license plate.

Reply to
james
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Go to the hardware store and buy nylon nuts which will take and hold on to the wood screws.

Put the nuts behind the screws, inside the bumper, and crank them down hard.

Reply to
Dave

I've used screen door screws to hold the plate on my Supra for 4 years now. I use them because the color matches the color of the plate.

They are very small screws with hardly any thread. i screw them in until they 'grab'.

Haven't lost a plate yet...

Reply to
Hachiroku

I bought a "Bell" brand universal front frame and a mounting kit with four screws and four plastic square inserts. I used the inserts in the holes you mentioned, and put two screws in the original holes the dealer had put into the bumper to mount the plate. I had to shorten the plate screws and bolted the plate to the frame. This allowed me to move my plate upward to a position centered on my bumper.

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This worked really well for me now with four screws holding my license frame to the bumper, four screws holding the plate, and centering it on my bumper.

Blair Baucom

2005 Forester XS
Reply to
Blair Baucom

I did a similar thing with both my soobs. I might have a pic of my WRX..... lol! well, here's one hah!

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you can see I used the plate to shift the position up maybe an inch or more from where it would be otherwise. The kit also comes with some colored (black or white IIRC) caps for the screws.

Carl

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

The Front License Plate Bracket is Subaru Part Number SOA342L120. I got two of them -- one for my WRX and the other for my wife's Forester -- from SubaruGenuineParts.com. They were $10.60 each plus $8.25 shipping when I got them in January 2007.

After installing the Front License Plate Bracket I mounted my front (and rear) plate with a #10326 4 Hole Polished Stainless Steel License Frame from Griot's Garage (griotsgarage.com). They were expensive -- $35.00 each -- but it's a beautiful installation and compliments the WRX nicely.

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Reply to
Ben Jammin

Looks like Elise behind is catching up with your rex :-)

Reply to
Squat'n Dive

hah!

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As one of my instructors says; "Check your mirror. If you see someone behind you, God did not put them there, so let them pass in the next straight."

(actually, the guy in the Lotus holds the track record - though in his Miata - and owns the academy;

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hah!

Carl

Reply to
Carl 1 Lucky Texan

Ah, yet another tempting pic of that yellow Elise! I wish I could overcome my claustrofobia to put myself into MX-5. MX-2 should be even smaller, I guess. Luckily, where I live now there is very little use for a convertible, not to mention the miniscule income potential, so the window for a temptation is vastly reduced :-]

Reply to
Squat'n Dive

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