I wrote all the below for a different thread but as it relates to this one I’ve also copied it here:
This is my description of fitting the rear brace to the i20N. It’s actually not so much about the fitting itself, as that is covered by the instructions that come with the brace and it’s all pretty easy. Instead, this is mainly a description of removing the trim needed to install the brace as that isn’t described in the instructions and is a more elaborate process than actually fitting the brace
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To attach the brace to the chassis of the car you have to remove the plastic side trims that are inside the boot. Note that mine is a non Bose car but it’s essentially the same. Also, my boot has carpet but that is because it was fitted by my audio installer and is not standard. Ignore all the audio stuff in the spare wheel well as it’s not relevant to any of this.
So, removing these side trim panels isn’t hard but it is a bit involved. Each side panel is one big piece and goes right down to the back seat door tread. Because of this it makes life a lot easier if you remove the seat backs from the rear seats - well, you don’t remove them, just moving them out of the way is enough. To disconnect the seat backs you lower them and that allows access to the bolts #3. Where #1 is there is a ‘roll over clip‘ - flip that open. Then you can just lift the seats out of the slots where #2 is. Note, don’t get the seatbelts confused and tangled as this can make it confusing when putting everything back.
Next you will remove the trim bit #4. This is held on by two pull out clips - the kind where you pull out the middle button. Removing this is very easy.
Now you have done everything except removing the side panels. These are entirely held in by clips and just two screws #5 on the picture. remove the screws and then, grasping the trim near the boot, give it a good tug and start to unclip it - gradually working toward the back doors. The clips are all quite tough and fit in slots in the trim. When I did this I didn’t bend or break any of the clips. A couple came out of the side trim but they just popped back into place.
From there on it’s a question of following the instructions. Fitting the rivnuts was easy enough and provided an extremely secure fitting. The round hole that it is suggested to make in the boot trim is the absolute minimum and you might want to make a slightly bigger hole by a couple of millimetres. Also, if you find the side brackets for the brace do not line up with the holes then try turning the brackets over and also loosening the attaching bolts a bit to allow you to ‘wiggle’ the bracket a bit. Once you are happy then bolt the brackets up tight and refit all the trim in the opposite order you removed it. Finally you can attach the brace bar and that just bolts into place with the supplied hardware. You can adjust its length but I didn’t need to.
I hope that helps
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After writing the above a couple of notes occurred to me:
All the plastics you remove are tough and have good flex - they aren’t brittle and it’s very unlikely you will break anything.
You could do all of the work on your own but I persuaded my good friend Dave to help me and this did make the job easier (and more fun). In total I think it took about three hours - if we were to do it again it would be more like two.
I had to adjust the shape of the holes I made in the trim, instead of just a circle think of a circle with the bottom cut into a square - I did this with a sharp craft knife and the plastic is easy enough to cut.
Everything went back together perfectly and nothing was damaged or compromised in the fitting.
The brace hasn’t led to any rattles or other noises and has been problem free.
Oh, I seem to remember something about also unbolting the anchoring points for the rear seatbelts - but I can’t remember exactly so probably my friend Dave did that bit!
Enjoy
. I’ve got some CF finishing resin and I might just coat the knob so that everything is sealed into place.
tudavanliningcarpet.co.uk
