I've got a weak hole

[FUBAR]

Not what you were thinking (thankfully)

The screw holes for my number plates (front and rear) crack and widen over time. I've had the rears re 'glassed but they are starting to weaken again. So I want to address this (and this much DIY should be within my capabilities). Yes, I suppose I could 'just put a bigger screw in' but the problem will return. I'm looking for something like in the good old days (remember a time before double sided tape was used for sticking number plates on?) where you would have a plastic insert in the bumper to screw into. Doing a search on PH threw up someone discussing a rubber rivnut. Would this be ok/hold tight enough? Or would a plastic version be better (if so, where do I get one?)

One of the main reasons my front holes weaken is that I use the hole for the timing strut when sprinting. I've noticed that competitors with modern cars have adapted their timing struts so that a metal bolt screws directly into the metal hole in the bumper for attaching the towing eye to. I like this idea, and presume I could hide it behind the number plate, but I'm not quite sure what I'm asking for down the local motor factors/Halfwits etc. Could a kind person please tell me what I should be after.

Oh, and Happy New Year

[kevin63]

You could do with glueing in something like these insets http://www.insertsdirect.com/productCategory.aspx?...

[phillpot]

Think these are similar to what you've found, maybe look better with a screw rather than a bolt

[bigdods]

I stuck a rawl plug into the hole with no more nails.... 5 years on and its still fine !

[FUBAR]

bigdods said:

I stuck a rawl plug into the hole with no more nails.... 5 years on and its still fine !

Well that was my first idea, yellow/4mm (6mm hole) was the smallest I could find and that seemed rather large. TBH, for reasons only known to me, I hadn't actually thought about glueing it in place and was worried it wouldn't 'bite' on the fibreglass and fall out again lol

[aerospoke]

My plate is fixed with these:
http://www.rivetsinstock.com/rivet-nuts-threaded-i...
If you want to screw and unscrew regularly i would go for M6 or bigger.

Cheers Jens