How to Mount a Bracket for a Whirlpool MH1170XST Microwave

Mark the center line in the space between and underneath the cabinets where the microwave bracket will be mounted.

Locate studs on the left and right sides of the bracket mounting space with the stud finder, and mark the centers of the studs.

Put the mounting bracket in the space with the top of the bracket pressed against the bottom of the upper cabinet and both sides of the bracket pressed against the sides of the left and right cabinets.

Mark the screw holes at both bottom corners of the bracket. If the corner screw holes aren't aligned with studs, you can still mount the bracket with the mounting screws that came with the microwave.

Mark the screw holes that are aligned with wall studs.

Take the bracket down and drill holes through the marks you made.

Put the bracket back up with the screw holes aligned with the holes in the wall.

Insert screws through the corner holes. Depending on where the studs are located, you'll use different screws to mount the bracket. If the studs are aligned with both corner screw holes, insert the lag screws in the microwave installation kit into the screw holes. If only one stud is aligned with a corner screw hole, use a lag screw in the stud-aligned hole and a round-head screw with a spring toggle nut in the opposite corner screw hole. To insert a round-head screw with a spring toggle nut, put the spring toggle nut, opening end facing toward you, behind the bracket and insert the round-head bolt through it. Push the spring toggle nut through the hole in the wall and screw the round-head bolt until the bracket is flush with the wall. The spring toggle nut will open inside the wall and lock the round-head bolt into place.

If neither corner hole is aligned with a wall stud, use round-head screws and spring toggle nuts in both holes.

Insert lag screws through any other holes you made. The bracket is now installed.