5 replies to this topic

[Jimmy Hat]

Well just putting my suspension stuff back together and predictably the bolt thats causing the problem is the last one namely the passenger side top subframe mount bolt which is just impossible to get in with everything in tbe engine bay in place. Anyone have any ideas what I can safely remove to access the bolt better on an Mpi?? cant get the threads to engage at all so i need more working space.

Thanks!

[tiger99]

I don't know what underbonnet clutter is in an MPI, but it should be obvious what to remove. You only need to get a socket and torque wrench on the bolt. But first make sure that the drivers side mount is very loose, and take the bolts out of the teardrops and toeboard mounts, so the subframe is free to move around till you get the bolt started. You will need to move the subframe around a bit.

[bcjames]

Hey Jimmy and Tiger. That corner of the engine bay is very full, it's a pain to get at that bolt or the wiper motor. Anyway, my method:

I removed this. It's held on with two captive nuts behind the coolant expansion tank, although they might need a bit of help to grip. You only need to undo those 2 bolts and tie it out the way.



Subframe mount access 1 by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

With that out of the way there is some vertical room above the bolt. Providing the subframe is in line, you should be able to just drop the bolt in from above. You can shine a torch down to see where abouts it is, and do as Tiger said and loosen the other mounts if the subframe is not sitting correctly. If you've just removed the tower bolts one to access the suspension cones, then it shouldn't be too far out.

Finally, I use this shaped socket to do it up. I can drop it down on top, wiggle it in to place, and then attach the extension and ratchet/torque wrench.



Subframe mount access 2 by bcjamesmini, on Flickr

[Jimmy Hat]

Thank you for the advice tiger99 and bcjames.

bcjames thank you very much, that's exactly the sort of information I wanted, got the bit you said off and pulled off that plastic cover behind it and access was very much easier. It went in with (almost) no problem.

The bolt still didn't quite want to engage in the subframe but sort of started when I pressed down on it and tightened it by hand, then slipped out again when trying to tighten it with no pressure on the top of it with my socket. My solution was to get any grot off the threads of the bolt with one of those wire brush drill attachment things, push an old tie rod bush into the end of my socket so when you press down on the end of the ratchet it applied even pressure to the head of the bolt. This got it engaging with the threads in the subframe; mine only required light pressure but it was enough.

Thanks for the replies!

by the way the method above was only necessary as my socket was much deeper than the head of the bolt; if yours isn't deeper then it may just require the pressure.

Edited by Jimmy Hat, 31 May 2012 - 12:24 PM.

[tiger99]

I am glad you got it in, and that is an interesting trick to use with a deep socket!

Looking at all that clutter, I don't think my next Mini will be an MPi! I like maintenance to be easy, so it tends to get done regularly. But I do appreciate that MPis have other advantages.

[Jimmy Hat]

So am I, thought it was going to be the same old story of spending half a day on the last bolt!


Think it always helps to be a bit open minded about 'different' ways to get things done, saves a lot of time and effort throughout the whole job i think... mpi's arent as bad as all that really, just as an example that bolt took the removal of one bracket to get it in, there's a lot of extra breathers and sensors etc to deal with but swings and roundabouts really...