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Mini Alignment Specialists Near Surrey?


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#16 JDImini

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Posted 12 July 2019 - 09:40 PM

They were ok with doing the mini so I booked them. Didnt say anything about doing minis in particular but they said they were happy to work with me on setting it up.

Hi Ki352, really interested in the outcome of your wheel alignment as also in Guildford and my son's mini has got some nice lowered suspension but would be good to get it checked out



#17 OzOAP

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 05:59 AM

The Car Kitchen in Chertsey. Alex definitely knows what he is doing.
Has 4 wheel alignment and dyno facilities so can do everything required.

Edited by OzOAP, 13 July 2019 - 06:01 AM.


#18 kit352

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 05:46 PM

Well this whole alignment thing certainly didnt go according to plan. I went to sussex autocare for my appointment and despite me having the printed confirmation they said they did not have time to do the alignment. They said they would call me if they had an opening. I never heard back from them.
I then booked an alignment with SMS here in guildford. When i showed up this morning they asked if i wanted tires with my alignment. I told them no, i only booked for an alignment. I was then told today is a tire day and if bought tires they would do the alignment but if i didnt buy tires they werent doing solo alignments and to come back another time. They seemed shocked when i turned around and left.
Next, out of desperation, i went to bellfields autocare which isnt very high on my approval list due to how they have treated my wife in the past. Desperate people do desperate things i guess. Anyway when i asked if they could do an alignment to the mini they said there equipment isnt suited to do a mini properly. Apparently its a size thing. I didnt pay much attention to the explaination as i was already thinking about my next stop. Bellfields did recommend guildford tyre as a place to get a proper alignment done for a mini so i went there. Nice bunch of people and were more them happy to take my car in immediately. One of the employees knows minis very well and he took my car for a quick spin before putting it on the machine. When he came back he said the back end felt really wrong so he lifted it quickly and my offside radius arm had a ton of play in it. He said its not worth aligning until its fixed. He went over everything else pretty quickly and told me all was fine. I went to pay and they said no charge which was unexpected. I will be going back for sure.
Now i gotta figure out how to change out the radius arm. Pretty sure exchanging for a rebuilt one with minispares is my best bet. Hopefully i can get the old one out without issue.

Edited by kit352, 13 July 2019 - 05:47 PM.


#19 unburntfuelinthemorning

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 06:50 PM

Shocking how some places treat potential customers, glad you found somewhere in the end.  Getting an exchange radius arm saves a load of hassle unless you know somewhere that'll do the bushes.  Minispares shows them out of stock though but their website isn't always very accurate.



#20 kit352

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 07:03 PM

I am hoping the minispares site is wrong but i am looking into alternatives just in case. There are a couple kits on ebay that supposedly contain all the right tools to remove and install the bushes and bearing. There are also a few people nearby that are selling rebuilt arms with exchange. Quality may be suspect though.

#21 Curley

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 07:35 PM

Problem most places face today is that their equipment is just not set up for classics like the mini. All the fancy new stuff does not go down as small as 10" wheels, I've had problems with 12"  with the laser just don't fit on such small wheels. That and the fact some the mechanic in these places are just following the computer, very few understand the detail of what they're doing.

 

What year is your mini?



#22 kit352

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 07:37 PM

Its a 91 with 12's. Mostly standard.

#23 Curley

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 07:59 PM

You can get a recon kit and replace the bushes yourself but it'll need to be reamed to size. But that leads to more of the same 'which machine shop' etc. And there are other things the Minispares recons are checked for. My vote wait for a recon to be back in stock. Have you asked them how long the back order if for them?

 

If time is more important than money you can get a new alloy set from KAD.

 

Alternatively you could ask in the wanted section to see is some nice sole on here has one they'd be willing to pass with.



#24 unburntfuelinthemorning

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 09:15 PM

Be careful if you're relying on Minispares items becoming available.  I'm waiting for one of their gearboxes which is way passed due. 



#25 kit352

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 09:28 PM

One of the kits i am looking at is supposedly capable of line boring it so no machine shop needed, maybe. Checking for true on my old one is a potential problem though. Do the arms themselves go bad at a high rate? I see lots of warnings about cracks and bends in regards to exchanges but i havent seen many posts with those issues. A few bad bends but thats it.

I was looking for a potentially upgraded unit but didnt see any. Thanks for KAD tip. Im going to look into them.

#26 cal844

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 09:50 PM

Anyone with laser alignment gear and some 2x4 timber can do alignment well enough on a mini.

It might not be perfect but will be better than nothing.


You'd be best to fit 2 radius arms, buying a new mounting kit and new outer brackets will save time and hassle if you have trouble....

We changed a complete subframe in a week, I did have togwt some quite major welding, then painted the floor and subframe which took a day from us, it would have been done quicker if the car was solid.

I sent my arms to a local to me classic car specialist who checked the arms were suitable for rebuild.... shot blasted and repinned them, It wasn't cheap but needs must

Edited by cal844, 13 July 2019 - 09:53 PM.


#27 unburntfuelinthemorning

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 09:52 PM

Bullmotif have a left hand only brand new Heritage radius arm but it's £300.  Makes the KAD ones seems a bargain at £530 for a pair.  I'd be interested to know how strong they are compared to the standard ones.



#28 Pops_Guild

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Posted 13 July 2019 - 10:32 PM

Looks like Somerford Mini have exchange ones in stock for either side. They’re good.

#29 Quincy Sparks

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Posted 15 July 2019 - 10:11 AM

Ah, sorry to hear that, sounds rubbish - I feel bad for recommending them now. Glad you found someone with some knowledge, even if it has meant a bigger job! Hope it all leads to a nicer drive ultimately :)



#30 kit352

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Posted 15 July 2019 - 10:52 AM

No worries about the recommendation. In the end I found someone. Hopefully someone I can recommend in the future.




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