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Boot Floor Strengthening Plates


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#1 ThermalEvent

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Posted 08 January 2020 - 08:49 PM

Hi All,

 

I'm after a bit of advice with regard to the 2 flat plates located on the boot floor, next to the rear arches (see photo below).

 

Boot%20Floor%20Strengthening%20Plates.pn

 

I've done a search but it hasn't turned up any results, can anyone confirm what they are for and are they required?

 

In my infinite wisdom I made some repairs to the boot floor during the restoration and *may* have forgotten to make some plates up and weld them on. I have since epoxy primered the whole underside as I am now at the painting stage and I don't really want to grind back any paint.

 

If they must be fitted then i will do it but I'm hoping someone will say they are not 'technically' required.

 

any advice would be most appreciated

 

Cheers,

 

 



#2 MacGyver

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Posted 08 January 2020 - 09:27 PM

I seem to remember this question asked quite a few times...
I believe they where for something to do with hidrolastic suspension and are not structurally necessary.
They will only help to trap moisture so I wouldn't bother.
Others may be more enlightened and know something I missed. ?

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#3 imack

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Posted 08 January 2020 - 09:30 PM

Yeah, bump stop reinforcing as used on hydrolastic.

#4 pete l

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Posted 09 January 2020 - 02:42 PM

I don't think they have anything to do with the suspension.

 

They are spot welded and seam welded to the boot floor. The spot welds go through to the rear seat-belt mounts. So I reckon seat belt strengthening.



#5 nicklouse

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Posted 09 January 2020 - 03:16 PM

they are the area that the felt pad is attached to, to reduce noise between subframe and floor.

 

wrong place for the bump stop.



#6 nicklouse

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Posted 09 January 2020 - 03:22 PM

mini28.jpg



#7 imack

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Posted 09 January 2020 - 06:19 PM

they are the area that the felt pad is attached to, to reduce noise between subframe and floor.
 
wrong place for the bump stop.


Definitely not the wrong place for bump stops. Those felt pads are further inboard.

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#8 ThermalEvent

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Posted 09 January 2020 - 07:34 PM

Thanks for the replies, it's on rubber donuts so I think I'll leave them out then, if they are not structural I can't see them being a necessity.

I will also fit the subframe pads to prevent contact between subframe and body.

#9 nicklouse

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Posted 09 January 2020 - 08:30 PM

 

they are the area that the felt pad is attached to, to reduce noise between subframe and floor.
 
wrong place for the bump stop.


Definitely not the wrong place for bump stops. Those felt pads are further inboard.

 

I take it back the subframe is further in than the plates.



#10 imack

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Posted 09 January 2020 - 08:41 PM

Thanks for the replies, it's on rubber donuts so I think I'll leave them out then, if they are not structural I can't see them being a necessity.

I will also fit the subframe pads to prevent contact between subframe and body.


I left the felt pads off mine as they're going to hold moisture. Probably better off with a bitumen type pad.

#11 pete l

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Posted 10 January 2020 - 10:21 AM

Think about it people, wet suspension hasn't been used for 40 odd years. Rover would have removed these plates if they were for the wet suspension. 



#12 MacGyver

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Posted 10 January 2020 - 11:51 AM

Well... They probably never changed the production directives and forgot about it.
Just one more thing to add to the long list of quality control problems that precipitated Leyland/Rover...'s demise.
Happens all the time on other cars too so not just a mini thing. Can't think of an example right now, but I've seen similar things on my old micra.

#13 pete l

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Posted 10 January 2020 - 03:45 PM

No, I don't believe it for one minute, Rover cars went through "project drive" around 2002 to save as many pennies as it could, they would delete anything they could get away with or make things as cheap as possible. 

 

OK, the mini was before this, but they would have left them off if they could have left them off.

 

I personally reckon that these plates are there for a good reason, I'm not leaving mine off.



#14 GT Jimmy

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Posted 11 January 2020 - 08:12 AM

They are definitely not for seat belt strengthening, had them on my 1980 car with no rear seatbelts. I never replaced them on my new boot floor



#15 greenwheels

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Posted 11 January 2020 - 08:41 AM

Rear subframe mounts load spreaders. Easy to add so best to do it.






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