11 replies to this topic

[Spannerhead]

So my MPi is starting to rev freely in 4th - so clutch is on the way out. How hard a job is this for the competant DIY mechanic? I've built kit cars from scratch and have a full equipped garage, but have never worked on Mini's before (except very minor stuff when I was a kid).

Is it a job worth doing yourself, or is it better just going to a clutch specialist?

And whilst I'm doing it, is there anything else that should be changed whilst I'm there?

I'm gonna be fitting a Stage 3 kit in a few months, and I better getting a standard clutch or an uprated one?

If I'm fitting a Stage 3 kit, and I better doing it all in one go?

Edited by Spannerhead, 24 December 2009 - 11:31 AM.

[Ethel]

It's a service job so perfectly possible, if a little cramped on the car. You'll know soon enough once you crank on the flywheel puller, if it pops off without too much of a fight you're home 'n dry. There's a bit of a chance the slipping is down to a leaky crankshaft oil seal. It will create a bit more space to do both at once but not a huge difference to the work involved.

[Spannerhead]

Ahh - cheers, any special tools required, apart from the trusty Haynes? The cars done 60k on the original clutch, so it's probably toast.

Edited by Spannerhead, 24 December 2009 - 11:47 AM.

[jaydee]

About the stg3, now i dont know what does 'stage 3' means, but i'd take engine out, so you can easily replace everything you need (clutch, flywheel, timing chains, cam and so on..). The use of an upgraded clutch is reccomended to cope with the extra torque you'll gain.

[jaydee]

Ahh - cheers, any special tools required, apart from the trusty Haynes? The cars done 60k on the original clutch, so it's probably toast.

I have a Flywheel puller (there two different types for verto and non verto clutch) and a clutch oil seal tool, i think if you go to minispares and ask, they can give almost everything you need.

[Spannerhead]

Stage 3 is new head, rocker, exhaust, airfilter and a re-map - from 60ish to 90ish bhp.... I'll speak to Minispare/speed next week then and get everything from them. Engine out sounds like a good idea, I wanted to clean up and paint the engine and bay anyway.

[jaydee]

All the parts you mentioned (even the clutch swap) can be done with engine in situ..but its tricky, with engine out will be easy, and if you want to do more 'servicing' you can replace oil pump and timing chains at the same time, always worth as you can check and adjust cam timing while you're at.

Edited by jaydee, 24 December 2009 - 12:06 PM.

[Burnard]

Its not that hard to do the clutch with the engine in place. It took me about a day and a half to do it, and that was doing the oil seal aswell.

[Spannerhead]

Is 'out' up and through the top, or drop it out of the bottom on a Mini, just out of interest? If it's up and out I'll borrow my mate hoist.

[petwar]

either or really mate, you can either unbolt the subframe and lift the car up and over it or just whip the motor out of the top. they both have their pros and cons.

[Burnard]

Up and out will take less time and involves dismantling less, it also means you wont need to re bleed your brakes. But you will need to work out how to lift it.

[Spannerhead]

Up and out will take less time and involves dismantling less, it also means you wont need to re bleed your brakes. But you will need to work out how to lift it.

Up and out then