10 replies to this topic

[scathontiphat]

Model: Mini Sidewalk
Year: 1995
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):
So i just bought my first mini on Monday. Unfortunately, having just arrived in the country last wednesday (from America), and not yet having a car, I could not buy insurance (had to have a car before they would let me buy insurance), which precluded me from test driving the car myself, and had to rely on the seller driving it. Unfortunately the seller was quite the conservative driver (woman in her 50s) and this problem did not present until yesterday when i finally had a chance to give the car a proper drive.

There was a large thud sound on sudden acceleration and deceleration. Figured it must be motor mounts or something. So took a look at the top steady today (only think i can see without getting the car up off the ground), and the front busing on the upper steady is complete toast. In fact, half of the bushing had fallen out of te steady and was reasting on the engine block (see attached).

So I'm going to order a bunch of parts from minispares (unless there is a better/quicker place) to deal with the problem, but i had a few questions as I am new to mini's and their parts.

1) Should i replace the entire steady assembly (bar, bracket & bushings), or just the bushings?
2) Saw on minispares that there are several replacement types (one piece, metal inserts, plastic inserts). Which should I go with?
3) Was planning on doing all the other steadies and possibly motor mounts (my experience in the past with other cars tells me if one motor attachment it broken, the others are too, or at least on their way out), but don't have anything to get the car up yet so i couldn't poke around to see what parts there actually are. Can you advise me on what other engine attachment points there are? What all should I order to do a nice complete job?

last but not least, is it okay to still drive the car around given that this bushing has completely disintegrated? Given the horror stories I've seen about breaking off engine steady bolts, I'm gonna venture not, but just wanted to make sure.

Oh, and are there any local shops that might stock the parts (post code BL8 4HP), or is this an internet order only thing. Who has the fastest shipping?

thanks so much for any help!

[scathontiphat]

picture of the busing that was sitting on the block.

Attached Files

•  IMGP6767.JPG   1MB   5 downloads

[book]

When I got my first mini in September I had the same problem. If I remember right I got pretty much everything from somerford mini and the bushes from minispares. As a noob, the somerford website was particularly helpful for showing how it all went together. They list the different typesand which minis they're for so that could be worth a look even if it's just to get the correct part numbers.

As for driving it, I drove mine and it was fine HOWEVER, this isn't advice saying it's ok to drive yours as it might have been in worse condition than mine was. Just saying

[gav]

I would use the one piece rubebr bushes KKF101320EVO for the top steady and a poly kit C-STR630 for the lower front steady (you can't use the one piece ones in the lowere steady unless you drill the hole out slightly as the bolt that goes through them is larger than the top). You should only need the bushes not the steady itself.

[mini13]

I agree with Gav, I've found the KKF101320EVO bushes best of the bunch, I also drill them and use them in the lower steadys.

[scathontiphat]

So, I've run into some problems while getting the top steady out.

The rear bolt just wont pop out. The nut and ground strap have been removed. It'll spin, but i just can't seem to get it out of the bushing/mount assembly. Any suggestions on getting the bugger out? It's soaking in penetrating oil right now, maybe it'll come out tomorrow morning, but i'm not too hopeful. I'd like to get at it from the underside, but don't have jacks to put the car up on right now (as mentioned, just moved here last week).

Also, the original ground strap seems to have been severed at some point in it's life. When i disconnected it from the rear bolt it just dropped to the ground with no eyelet on the other side. Upon more inspection, it looks like the previous owned had put a new ground strap going from the front bolt, to the front of the car (don't think this is factory). You guys think it's worth bothering to source a replacement ground strap to replace the old one? Car ran fine before, so i figure the new ground strap running to the front of the car is just fine, but would like your guys opinions.

thanks a bunch for any help!

[scathontiphat]

Oh, and i did notice that in the Engine Steady "How-to" someone mentioned that there should be a washer between the bushing and the engine block. There was none there when i took the assembly off. What can i replace it with? Can i just grab a washer from a hardware store?

[mini13]

it sounds like the bolt has rusted into the bush in the centre of the bush,

I'd say you have two options, drill the bolt out from the top, or cut through the bolt above and below the steady with a hacksaw blade. both a bit of a pain though...

i never bother with thst washer,

[scathontiphat]

oh that sounds like a pain... i can't even imagine trying to get a saw in there, my hands barely fit.

if i destroy the bolt, where can i source a new one? Thanks again!

[Davethepioneer]

you can purchase all you need from mini sport

Mini Sport Ltd,
Thompson St.,
Padiham,
Lancashire,
BB12 7AP
United Kingdom

Not to far away from you, about half hour or so, or try mini menders which is even closer

353 Bury Road
Bolton, Lancashire BL2 6BB
01204 520 565

[scathontiphat]

The saga continues...

So got me some nice cobalt drills (HSS was not going through the bolt at all). Got a hole through the bolt, and the head is off. Unfortunately, due to the lack of access in the area (injected car), the drill went in at a slight angle, and while the beginning of the bushing is nice and clear, it comes out the bottom at an angle leaving a significant part of the bolt still fused inside (and taking out some material from the bottom bracket... ooops). And now the rubber has broke free enough that when i try to get the drill back in at another angle to clear out more material, it spins in the bushing!!! AHHHH!!!!

So i've started at the bottom of the bolt with a hacksaw blade, but it's infuriatingly slow. it is however an old blade i just found in the garage. Any advice on getting that cut off? Is there a particular hacksaw blade that might work better (and where i could buy it)?

This bolt has caused me more frustration than any other bolt in my entire life!!!!

Edited by scathontiphat, 26 July 2010 - 09:53 PM.