7 replies to this topic

[miniman24]

Hi all, some of you may have heard of my ongoing handling/steering issues, been happening since about 9 months ago when I went into a massive pothole. So far ive replaced - everything lol, subframe, all suspension and steering components all replaced with good second hand parts - but the problem goes on. The steering is very wayward, bump steering left and right, pulling to the right under accelleration and to the left under braking.

Now the newest issue - subframe movement. Fairly sure I know why its happening, Ive got a fibreglass front and brace bars but standard (and very old) rubber mounts on the towers and floors. the subframe moves 3-4 mm left and right if I rock the car back and forward using one of the front wheels, and at least 6 mm left and right if I turn the steering wheel on tarmac, before the wheels start to turn. My question: is this excessive? Im pretty sure the subframe shouldnt move to the extent that you dont need precision tools to measure it, ie you can see it! Id ask my dad but hes away in france at the moment so sorry for boring you with such a simple question! Time for solid mounts?

[benjy_18]

does sound a bit much!

ive driven a friends which has had solid tower mounts and poly mounts everywhere else and it wasnt that noisy, but the solid mounts are a bit of a pain to fit (mine dont line up as well as i would like). would be worth changing them out for all new poly ones though. cant do any harm if youve replaced everything anyway.

hope your problems go away soon!

Ben

[miniman24]

Cheers for the reply, been doing abit more reading and it seems that solid mounts all round are best for fibreglass fronts. Just been messing with the steering again and the subby moves so much that the rad hits the inner wing when I turn the steering wheel to the right on tarmac

[bcjames]

I had all sorts of problems with my car's handling due to subframe mounts. I could never get the tracking to stay set, and something always felt amiss when cornering. Solid mounts sorted it out and I've not had a single issue since. When I removed the rubber mounts they still looked okay, but on the car they clearly weren't doing the job.

[Twisty]

I have just solid mounted my mini and the difference is huge i also have poly bushed pretty much everything else on the front and fitted heavy duty non adjustable tie rods and the difference is like night and day. probably about a days work for me as im a bit slow and fussy and the top mounts were ok to fit, but well worth it. the road noise is not really noticeable.

The tie rods were fitted first and made a big difference over the standard rods try replacing these also.

Go solid mounts they are good.

[Cooperman]

All early Minis from Mk.1 through to Mk.3 up to around 1982 (someone is going to give the exact month/year in which the change to rubber mounts was made) were solidly mounted and they were always the ones with the most precise steering.

[tvrdave]

If you have a fibreglass front end then you must solid mount the subframe, it isn't optional it is absolutely necessary. The front panel on a steel fronted mini is designed not only to stop the front edge of the subframe moving up and down but also to not allow it to move side to side at the front edge. Your brace bars can prevent the up and down movement but not the side to side movement. You must fit solid tower mounts and solid floor mounts. I would also consider fitting a second top engine steady on the other side of the motor to stiffen that up too as its quite a lump that can move around a little too much. It isn't just a handling issue but a safety issue too, if you were unlucky in a frontal collision then your subframe, as it currently is, has no way to stop it potentially being torn off to one side as realistically it is only fixed firmly via the tower bolts. please do the job asap and be safe.

Dave

Edited by tvrdave, 04 September 2011 - 10:13 PM.

[miniman24]

Thanks for the words of wisdom guys I remember my dad telling me, when we did the front, that all the minis he grass tracked in the 60s and 70s were solid mounted, said they always handled better than the later minis he drove with the rubber mounts haha! I did read in several places that solid mounting was neccessary for fibreglass fronts when doing the research on whether or not to fit the front but there were too many conflicting opinions - solid top and rubber floor, all solid, poly floor and solid top etc - decided to just stick with rubber but that was obviosly the worst choice! Solid mounts ordered Ill look into the second engine steady, aswell as strengthening plates for the floor mounts.

Edit: Road noise really dosnt bother me - Ive got no sound deadening, its lowered and has a loud exhaust, I dont think theres much in the way of comfort to detract from

Edited by miniman24, 04 September 2011 - 10:56 PM.