21 replies to this topic

[Msmith93]

I have recently changed my front subframe as when i bought my mini the subframe was bent, looked like it had been in a crash and the person we bought it off failed to mention this.

The mini had hi los fitted but the passenger side donut was always a lot smaller than the drivers side, so i changed the subframe to a second hand one from one of my dads minis and now i have just got it back on its wheels and the drivers side is miles higher than the passenger side as this subframe still has the standard trumpets in.

I don't think it can be the rubber donuts as it has done the same on 2 pairs. I am wanting to sort it out asap as i think it could be something dangerous.

Here is some pictures;



Drivers side



Passenger Side

[miniman24]

The crash hasnt bent/deformed the bulkhead or floor has it? It takes a fair whack to bend a subby, I should know because 1 and a half years ago I did it, by hitting a huge pot hole then a kerb, because of black ice - it deformed the bulkhead on mine (got it jigged and fixed properly though) and slightly bent the subby. How did it drive with the old subby? Hope you figure it out

[miniman24]

Best bet for a quick check is to pop the front back on and check the tie bar "ear" mounts - is one lower than the other? Heres a pic of mine with the bent bulkhead and subby:



As you can see the left hand ear is much lower than the right hand one, this was mostly the subby but the bulkhead pushed the left side of the subby forwards too. Heres a pic with the good subby and fixed bulkhead:



Both perfectly level. Mines fibreglass fronted too, good job or the pothole would probably have ripped the front panel off...

[mini-luke]

I think it would have less likely done the damage it did to the bulkhead if it did have a metal front as the subframe would have more support from the front mounts.

[bmcecosse]

Adjust the height with the trumpet length.... Are you sure one side hasn't got a 'long' ball end fitted? Or a nylon cup missing from the top arm ???

[Msmith93]

The car was awful to drive with the old subframe on and i have checked the tie bar mounts and they look fine. Going to fit the hi los to sort out the ride height and fit new knuckle joints whilst i'm at it but when i had hi los fitted before the passenger side rubber donut gets compressed to about half the size of the drivers side one.

[bmcecosse]

Is the rear suspension sitting evenly?

[Bungle]

if it's been in a hard enough smack to bend the subframe the shell could also be bent

[sprag]

It would help to know which parts have you have used from your dads subframe?
rubber cones trumpets and top arms?

If the body is not massively bent it could be any of the following
Siezed shock on the drivers side- if you unbolt one end can you compress it any further?
Or different length trumpets/washers fitted,
Severely worn cup/ball at the base of the trumpet- they can wear right through the nylon cups.
faulty cone,
there is a remote possibility of a hydrolastic top arm being fitted to one side (they have a different leverage ratio to the dry arms)

I'd check the shock first then get a spirit level out and see if the body is bent.

[Tupers]

First off get rid of those nasty quick release poly engine mounts and get some standard rubber/steel ones in there.

Now the ride height issue.

Jump up and down in it a few times that might help it if it just needs to settle.

Do the cones look like they're located properly in the top of the subframe?

Have you got a bush between the subframe and cross member on both sides?

Did you replace or check the knuckle joints when you swapped everything over?

Did the two cones from your dads car look like they where the same height?

[Msmith93]

Rear is sitting fine its just the front that is sitting uneven, i also thought it could be the shell bent but i really hope it isn't.

I have used the rubber cones, trumpets, top arms and lower arms from the subframe, I will go over it again tomorrow to try and see whats wrong.

[Msmith93]

First off get rid of those nasty quick release poly engine mounts and get some standard rubber/steel ones in there.

Now the ride height issue.

Jump up and down in it a few times that might help it if it just needs to settle.

Do the cones look like they're located properly in the top of the subframe?

Have you got a bush between the subframe and cross member on both sides?

Did you replace or check the knuckle joints when you swapped everything over?

Did the two cones from your dads car look like they where the same height?

Jumped up and down on it loads and didn't make a difference, cones looked fine before i fitted the subframe and they are seated correctly.

I am going to order some knuckle joints tonight and replace them, only cheap so its worth a try.

[sprag]

I'd go with the knuckle joints although its odd that you have a similar problem with both subframes.
if you lift the dust covers on the existing knuckles it should be evident if the nearside one has sunk into the top arm more than the other side it will be a 1/3 with that amount of height difference between the two sides accounting for the leverage ratio on the arm.

An easy way to rule out a bent body affecting height would be to support the rear of the car off the ground in the centre between the rear wheels, say with a trolly jack in the middle and a bar spanning the rear subframe, so the car is only supported on the front wheels and the jack in the centre at the rear so it can almost rock
-then if the front is still lopsided at the front it must be a front suspension problem..

[Msmith93]

Took the shocks off and it isn't them that's causing it and i also jacked it up on the rear subframe like you said and it did get slightly better at the front but it was still lopsided a lot.

Looked at the knuckle joints and they don't look too bad really but ordered some so going to fit them when i put the hi los back in.

It could just be the rubber cones but its strange that it has done it on 3 sets now, none of them were brand new cones but they have all been in good condition then when i put the car back on its wheels the passenger side cone gets compressed a lot more than the drivers side.

[jaydee]

Could weel be that some knuckles in the past have worn out the nylon cup and rubbed into the top arm, can you do a try swapping the top arms for some others which you know are ok?