39 replies to this topic

[maccers]

Re the holes, probably a battry cable clamp or something, mine fell off ages ago!

[lewBlew]

Ok I'll try not to worry about it. Just get worried with this car as the more I look and investigate under it the more I find wrong!!! I'm near Winchester, used to live in Ashtead funnily enough, but not that near now. I'll see how I get on!

[maccers]

Ha me too! Used to live down by the Railway Line on Woodfield. If its starts to slip or creak, let it back down and try it again, dont rush it.

[sonikk4]

If you want to get a low level entry light weight trolley jack with a built in rubber pad then i can recommend this one from Machine Mart. Its not cheap but if you buy it on a VAT free night then its 20% off.
http://www.machinema...=1&TC=SRC-jacks

We use this on Project Erm and its very good.

[maccers]

Thats the precise jack I have. Also have Halfords one too but the seat is much taller when its at full rest. The MMart one is great!

[tiger99]

The offside subframe lower flange should have a round-headed screw which retains the battery cable clamp, but there is no wiring on the nearside, so the screw on one side only is correct. All of my Minis were like that. The screw itself is a right pain, like all roundhead screws, and is often replaced by a hex head bolt or whatever comes to hand.

You may well ask why Rover wasted money drilling a hole that was never used. I think it may be used on some models for foreign markets, where legislation required differences in the electrical system etc, but likely they put it in initially in case it was needed. Cheaper to allow for options in the tooling up front than to modify it later.

[tiger99]

As for jacking, when I have been raising the shell to drop a front subframe, I have used a length of 4*2 across the front of the floor, right at the junction with the toeboard, and a central trolley jack. Obviously the exhaust would be in the way so you need to remove it first. I have never bent a floor that way, and the structure there is stiff in every direction. It allows you to go high enough to get axle stands under the subframe side members. The strongest point is on the double thickness below the lower suspension arm, and blocks of wood help avoid doing minor damage to the subframe.

[TA2DMAC]

Instead of using two jacks set a pair of 2x6'sused on the ground in front of the tires and drive up on them.
It will give you the little bit of height you need to get the jack under.
I have to do that to get a jack under my motorcycle because it has been lowered 4 inches.

[lewBlew]

Ah that jack is a bit out of my price range. Was thinking more one of these!

http://www.machinema...lley-jack-ctj2b

http://www.halfords....tegoryId_255207

[Noah]

Apparently the bog standard Halfords trolley jack fits under either subframe... I'm planning on getting either that or one from Machine Mart which is similar but £10 cheaper. In any case, can you jack it up on the flat bit of the subframe and then put axle stands right next to where you jack it up - is the area big and strong enough?

Get a low profile jack.

[maccers]

The smaller yellow one does not raise that much, I have this one and never use it. I then bought the halfords advanced one, that has a much higher lift on it. Then I bought the MMart one, that is mid way between the two in terms of height.

[lewBlew]

Like this?

http://www.machinema...ofile-trolley-j

It is low profile and goes to 33cm. The cheap MM one says only 208mm and the Halfords one 38cm..

[maccers]

This is the other one I have that goes very high, probably too high!

http://www.halfords....tegoryId_255207

[sonikk4]

Got that one and its too big to carry around in a car. Does the job but its not the handiest bit of kit to carry around.

[maccers]

Yep, its a bit clunky for sure! I only carry a small scissor jack and wheel brace in car - and my AA card!!