13 replies to this topic

[Sprocket]

I have removed the inner wings to gain a little more room for the intercoolers, oil coolers and extra rads for the 16valver when its sorted. The front end is welded steel to whats left of the inner wing and still atatched to the subframe at the front, these will be solid steel mounts as are ALL the others. I have some brace bars, but dont realy want to fit them unless I realy have to. The front end as it is, is solid with the subframe in.

So

Will I be able to get away without fitting the brace bars for Mr MOT? Or, am I going to have to fit them?

[Wil_h]

If it's allstill steel at the front then leave them off.

the front end is more held up by the subframe than the front end stopping the subframe move around.

Wil

[pikey7]

To my mind you've compromised the integrity of the structure by chopping out the inner wings (same as with a FG front really), so I reckon you'd need to fit them, but having not done it that way, I'm not sure.

[miniboo]

i think you're gonna need em for the MOT

Mainly because the inner wings have been removed. The brace bars give that strength back through triangulation

[The Matt]

If you look at it from an MOT testers point of view, he is just gonna look at it and say 'the inner wings have been cut out, that must've compromised the structure'

I would deffo go with brace bars if there is any doubt. An MOT tester has to decide on the spot whether or not the structural integrity has been altered.

Personally, I think it needs em too

[minidaves]

build a steel tubular frame around the removed area's on inner wing then u dont need that horrid diagonal brace bar

dave

[Wil_h]

Think of it this way:

Imagine you have a fully built up mini (standard in every way), but the front subframe mounts are missing. Now, you need to jack it up. Would you jack it on the subframe or the front valance, and if you jacked it on the valance what would you expect to happen to the the rest of the front bodywork (accepting the fact that the valance would be damaged).

Thr front bodywork on a a mini is non unitary and with solid rear mounts bracebars do very little, even with the front end removed.

[miniboo]

If you look at it from an MOT testers point of view, he is just gonna look at it and say 'the inner wings have been cut out, that must've compromised the structure'

I would deffo go with brace bars if there is any doubt. An MOT tester has to decide on the spot whether or not the structural integrity has been altered.

Personally, I think it needs em too

Exactly what i was going to say. From an MOT testers view he will see no brace bars and no inner wings and see it has a srtuctual failing i reckon.

Isn't Marc an MOT tester? maybe he will be able to give a definitive answer

[mambaman]

fit them, there are fewer drawbacks than there are benefits and the extra strength is always usefull. Just think of those patches on the toeboard. You might also find that the front end will crack.

[Sprocket]

I think I'll fit them with the option of removing them( runs for cover)

Oh and where exactly will the wings crack??

[advantage998]

I've gone down the route of removeable steel front, and i dont like the look of the normal brace bars, so i'm going to do some thing like this:

[Guess-Works.com]

That's the preferred method of bracing a mini subframe, but does require the rad to be moved from the side to the front...

As for the necessity... A mini without support for the front of the subframe will fail an MOT, ie original mountings not there... The inner wing forms part of the ridgid structure to support the front subframe. Remove the inner wing, you will need bracing of some sort..

If the inner wing had a rusty hole in it, you would be failed on corrosion within 30cm's of a mounting point.

[minimole]

I was told by my local mot station that i had to have brace bars to pass.

[mambaman]

the wings will crack down from the scuttle following the seam.