12 replies to this topic

[JDImini]

My son and I are trial fitting the rear subframe today to check the alignment of the mounting bolts as we've used poly bushes and it has been suggested that bushes on the front (healboard) end may have to be installed with the larger end innermost if the bolts don't line up. The healboard bolts have been inserted and loosely done up the offside rear mounting lines up and again bolted up loosely but the nearside rear mounts (under the fuel tank) are about 5-10 mm out. Any suggestions, it is a new heritage rear subframe. here are some photos which may help

 

 rear sub os front.jpg   64.47K   42 downloads offside front  

 rear sub os rear.jpg   74.13K   34 downloads offside rear

 rear sub ns front.jpg   52.75K   32 downloads nearside front

 rear sub ns rear.jpg   57.7K   33 downloads nearside rear - you can see the edge of the holes

[RedRuby]

Have you tried test fitting the shock absorbers to see if they line up? If they do it may be that the boot floor has had a repair in the past and the mounting holes have been placed to fit the old subframe for some reason. Failing that it's time to check and compare measurements of the mounting points, there are instructions how and dimensions on the forum.

[minidaves]

drop the sunframe a little at the rear put a screw driver in one of the holes and lift it up, also do the heal board bolts up as this helps with keeping things square

[woodley miniman]

I had a similar problem when I replaced my rear subframe. Slacken off all the bolts as much has posable, use a hefty screwdriver and put it through one of the holes that don't line up and pull it into line getting someone else to put the bolt through the holes and lightly tighten. Put through the other bolt and tighten all bolts a little at a time.
Hope this helps
Bri

[min ritz ryan]

i'm having a similar problem with mine, but mine are the 2 o/s bolts going into the heel board. has anyone any tips for that please? out of line about 4/5 mm

[JDImini]

Are your bushes poly??

[min ritz ryan]

yes

[JDImini]

We've got back to the subframe today and loosened off the bolts and got a screw driver in the misaligned holes but still it's a bit of a struggle, the four bolts in the boot are now in and loose but now difficult to get the bolts in the healboard and don't want to use a spanner on them in case I cross thread them, thinking of going back to the rubber bushes as they have a bit more give in them than poly so might make lining them up a bit easier

[GraemeC]

Personally I would use rubber. If you tighten up the trunnion bolts on both sides it might pull them in slightly.
The front ones should have the bigger top hat on the subframe side.

[JDImini]

Back on the rear subframe again today after a long break and trying to fit an adjustable camber kit, using the bolts that came with the subframe I started to cross thread one. Made a quick call to Mini Speed as they are our local mini supplier and they gave us some help over the phone as always, thank you Mini Speed, and they pointed us in the direction of another local company called margnor in Jacobs Wells that sell all manner of nuts and bolts, taps ans dies, a real Aladin's cave, at very good prices and a lot of invaluable help. Also a couple of nice cars, spitfire and Esprit, turned up for a few nuts and bolts, while I was there.

[humph]

I had a similar problem to the one you describe when I fitted my subby last year.  I undid the trunnion bolts so that the trunnions were free to move about on the polybushes, and bolted the fronts into the heelboard.  I then lifted the back and, as described above, used a screwdriver to pull the subby over until i could get one of the bolts in & tightened.  I then tightened the trunnion bolts so that the polybushes were squeezed properly. With the trunnion bolts done up tight I'd have no chance of getting it fit, I needed the extra play. 

[JDImini]

humph, on 02 Aug 2014 - 4:03 PM, said:
I had a similar problem to the one you describe when I fitted my subby last year. I undid the trunnion bolts so that the trunnions were free to move about on the polybushes, and bolted the fronts into the heelboard. I then lifted the back and, as described above, used a screwdriver to pull the subby over until i could get one of the bolts in & tightened. I then tightened the trunnion bolts so that the polybushes were squeezed properly. With the trunnion bolts done up tight I'd have no chance of getting it fit, I needed the extra play.

Thanks Humph that sounds like a good plan - looking forward to IMM tomorrow to pick up some more bits for the car and then try again next week

[M J W J]

I fitted my rear sub frame with poly bushes. It just took a lot of wriggling around and small adjustments to the tightness of the studs and nuts to get it all to line up but it did so in the end.