9 replies to this topic

[Mini Mad James]

I recently bought a set of new tie rods and bottom arms for my mini,
I had a go at taking the bottom arm off i managed to disconnect it from the hub but i could not work out how you remove it from the subframe??

looked in haynes manual but that wasnt any help could someone help me

Also could someone tell me how you mount these poly progressive bump stops
Bump stops

James

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[philc]

I recently bought a set of new tie rods and bottom arms for my mini,
I had a go at taking the bottom arm off i managed to disconnect it from the hub but i could not work out how you remove it from the subframe??

looked in haynes manual but that wasnt any help could someone help me

Also could someone tell me how you mount these poly progressive bump stops
Bump stops

James

you need a 14mm spanner for the nut at the back of the subframe close to the steering rack boot. then you need 11mm socket and spanner to undo the nuts and bolts behind the radiator on the subframe pillor. you may need to take the radiator off make like alot easier

[Mini Mad James]

Ok

thanks philc ill give that a shot,
im surprised its such a job really but thats life

James

[1984mini25]

you need a 14mm spanner for the nut at the back of the sub frame close to the steering rack boot. Then you need 11mm socket and spanner to undo the nuts and bolts behind the radiator on the sub frame pillor. You may need to take the radiator off make like allot easier

Firstly you should never use metric tools on imperial nuts bolts, you will end up damaging something.
ALWAYS use the correct tool for the job.

I don't know what arm your try to remove/replace but I’ve never had to remove the rad to get the bottom one out.

looked in Haynes manual but that wasn’t any help could someone help me

It is in there under suspension and steering 10.7 no.6

And it couldn't be simpler Jack up the front of the car and support on stands, and then remove the road wheel.
Remove the retaining nut and separate the swivel hub ball joint from the lower suspension arm, using a suitable joint separator tool. Remove the through-bolt and nut securing the tie-rod to the lower arm.
At the lower arm pivot shaft, remove the nut and washer from the rear end of the shaft, and then tap the shaft forwards to release the arm. Remove the arm mounting brushes.

Installation is a simple reversal of the above procedure.
Ensure that the flat on the head on the pivot shaft locates correctly with the tab at the mounting hole.
The pivot shaft nut should not be fully tightened until the suspension is supporting the weight of the car, to prevent pre-tensioning of the rubber bushes. Tighten the pivot shaft nut to 45Nm (33 lb ft) and the blower ball joint to 54Nm (40lb ft)

[Mini Mad James]

Thanks 1984mini25

I think philc got the wrong end of the stick

and then tap the shaft forwards to release the arm.

Do you mean tap it forward towards the car or towards me?

thanks
James

[Mini Mad James]

yay manage to knock the pivot arm out but the bottom arm is still stuck
to the pivot and its very stiff because its covered in rust/grimme

any suggestions?

[Dan]

Plusgas, time and eventually admitting defeat and cutting it off. The steel collar inside the bush generally freezes itself to the pin with corrosion and then they don't really come apart. New genuine bottom arm pins can be got for about £11.00. Don't buy a non-genuine one.

[minidaves]

freeze and relese from loctite or wurth rustoff ice, cleans the rust off well

or as said slower method plus gas, wd40 is cack
its a pain when they dont come apart

i normally end up removing arm and pin from subframe and puting in vice

dave

[Mini Mad James]

Thanks for all your help guys

ill have a go with that stuff but if i have no luck ill just cut it off and buy a new one

Getting new wheels today ill post up pics when i have them on

Cheers

James

[Guess-Works.com]

Worst case I cut them if you can get the arm off the pin....

Not too expensive...

http://www.minispare....aspx?pid=33185