16 replies to this topic

[Mini Waco]

What is the clearance from ground to jacking points on the Mini?  Are the Front and Rear different?  Curious if my standard floor jack is going to be sufficient or if a low 'racing' floor jack is required.  Don't have my mini (yet) so just planning ahead.

 

Many Thanks

[sonikk4]

If you decide to lower your car at any time then a low entry trolley jack will be needed otherwise a standard access jack will be fine.

[Tamworthbay]

All depends on the suspension settings. If it's on original cones in good condition then a standard Jack is fine, if the cones are dead or it's been stupidly lowered then you might struggle. But that's assuming that a U.S. Jack is a similar height to one over here.

[nicklouse]

But as there is only one jacking point on each side and only the original Jack fits it.......

We then have to ask where are you planning on jacking the Mini up on?

[Mini Waco]

Good question Nicklouse...   I have the following set up and with the additional height of the cross beam, I'm wondering whether or not I will be able to use my cross beam.  Therefore trying to find out the exact clearance so that I can measure against my jact w/ cross beam setup.  My cross beam will extend out to 37 inches (940 mm), therefore also curious if the cross beam will reach both L & R jacking points.

Edited by Mini Waco, 06 December 2014 - 04:51 PM.

[sonikk4]

Mmm that is not suitable for using on the original jacking points that are in the sills. If you are referring to the small plates at each end of the sill then please do not use these. They are slinging points for moving a bare shell around the factory and not jacking points at all.

You should be able to use that on the subframes though as there suitable areas for lifting the car up on.

If you use the slinging plates especially the fwd ones you will distort the floor pans.

[Tamworthbay]

There are multiple jacking points on the mini, there are only two suitable for the standard factory issued Jack, but that is a different matter. The front and rear subframes are the best jacking points. I would avoid using the side points and standard Jack unless you absolutely sure of the integrity of the sills.

[Mini Waco]

There are multiple jacking points on the mini, there are only two suitable for the standard factory issued Jack, but that is a different matter. The front and rear subframes are the best jacking points. I would avoid using the side points and standard Jack unless you absolutely sure of the integrity of the sills.

thanks all, I see now that I was wonderfully unclear in my questioning.  And again perhaps the British to American verbiage is causing confusion as I do not know what "Slinging" plates are.    What I think I know is that according to the Haynes Service manual, there are six jacking points (L & R).  The two (front and reat) at the sill are for the car jack only and I have no intentions of using these points.  Two jack points are at the sub-frame for workshop jack/axle and the last two jack points are called the "floor reinforcement" points (accoring to Haynes).  I was planning on using the subframes points.   Can you get a standard jack under the car far enough to reach the subframe points and for a standard mini w/o any lower mods done, does anyone know what the clearance is?

 

Although now I'm more curious about the "slinging" points to.  Sonikk4 mentioned moving the shell around the floor of which I will definitely being doing and plan to built a dolly system soon.  Are these the points that I need to consider for supporting the shell?  Are these the same as the sill points?

 

thank you.. as you guys are teaching me more than I expected to learn on simple jacking points.

[alex-95]

I will try to measure my mini's heights tomorrow, the front is useually lower than the front due to the weight of the engine on the cones and not much being on the back, I can fit a 130mm jack under the front subframe with some spare room.

 

the slinging brackets were used to move the shell around in the factory. You don't have to move the shell on them. most people get rid of them as thery are just rust traps.

[Mini Waco]

I will try to measure my mini's heights tomorrow, the front is useually lower than the front due to the weight of the engine on the cones and not much being on the back, I can fit a 130mm jack under the front subframe with some spare room.

 

the slinging brackets were used to move the shell around in the factory. You don't have to move the shell on them. most people get rid of them as thery are just rust traps.

 

Ah.. many thanks Alex-95.  Much better understanding.  so then these slinging points are different from the sill car jack points too correct?

[sonikk4]

Yes totally the cars only fitted jacking points are the ones approx halfway down the outer sill. One in each side..

If these are in good condition they are fine for changing a wheel but not much else. I always use the subframes for jacking a car up on for the placement of axle stands.

[Tamworthbay]

Yes they are, many minis suffer damage to the floors when they are used as jacking points. I am unsure what the points on the floor that Haynes is referring to but I would guess they mean where the front subframe lower mount attaches to the floor. I wouldn't use those pints personally. There are nice flat spaces by where the lower arms mount at the front and also nice flat surfaces on the rear subframe. For moving the shell about I would just make sure you use enough timber to spread the load but to be honest a bare shell doesn't weigh much so it's not a major problem.

[Mini Waco]

I've scanned the jacking points according to Haynes.  What points are recommend for both jacking the car and for shell dolly support?  Darn.. the scanned imaged keeps dissappearing from my post...

Edited by Mini Waco, 06 December 2014 - 07:35 PM.

[alex-95]

If the cars going to be stripped down to the shell then putting something across the floor to spread the weight. I'll get some pictures of how mine is surported if you're stripping it to a shell. With the subframes on Just use the subframes.

[nicklouse]

I've scanned the jacking points according to Haynes,<snip> Darn.. the scanned imaged keeps dissappearing from my post...

Maybe as they are copyright images the powers that be might be removing them.