44 replies to this topic

[kezzkitkat]

ive never had a problem with non gen rear subframes and i think there pretty strong if they were made incorrect then i would investigate it . most company will actual have a few tested before selling them as your looking at big money if some happens 

only thing i know off  you cant stop them to bloody stop rusting though no matter what you do with them paint them powdercoat and etc the zinc coated is about the best coating ive had quite expensive but it still on another mini 

[dyshipfakta]

Are there differences between the ones out there too I mean mini spares, the other popular northern place I forget what it's called etc? Might be in the market myself in the not too distant.

[Tamworthbay]

There used to be about half a dozen different makers but not sure how many are still going.

[MRA]

Tiger99's  post is just not true at all - non genuine subframes are perfectly safe

 

I bet half of all mini's that were ever made used non genuine subframe's in the end - I don't recall ever hearing of one fail without rust

 

more likely to fail are the heel board mounts , that are rusted

 

my one had bolts that were stuck in with silicone , as the captive nuts were long lost to rust - now that is dangerous

 

I believe the expression is ' taken with a pinch of salt '

 

Just out of interest how many incidents have you heard of that were caused by ball joint failure ?

Edited by mra-minis.co.uk, 08 February 2016 - 02:19 AM.

[pete l]

Do they fail ???

[sonikk4]

Do they fail ???

In an accident, through severe corrosion, stupidity when installing etc. If one failed because of inferior welding processes then a whole batch would have done as well. So in answer to your question unless somebody in our world of minis has fitted a BRAND NEW subframe and it failed then to be perfectly honest until they step fwd and say something then we will not know. Anything other than that is somebody's perceived view without proof.

Think about this though how many of us own other cars and fit pattern suspension fittings etc etc etc and have had a failure ( I'm talking something structural here). In all of the years I have owned cars due to cost saving I have never had a structural new component fail. This was something they highlighted though.

I have seen the odd thing and even OE stuff, Vauxhall spring to mind here with lower wishbones failing due to only two rivets being fitted instead of three on a ball joint mount.

[Cooperman]

I have never seen a failed rear frame except due to corrosion, but that's not to say that weld failure has never happened. Photos of this would show where to add weld.
For serious competition use I seam weld in a lot of places.

Edited by Cooperman, 08 February 2016 - 09:20 PM.

[Swift_General]

I have never seen a failed rear frame except due to corrosion, but that's not to say that welfare failure has never happened. Photos of this would show where to add weld.
For serious competition use I seam weld in a lot of places.

Cooperman - If I go for a heritage subframe is it worth seam welding anywhere whilst it's off the car before it's painted/waxed? The car will only be used for the odd track day. No competition work. Thanks.

Edited by Swift_General, 08 February 2016 - 05:50 PM.

[sonikk4]

I have seam welded my Heritage subframe in various places. Not continuous seam welds, weld a couple of inches miss a couple etc. I have done the same to OE twin bolt front subframe as well.

 

Did i need to??? well the answer is no but every little helps. Although not a track or race weapon i am after longevity.

[sledgehammer]

Just out of interest how many incidents have you heard of that were caused by ball joint failure ?

 

 

If you mean fail by coming apart - heard of loads over the years

 

I've seen quite a few fails , usually due to lack of maintaining / greasing , then a pot hole / kerb to knock the joint apart

 

usually the bottom joint (wheel swings out - hits wing / 'a' panel - hopefully at low speed)

 

had to fix a few - had to re-shim / clean up / replace many over the years

 

been lucky enough to have genuine Unipart or QH kits to fit years ago - but now they are not as cheap / plentiful

 

and some poor ones have got into the system

 

never seen a new subframe fail thou - never even heard of it 

Edited by sledgehammer, 08 February 2016 - 07:14 PM.

[sledgehammer]

I have seam welded my Heritage subframe in various places. Not continuous seam welds, weld a couple of inches miss a couple etc. I have done the same to OE twin bolt front subframe as well.

 

Did i need to??? well the answer is no but every little helps. Although not a track or race weapon i am after longevity.

 

+1 on this

 

If you have a welder , & the time , it's a good thing to do

as well as tacking the captives - which I see you have

 

probably a good idea to pack some grease behind them as well - which you probably did anyway

Edited by sledgehammer, 08 February 2016 - 07:18 PM.

[sonikk4]

Ball joints on a mini is something that does happen BUT and its a big BUT is it down to poor installation, maintenance etc. The thing is we can pick the bones out of a lot of things if we want to but is the reason why something fails down to poor design, poor installation processes or poor maintenance??

 

Oh and sledgehammer no grease packed in anywhere yet as the subframe has yet to be shot blasted and powdercoated.

[Cooperman]

It does no harm to add a few bits of weld to the joins on the rear frame. Not sure it is essential on a road car as I've never seen a structural failure that was not due to rust.

Edited by Cooperman, 08 February 2016 - 09:26 PM.

[minisprint]

Tiger99's  post is just not true at all - non genuine subframes are perfectly safe
 
I bet half of all mini's that were ever made used non genuine subframe's in the end - I don't recall ever hearing of one fail without rust
 
more likely to fail are the heel board mounts , that are rusted
 
my one had bolts that were stuck in with silicone , as the captive nuts were long lost to rust - now that is dangerous
 
I believe the expression is ' taken with a pinch of salt '

 
Just out of interest how many incidents have you heard of that were caused by ball joint failure ?

Just the man who pointed out the lack of spotwelds ! Hope you are ok mate! Really need to get a pic genuine vs pattern ! Being around minis for years I've seen alsorts like sheared front subframe hey Martin! Speak soon

[Swift_General]

Thanks all for your input. So I've ordered myself a genuine rear subframe. My intention is to add some extra weld whilst it's off the car, then coat is with this stuff,

http://www.rust.co.u...g-paint/c28117/

then use Dynax S50 for the cavities.