22 replies to this topic

[BiMU]

Well after fitting the second hand steering column i managed to drive the mini to the m.o.t place yesterday morning... I was hoping it would pass and then be used in the afternoon for my friends wedding!... But alas it did not! It failed on:

1: Offside front suspension has inadequate clearence with the bump stop.

- Can this be easily remedied as I have front hi-lo's?

2: (Rear silencer FRONT mounting) exhaust system mounting missing.

- Is this an easy fix? And what part should I be looking to purchase?

3: Nearside track rod end ball joint has excessive play.

- Easy to replace? What do i need to purchase?

4: Offside front upper (swivel ball joint) suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint.

- Again... easy to replace? What do i need to purchase?


Any help would be great. If i could get help on all the topics mentioned that would be frickin excellent!

Thanks again guys!


Jason

[Don't Panic]

1: im not sure what is ment by this... i guess it means the car is sitting very low, almost resting on the bump stop?

2: think this must be the mounting on the front of the rear subframe which is this or something similar... check to see what part is missing before ordering. Mounting

3: track rod ends are about a fiver and easy to replace TrackRodEnd just remember to break the locknut first... i spent ages scratching my head because i for got to... when you've done that it just screws off and new one screws on (To the same position!)

4: couldn't find a link for this one but it shouldn't be too hard to find... i've never replaced one myself so i'll leave someone else to explain or maybe search the forum im sure someone will have asked how to replace this before.

Oh and im not really up at 4am replying to posts... im in the states for a week.

Edited by Don't Panic, 10 September 2006 - 03:04 AM.

[miniboo]

yeah what he said pretty much^^

no 4. is a ball joint that needs either replacing or you might get away with re-shimming. up to you. personally i would get a whole new ball joint on there. can be a very annoying job to do!!

[minidan]

yea no.4 i have done many times for MOT reasons.

although even when you know what to do it still a very annoying job. (i think i just hate it more because ive done it so many times lol)

you will need a ball joint splitter either the wedge type or the scissor type.
oh and its handy to have a huge socket to fit over the dome nut too. cant remember the exact size but it will make your life 100x easier.

follow the haynes maunel word for word and its only a couple of hours job. (if youve never done it before).

lol good luck mate!

[miniboo]

i thinki t is 1 5/16 but it needs to be deeeeep to fit over the bolt

[minidan]

http://www.minispare....aspx?pid=37682

[BiMU]

Thanks a lot guys. A lot of info there for me to work on! I think for 1: I think they thought it was sitting too low! Looks like I have a little shopping to do!

[Retro_10s]

ball joint is a 1/2 inch jobby, nice snug fit on mine anyway lol.

[miniboo]

not the actual domed nut that makes up the ball joint though that is 1 5/16 i believe

[Zenob1]

I'm with retro 10's - I thought it was 1.5" as well.

1 5/16" is hub nut (disks) plus a few other bits.

Matt

[miniboo]

oo yeah it might be 1.5"

Retro 10's said 1/2"

[Retro_10s]

sorry that's me being a nob!... lol i did mean 1.5" but i wrote 1/2 ( as in 1 and a half lol)

sorry. anyway the main thing is, I'm right lol

[blacktulip]

be carefull buying track rod ends as some are longer than others. the longer ones are for lowered cars.
as for the ball joints, its easy to pop them in to a garage (if u take the hubs off), they normally undo them free.

[BiMU]

be carefull buying track rod ends as some are longer than others. the longer ones are for lowered cars.
as for the ball joints, its easy to pop them in to a garage (if u take the hubs off), they normally undo them free.

Yeah I saw on the minispares website that there are longer ones. I have front hi-los which I think i have to raise. Would the longer track end rods benefit the mini in any way?

[Guess-Works.com]

longer ones are for cars with -ve camber bottom arms, lowered cars using std arms can you std trackrods.