Do NOT use an R-pin to secure the brake pedal clevis pin. Always use a correctly secured clevis pin. Rover fitted them for a short time in 1990 and there were some brake failures as a result of the R-pin being pushed out. A recall was organised and a Service Bulletin issued to revert to original split pin. The tolerance build up can result in the pin catching on the body and being pushed out. In effect it is hit and miss whether it occurs. Therefore the SAFEST option is to use a standard split pin.
The only way an R clip can come out is either the wrong size, or incorrectly fitted.
They were fitted as standard in some markets.
...or be pushed out which was identified as the root cause of this happening to minis built in Longbridge in 1980. The build up of tolerances in production resulted in the r-clip contacting the bodywork disengaging the r-clip and then it worked its way out.
Sledgehammer , yes the problem was identified in 1980 so was earlier. Some cars leaving the line suffered brake failure due to this, so the Service bulletin was issued, production reverted to split pin. I was project engineer for Small car development when this occurred.
As the tools got older and older, assembly problems and service problems increased over the life of the mini.
As this item is clearly Safety Critical, So I re-iterate my Safety warning. A correctly fitted appropriate diameter split pin is more secure.
Some R Clips that have been sold to me over the years for this application;-
The top 2 Clips here are OK and quite safe to fit. The very top one is that that was used in our Local Production, the next down being those from Somerfords. Overall length of these is 20 and 22 mm respectively.
The lower one came from a local supplier, it's 27 mm long and, as I did find out, will pop out.
If they make you nervous, then don't fit them. Every car I've owned has had them from the factory and I'm happy to run with the right ones.
Edited by Moke Spider, 15 October 2016 - 09:00 AM.
