11 replies to this topic

[Mini 360]

Hello!

Been ages since Ive posted but gradually getting the mini back on the road piece by piece. Ive made a bit of an error with a new rear radius arm......

I bought a refurbed arm from Minispares and it came in the crap E-Coat finish. I stripped this off and powder coated it (with the large pin removed) to match the rest of my suspension. Little did I know there was a plastic sleeve inside the arm which has now melted into the cavity of the arm.

What function did this sleeve have as as far as I can see its not load bearing and the cavity in the arm is just that, a cavity so what purpose does the sleeve have? Ive asked a few suppliers if they can supply a new plastic sleeve but can I run without it?

[RedRuby]

The sleeve is to contain the grease around the pivot pin, without it you will be filling all the voids in the radius arm which will take quite a lot of grease.

[Dusky]

You ll just need a bit more Grease without the sleeve :)

[greenwheels]

Without that sleeve the radius arm will just fill up with grease. If the designer designed one in you need it. Buy a refurb kit if you can't get just a sleeve   http://www.minispare...|Back to search

[Mini 360]

Thought as much, thanks gents. Will see if I can get a new sleeve so Im not filling it with kilos of grease

[greenwheels]

Thought as much, thanks gents. Will see if I can get a new sleeve so Im not filling it with kilos of grease

Thinking about it - you'll have to tap out the roller bearing to get the sleeve in. If it gets damaged you'll have one from the kit.

[Spider]

Originally they had a steel sleeve in them.

 

The plastic ones split and are of little benefit I've found. I recycle the steel ones.

 

The lower one here is from a Mini

 

 

While I haven't yet looked in to it, I'm told that there is a copper pipe that can be used. I'm suspecting one end would need to be flared though.

[Mini 360]

 

Thought as much, thanks gents. Will see if I can get a new sleeve so Im not filling it with kilos of grease

Thinking about it - you'll have to tap out the roller bearing to get the sleeve in. If it gets damaged you'll have one from the kit.

 

 

Yeh had thought of that.  Hopefully easy enough to remove.  Will give me access to melt away the remainder of the sleeve thats currently getting in the way of the pin

 

Originally they had a steel sleeve in them.

 

The plastic ones split and are of little benefit I've found. I recycle the steel ones.

 

The lower one here is from a Mini

 

 

While I haven't yet looked in to it, I'm told that there is a copper pipe that can be used. I'm suspecting one end would need to be flared though.

Learn something new every day!  

[richmondclassicsnorthwales]

I have some plastic sleeves so you don't need to buy a complete kit

 

Another avenue so you don't have to tap out the bush one end is to cut down the entire length using a thin cutting disc   (E-Bay item 2627037838342)

 

Then fold it in on itself, and you could then squeeze it past the bush and it will open up once in, but will allow you to put grease in without it all spilling in to the arm. Bit of a bodge but will do the job to keep the grease in.

 

I have a couple of roller bearings and a good stock of bronze bushes from my subframe / radius arm rebuild days, I did get through a few kits !!!

 

Find me at    [email protected]   and drop me a message or phone me,I am not looking at The Mini Forum pages every day

[alex-95]

 

 

 

Then fold it in on itself, and you could then squeeze it past the bush and it will open up once in, but will allow you to put grease in without it all spilling in to the arm. Bit of a bodge but will do the job to keep the grease in.

 

 

 

That will never keep the grease in, Every radius arm I've refurbed has been full of grease because the nylon bit has split slightly. may as well not put one in.

[richmondclassicsnorthwales]

The sleeve breaks getting the sleeve out, nothing smashes the tube when it is in the arm, it is a plastic tube in grease from the over-spill, of grease pumped in.

 

I tested out of curiosity to see why there is so much grease in the arm, and it is from over-spill coming out of the sleeve at each end in the arm before the bush.

 

The old early sleeves were absolute murder to get out, the thickness of these were un-believable.

[Spider]

I haven't tried this but would it be at all possible to just press the plastic tube in through the Needle Roller end as the tube is rather tapered, without splitting it?

 

It would only be the last bit that would have to fold in on itself and I would think it would unfold or might need some help when in place.

 

Also, did they go over to these plastic tubes in production at some point?