12 replies to this topic

[Kawh1]

Hello - I am looking to fit a gearbox stabilizer kit to my 96 Rover Mini Cooper. I see there is a LH side and also a RH side gearbox kit available. I assume you don't need to fit both gearbox stabilizer kits to the Mini but just need to fit one?

 

Which side would be the best side to fit one of these kits? Thanks

Edited by Kawh1, 10 March 2023 - 03:26 AM.

[nicklouse]

There have been 3 lower steady bars fitted over the years.

 

Standard had the steadies on the right side of the car. Early just had the rear mounted. Later had a front mounted one. There is a bracket on the front subframe cross member. The left side (rad side) was also present on some of the earlier cars and was often added if it did not come as standard.

 

often you can find cars with two rear mounted ones or one left rear and the front mounted right one. You can’t fit both right side brackets without modification as there were never fitted together from the factory.

 

your car would have just had the front mounted lower steady to work along with the upper steady.

[Kawh1]

Thanks for the info - have fitted new bushes to the original top and bottom engine steadies, however still have a bit of a thump sound when your bump the throttle. A mate suggested fitting an additional lower RH gearbox steady to help which looks simple to fit - do you think this could help and make a difference?

Edited by Kawh1, 10 March 2023 - 03:26 AM.

[nicklouse]

Check the engine to see what is actually moving and where. Fitting more stabilisers may not change anything.

 

but fitting an other lower one is the last thing I would do. I would look to fitting another one to the top of the engine on the Rad side.

[mini13]

as above I would fit the LH one if you are leaving the RH standard steady in place.

Personally I always remove the RH front steady as ive seen them part company from the subframe, or even crack the front member, and fit both the lower MSSK kits, and also fit on of the upper steadys that attach to the water pump,
I also fit the later MPI style bushes (these will need drilling out for the lower MSSK kits as they use a larger bolt also they are available in std and stiffer) all that is enough to keep a big turbo motor in place

 

 

 

https://www.minispar...|Back to search

https://www.minispar...20.aspx|Back to

 

https://www.moss-eur...kit-abr024.html

 

 

[gav]

Thanks for the info - have fitted new bushes to the original top and bottom engine steadies, however still have a bit of a thump sound when your bump the throttle. A mate suggested fitting an additional lower RH gearbox steady to help which looks simple to fit - do you think this could help and make a difference?

 

Check the master cylinder mounting plate and the bracket underneath it, it's common the bracket has snapped or corroded... Personally I like the MSSK and MSSK001, made the gearchange much nicer after fitting. 

[nicklouse]

Just a short video which shows how the lower stabilsers ‘work’

 

https://youtu.be/c0vDblRHWdA

 

it shows the importance of the upper ones. Of which there are non fitted.

[Kawh1]

Thanks for all the info which is much appreciated - When I replaced the steady bushes on the top (LH side when looking from the front) and the bottom LH steady bushes, I did fit new KKF101320EVO Stabiliser bushes in the top and poly bushes at the bottom. When I try to rock the engine it seems really solid so it a surprise that there is still a bit of thump especially after also replacing the front sub frame rubber parts as well. From all the answers provided, I'm not really sure what is the best next move should be ie; fit a lower LH gearbox stabiliser or fit a RH top stabiliser from the water pump side?

 

Could this be the engine mounts causing the problem which are original and the Mini has done 76,000 kms? Is it possible to change the engine mounts without removing the engine?

 

[Midas Mk1]

Dsn thermostat steady gets a better improvement in terms of additional steadies , but the nsf gearbox steady can help too. Run 4 steadies on both of mine, helps lcb Y piece sealing too.

[Kawh1]

Thanks for that - can you explain what is "nsf" and "Icb Y piece sealing"?

[nicklouse]

Thanks for that - can you explain what is "nsf" and "Icb Y piece sealing"?

Near Side Front. So in the UK passenger side  

 

Long Center Branch a type of exhaust manifold.

[mini13]

engine mont replacement is doable with the engine in but the flywheel end one is a bit fiddly.

can you tell where the noise/thump is coming from? it may be suspension based

[Kawh1]

I recently had new front and rear cones fitted and front tie bars. When driving around town at 50 kph and to you just lightly touch the accelerator, you hear a thump sound which feels like engine movement