11 replies to this topic

[sc-em]

Morning all. I am just about to refit my front subframe and was pondering mounts. At the moment, I have a set of rubber ones, but.... I currently have a 998 in, or will have, but have an MG Metro to rebuild and instal at some point. I am looking at it being more of a fast road car, with possibly attending local club sprint meetings at Curborough. Not as the wild 1380s that are there, more just to have a go and learn the track. So my question. Stay with rubber mounts, go solid, or compromise with poly. I have heard the ride with solid is harsh, but my 72 mini back in the day must have been solid mounted and I can't recall that being an issue. Have we all got softer with modern cars? Anway, I would welcome the thoughts and experiences of the forum. Thank you.

[stuart bowes]

It's probably mostly a case of dealers choice really, the only actual advice I kept coming across was don't mix them, it's either all solid or all rubber, not rubber up top and solid down below for example.  although I don't get the impression you were going to do that

 

if you do go solid the general concensus is to plate up the inside of the shell at the lower bracket mounts (the bit where it fixes down by your feet)  so it doesn't bend and/or crack the bulkhead over time

 

the original solid mounted ones had fixings down under the floor as well which mitigated that problem

 

I didn't plate mine up inside, instead I did a sort of half-measure and modified the lower brackets to connect underneath as well: https://www.theminif...-998/?p=3805479

 

I'm not saying that's the 'right' way to do it though, it is probably better to plate up the insides properly, certainly if you're planning on driving it really hard, or racing it, or whatever

Edited by stuart bowes, 25 September 2026 - 10:30 AM.

[sc-em]

Copy back from your project thread.

 

That's a brilliant job, Stuart. Thanks for taking the time to add the detail and photos. You have really engineered a great bracket to improve on the original. It is just the sort of thing my mate would do, but is probably more belt and braces than I need to do at the moment.

 

The main reason being the floors on mine are nowhere near as decent as yours, so that bottom folded brace would be largley ineffective. The problem with mine is largely due to the fact that the previous idiot owner tried to fit a pre 76 subframe, so just literally drilled the holes in the floor, which were quite close, but also whopping holes in the bulkhead to fit the two mounting bolts on each side. The first stage has been to fill those holes with washers and a skim of filler to make good. Then to tackle the floor, albeit it in a temporary manner. We are hoping to move house, so the car needs to be drivable.

 

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[Cooperman]

The Mini was designed to have solid front subframe mounts. They were changed to flexible when the target market moved from younger buyers to more elderly ones who valued a less harsh feel over crisp steering and handling.
The choice is yours really, but personally I always convert cars I have owned and/or restored to full solid mounts. However, I never fit the poly-bush type.

[sc-em]

Thanks for that. I think I am leaning towards solid, with a strengthening plate for the rear floor mount. As I said, my first mini back in the day was directly mounted and that was a blast and handled really well. It's not like it's going to be my daily. I have other more sensible car...well sort of.

[ADRay]

My $0.02: I refit my subframe with solid mounts thinking I wanted more of a “race car” feel. Turns out it not only makes things much stiffer, but it also translates into a lot more road noise. I just use mine for regular road driving, and looking to revert back to rubber mounts.

Edited by ADRay, 26 September 2026 - 12:27 PM.

[sc-em]

My $0.02: I refit my subframe with solid mounts thinking I wanted more of a “race car” feel. Turns out it not only makes things much stiffer, but it also translates into a lot more road noise. I just use mine for regular road driving, and looking to revert back to rubber mounts.

I suppose one option would be to try the solid mounts with the 998 and when it comes to putting the 1330 in, then if it feels too stiff, then swap back to rubber.

[lsto]

I use mine as a daily so mainly commuting and less b-road fun. I went to solid mounts, handled better but noticeably more noise, especially on the motorway. I went back to rubber after a few months but I do travel 55+ miles a day and mostly on the motorway. If it's a toy I'd go for it but if you decide to daily it then rubber all the way.

[stuart bowes]

yeah that's probably a fair point, mine would definitely never be a daily, it's just not practical for my every day requirements, I've got a volvo v70 estate and even that's a bit of a tight fit with the 3 kids and / or stuff I need to carry for work.

 

for a 'toy' car I'm actually looking forward to all the feel and noise and classic car roughness, but full time that would probably be a right nuisance

[sc-em]

yeah that's probably a fair point, mine would definitely never be a daily, it's just not practical for my every day requirements, I've got a volvo v70 estate and even that's a bit of a tight fit with the 3 kids and / or stuff I need to carry for work.

 

for a 'toy' car I'm actually looking forward to all the feel and noise and classic car roughness, but full time that would probably be a right nuisance

Only the three kids. Easy life. We have three kids and three German Shepherds. Lol. Like you, it's a good job I have other daily vehicles, although I can't wait to take my boy shep out in the mini. 

[coopertaz]

i have always fitted poly, don't rip the floor to bits, not as harsh as solid and are resistant to oil, which always destroys the rubber floor mounts. There are so many views on this so it's what suits you.

[sc-em]

i have always fitted poly, don't rip the floor to bits, not as harsh as solid and are resistant to oil, which always destroys the rubber floor mounts. There are so many views on this so it's what suits you.

Thanks for your thoughts. I have gone for some solid ones as I need to plate where the subframe mounts go anyway. There are the other holes left from the idiot who just drilled them to attach a pre 76 subframe. Then I know the job should be a sturdy one....