Mini mot suspension failure woes
Discussion
Daughter took mini for mot without consulting me ( roll eyes) she didn't even check the lights or mention warning lights were on. ffs anyway I can sort most
Haynes manual on way too. Not had chance to inspect the car yet. Done some but not a lot of suspension work before
Warning lights I can sort.
Wheel bearing done those before
In A ball joint inner? Assume it's Inner ball joint fiddly but I've done before
Now this part
Suspension arm bush offside front (rear bush )? Not sure what they mean by this.
Assuming it's this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-MINI-ONE-COOPER-S-FR...
Haynes manual on way too. Not had chance to inspect the car yet. Done some but not a lot of suspension work before
Warning lights I can sort.
Wheel bearing done those before
In A ball joint inner? Assume it's Inner ball joint fiddly but I've done before
Now this part
Suspension arm bush offside front (rear bush )? Not sure what they mean by this.
Assuming it's this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-MINI-ONE-COOPER-S-FR...
Edited by Pesty on Friday 10th June 20:14
That would be the rear most bush on the wishbone. I would assume it has 2. One at the front of the wishbone and one at the rear.
Also it might add that with the duff wheel bearing MAY throw on the abs light too. If there is movement in the bearing then every chance it's moving enough to put the abs light on.
Also it might add that with the duff wheel bearing MAY throw on the abs light too. If there is movement in the bearing then every chance it's moving enough to put the abs light on.
Thanks. Yes that may be the cause of one of the lights. The other one is a common fault and comes on when you move the passenger seat all the way back 
This article says to remove that inner bush you have to drop the sub frame including frompnt bumber etc
That's way way too much for me.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/41-S...
This article says to remove that inner bush you have to drop the sub frame including frompnt bumber etc
That's way way too much for me.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/41-S...
That is a useful place for information!
As for the job itself that is typical of most modernish cars these days. No thought on maintainance. That does seem a bit much just to replace a suspension bush which inevitably WILL require replacement.
If I were you I would check it first. It may not be that bad. If it's not bad you may get away with it just being an advisory on the next mot. I understand it's your daughters car and quite rightly so would want it as safe as possible but chances are there is only a slight amount of movement that could wait until you/she can get it done at a garage.
As for the job itself that is typical of most modernish cars these days. No thought on maintainance. That does seem a bit much just to replace a suspension bush which inevitably WILL require replacement.
If I were you I would check it first. It may not be that bad. If it's not bad you may get away with it just being an advisory on the next mot. I understand it's your daughters car and quite rightly so would want it as safe as possible but chances are there is only a slight amount of movement that could wait until you/she can get it done at a garage.
Thanks. How would would I get them to call it an advisory when they have already failed it? No sure I understand that part.
Right it seems there is an easy way......... That involves burning it out then air chisel and air Hammer
Heat I can do. Air chisel well I have a electric sds chisel hmmm but doing it from lieing underneath the car?
Then fitting power flex
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B7kQn82QB7U
Right it seems there is an easy way......... That involves burning it out then air chisel and air Hammer
Heat I can do. Air chisel well I have a electric sds chisel hmmm but doing it from lieing underneath the car?
Then fitting power flex
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B7kQn82QB7U
Apologies, I assumed (wrongly) it was an advisory.
As for burning out the bush I would be very wary personally. Any stray oil etc may go up. I would give it a go but certainly be armed with a fire extinguisher and a hose pipe.
I like the idea of the air chisel. If it's doable with an air chisel, you would be able to do it with a hammer and chisel. It will just take a lot longer.
As they suggest in the video, you can saw through the bush and the metal outer and get it out that way. I've done this before. It takes a while as the metal is very hard but it works. You can then just hammer out the bush. It actually looks more accessible than I imagined to be honest.
Once the bush is moving you are winning, it's normally getting them to shift in the first place is the hard part.
As for burning out the bush I would be very wary personally. Any stray oil etc may go up. I would give it a go but certainly be armed with a fire extinguisher and a hose pipe.
I like the idea of the air chisel. If it's doable with an air chisel, you would be able to do it with a hammer and chisel. It will just take a lot longer.
As they suggest in the video, you can saw through the bush and the metal outer and get it out that way. I've done this before. It takes a while as the metal is very hard but it works. You can then just hammer out the bush. It actually looks more accessible than I imagined to be honest.
Once the bush is moving you are winning, it's normally getting them to shift in the first place is the hard part.
Found this.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BERGEN-FRONT-CONTROL-REMO...
Only issue is it seems you can only fit in power flex I assume in that case I would have to do both sides?
Scratch that gsf has them for 16 quid.
Ps car has done 205000 so I'll let it off
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BERGEN-FRONT-CONTROL-REMO...
Only issue is it seems you can only fit in power flex I assume in that case I would have to do both sides?
Scratch that gsf has them for 16 quid.
Ps car has done 205000 so I'll let it off
Edited by Pesty on Friday 10th June 21:13
Edited by Pesty on Friday 10th June 21:18
Buy the fitting tool for the arm bush, it's very much worth the extra £30. Do both sides too or it will drive oddly and tramline horribly.
Getting them out can be a right pain, you don't need to remove the subframe unless you're replacing the bracket the bush sits inside, check these theough because they often crack where it bolts to the floor. There's several videos online showing how to get the bushes out of the bracket.
The inner balljoint on these is in place of the lower arms foremost bush that you normally find, just replace the complete arm from somewhere like Euro car parts.
Edit..
look at the photo in the ebay advert, you can see the weak point on the right hand side where the single bolt hole is, it's the vertical groove where they break.
Change just the bush like this one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-Suspension-Track-C...
Getting them out can be a right pain, you don't need to remove the subframe unless you're replacing the bracket the bush sits inside, check these theough because they often crack where it bolts to the floor. There's several videos online showing how to get the bushes out of the bracket.
The inner balljoint on these is in place of the lower arms foremost bush that you normally find, just replace the complete arm from somewhere like Euro car parts.
Edit..
look at the photo in the ebay advert, you can see the weak point on the right hand side where the single bolt hole is, it's the vertical groove where they break.
Change just the bush like this one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Front-Suspension-Track-C...
Edited by cambiker71 on Friday 10th June 21:22
That would be worth every penny if it works ok. Would save a lot of swearing, busted knuckles etc.
If you do fit poly bushes then yes, you will need to do both sides as well as the wheel alignment as without question, the alignment will be out after changing bushes.
If a bush wears out one side then the other side won't be far behind. Though best practise is whatever you do to the suspension one side, do the other side as well. The same goes for shocks, springs etc.
Good luck!
If you do fit poly bushes then yes, you will need to do both sides as well as the wheel alignment as without question, the alignment will be out after changing bushes.
If a bush wears out one side then the other side won't be far behind. Though best practise is whatever you do to the suspension one side, do the other side as well. The same goes for shocks, springs etc.
Good luck!
Apparently this will remove the old bush too..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-Mini-Front-Control-A...
Saves a LOT of swearing and blood loss
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-Mini-Front-Control-A...
Saves a LOT of swearing and blood loss
Thanks guys ordered
I'm pretty sure we had the other side fitted last year at huge expense daughter was away at uni I had no time to do it anyway so did no research and as usual she needed the car and waiting till days before mot ran out just like this time... Daughters eh.
So I'll order from gsf edit. Just seen link above cheers,
This actuall looks easy the inner ball joint looks to be more fiddly than I expected. I'll do outer ones at the same time. Might do both sides as I'm in there doing wheel bearing anyway.
Where's that lottery win for the double garage lift and air tool sigh and I'm not getting any younger oh well keep me busy
I'm pretty sure we had the other side fitted last year at huge expense daughter was away at uni I had no time to do it anyway so did no research and as usual she needed the car and waiting till days before mot ran out just like this time... Daughters eh.
So I'll order from gsf edit. Just seen link above cheers,
This actuall looks easy the inner ball joint looks to be more fiddly than I expected. I'll do outer ones at the same time. Might do both sides as I'm in there doing wheel bearing anyway.
Where's that lottery win for the double garage lift and air tool sigh and I'm not getting any younger oh well keep me busy
Its a lot easier to change the housing at the same time, they dont cost that much more.
You dont need to drop the subframe completely, just enough to get the housings out.
If you do just change the bush, take the whole assembly out, place on a vice and whack the bush casing with a thumb locator and it will come out fairly easily, no sawing/f
king about required.
Oh and do both sides as above, then get the alignment checked.
You dont need to drop the subframe completely, just enough to get the housings out.
If you do just change the bush, take the whole assembly out, place on a vice and whack the bush casing with a thumb locator and it will come out fairly easily, no sawing/f
king about required.Oh and do both sides as above, then get the alignment checked.
Edited by Jimmyarm on Saturday 11th June 08:05
Cheers.
I've just driven round block while there is a day left on mot before parking it up on drive to be dismantled slowly. No grumbles from bearing handles like a go cart I defy anybody to drive this car if I'd covered up the milage and say yeah this is a 200k car.
Looking through receipts previous owner had full history most of these things have been changed. We will see once I have it in bits.
Offside is bearing and inner bush so might as well dismantle this while I'm waiting for parts and that tool
will do inner and outer ball joints while I'm in there too. Maybe drop links and roll bar bushes while I'm at it. Of course will give me good chance to inspect the brakes. I hate doing jobs twice so might change them out too.
Passenger side apparently has more room for inner ball joint so may be bale to get bolts out without dropping anything.
Will see. Still can't picture it in my head from vids and diagrams it's not like anything I've dismantled before looks similar but everything comes apart different.
The adventure begins no time limit she's bought a new car and this will be passed into youngest daughter.
It's worth nothing I want to get it to 300 k
I've just driven round block while there is a day left on mot before parking it up on drive to be dismantled slowly. No grumbles from bearing handles like a go cart I defy anybody to drive this car if I'd covered up the milage and say yeah this is a 200k car.
Looking through receipts previous owner had full history most of these things have been changed. We will see once I have it in bits.
Offside is bearing and inner bush so might as well dismantle this while I'm waiting for parts and that tool
will do inner and outer ball joints while I'm in there too. Maybe drop links and roll bar bushes while I'm at it. Of course will give me good chance to inspect the brakes. I hate doing jobs twice so might change them out too.
Passenger side apparently has more room for inner ball joint so may be bale to get bolts out without dropping anything.
Will see. Still can't picture it in my head from vids and diagrams it's not like anything I've dismantled before looks similar but everything comes apart different.
The adventure begins no time limit she's bought a new car and this will be passed into youngest daughter.
It's worth nothing I want to get it to 300 k
Right I'm not being thick here. Off side is drivers side yes? Because there is no movement whatsoever in that bush I've swung on it hit it with hammers rock solid eleven appears UN damaged. Wonder if they meant near side ?
Also first problem 4 bolts for wheel bearing rusted away
easiest job might turn out to be the hardest
Just remembered why I don't work on suspension much
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XSmnVJ-ZV7w&feat...
Also first problem 4 bolts for wheel bearing rusted away
easiest job might turn out to be the hardest Just remembered why I don't work on suspension much
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XSmnVJ-ZV7w&feat...
Edited by Pesty on Saturday 11th June 17:57
Mr2Mike said:
Tapping the wishbone with a rubber hammer won't show you anything useful about the state of the bush. Get a decent sized lever in there and apply some force to the bush.
Thanks Not my area of expertise I was swinging on it too just trying to show no matter what I did it wouldn't budge. It's always been pretty obvious whenever I've done them before,I took my car there last year in which I'd replaced the near side drop link. They put and advisory near side drop link. When I queried he changed it to offside said they'd made a mistake So I'm kinda thinking they've made a mistake again. It looks perfect. These things happen.
Daughter is fetching receipts around so i can check which one was done last time. All vids and pics show clearly visible damage. That one looks like new.
Looks like I'll need to drop off the hub carrier and bang the rusted bolts off with drift or something. No hurry this is going to take a while
I don't enjoy these things like I used to.Things that went wrong today or what happens when an idiot tries to work on a rusty old mini
Dropped breaker bar on teeth
Hit hands with hammer
Broke hammer
Outer ball joint welded onto hub carrier
Cannot get wishbone out of inner bush
Hammering and perciverence will sort that
One problem I need advice on. 4 bolts behind wheel bearing are rusted cannot get socket on to bite. What do I do now
Dropped breaker bar on teeth
Hit hands with hammer
Broke hammer
Outer ball joint welded onto hub carrier
Cannot get wishbone out of inner bush
Hammering and perciverence will sort that
One problem I need advice on. 4 bolts behind wheel bearing are rusted cannot get socket on to bite. What do I do now
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