Now Close To Scrapping It...

Now Close To Scrapping It...

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Discussion

plotloss

Original Poster:

67,280 posts

271 months

Friday 12th September 2003
quotequote all
Bearings in one of the top arms collapsed, couldnt find an engineer to press in a new set of bearings so bought another one from Mega.

Its off a late car.

Problem now is that the holes on the coil over bracket dont line up with the shock bolt hole on the new arm and to add insult to injury the hole is too small for the pin supplied.

Did they change at some point?

Can I get this hole drilled out and down a bit so it lines up with the bracket or would that be potentially dangerous?

I am |_____| this close to asking a scrappy to come and get the bloody thing.

phil hill

433 posts

277 months

Friday 12th September 2003
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I don't think there were any changes to the top arm, although the hydro-suspension might have been slightly different. Hmmm, I don't like the idea that the parts supplied in a specific kit don't fit together...... Any instructions with the kit or are you supposed to work it out for yourself ?? Not much help really......

plotloss

Original Poster:

67,280 posts

271 months

Friday 12th September 2003
quotequote all
No instructions, just hit and hope...

The bracket goes over the top arm and over the swivel pin.

The pin supplied should go through one side of the bracket, through the arm, through the other side and be secured with a nut.

This doesnt line up and the hole is too small for the supplied pin.

Its a straightforward implementation apart from this.

I really am at my wits end, if I cant get it sorted this weekend then I am stuffed as I cant keep driving the TVR to work due to the cost!

interloper

2,747 posts

256 months

Sunday 14th September 2003
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Its going back a bit but when I repalced the top arms on my min I didnt buy new ones. I picked up a couple from a mini specailist who had a couple of scrap mini's lying about. If you still have the original top arms probably the best thing to do would be to take it down to your nearest scrap yard and compare the two.

Why did they need replacing, in my case one of them had seized up.

Paul V

4,489 posts

278 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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I’d call MWS and ask them why it doesn’t fit.

Is it the hole in the actual arm thats to small?

danger mouse

3,828 posts

262 months

Monday 15th September 2003
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I would offer you any bits you wanted from mine, but the front subframe is one the sets of bits I need to keep...

If you want any glass or other bits and bobs lie that just drop me aline though, I'll see what I have.

Just want to get rid of the bits now.

That goes for any needy Mini pepes BTW.


I agree tho', ask MWS why the plates don't fit, if there was a change in the design, the should know...

...if fact they should have asked you which you needed come to think of it.


Mouse

>> Edited by danger mouse on Monday 15th September 10:09

plotloss

Original Poster:

67,280 posts

271 months

Monday 15th September 2003
quotequote all
Paul V said:
I’d call MWS and ask them why it doesn’t fit.

Is it the hole in the actual arm thats to small?


Spoken to Mega and Huddersfield and got the inevitable.

Going to a place at lunchtime that have assured me they can sort it by reaming the hole out...

plotloss

Original Poster:

67,280 posts

271 months

Monday 15th September 2003
quotequote all
Been and come back from my engineering place - top fellas.

Didnt get it sorted though.

They were of the impression that the supplied replacement arm is not an original part but a pattern part with a small casting inaccuracy.

So they've said they can press new bearings in so its two rebuild kits (should have listened to you Paul! though top arms are retained with VTEC so best to do them properly now) for the original arms to be bought now.

Interestingly though he did say that he thought that the arm should be reamed out to 13mm anyway as thats what the holes in the lower part of the coil over bracket suggest would be a better bolt fitment.

Again seems a bit suspect on the bracket fitment but he did also say that this could be for wiggle room reasons.

So going to order the arm rebuild kits now and hopefully this will finally be an end to the bloody matter!

I have now though at least found a friendly engineering type place which is probably worth its weight in gold!

Edited to add: What do you think the chances of me being able to send the arm back and get a refund from Mega are?

>> Edited by plotloss on Monday 15th September 14:03

Paul V

4,489 posts

278 months

Monday 15th September 2003
quotequote all
Why is it things in life are never simple???

Glad to hear you’re finally getting to the bottom of the problem now though.

Not sure what Mega are like with returns as only bought stuff a few minor bits from them at the shows.

Didn’t get anything done to the mini over the weekend so will probably mean it won’t be running in time for combe as I don’t have any spare time this week other than tomorrow evening, I might be able to fit the engine at the weekend but unlikely I’ll be able to get it set up in time.

plotloss

Original Poster:

67,280 posts

271 months

Friday 19th September 2003
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Right, had the day off yesterday, got the arms and shocks back on the car (woo hoo!) all looks great.

However, when I put the brackets etc on the arms to fit the shocks I noticed that the bump stops (the cone shaped ones on the tower) were very close to the arm and bracket. After a small test drive there is something knocking and I think its them.

As there is no instructions with the coil overs (will call Huddersfield in a bit) do you lot reckon they stay or go?

Paul V

4,489 posts

278 months

Friday 19th September 2003
quotequote all
I would assume the shock will operate as bump stop but not sure, best give them a call.