Rear sub-frame. Help!

[pubman]

My daughters 89 Special Edition failed MOT yesterday. Could anyone please help as to where we could get it repaired?? we are in the Godalming area of Surrey.

[Plotloss]

Theres a place in Byfleet called MiniSpeed.

They will probably ask for a pound of flesh though.

Any local garage will be able to do it, its a simple job.

[haynes]

depending on accessibility it can be welded up. It is a simple job to replace but invariably fraught with anguish! Removal of the front bolts is particularly interesting.

[Plotloss]

Ahh yes the joyous front bolts that if they break in the wrong place the shells a write off.

Blinking marvellous!

[pubman]

Thanks Plotless, will run it over to Minispeed and see what they quote. If any of you guys out there are interested in taking it on yourselves I am sure we could come to an amicable arrangement I don,t have the time,tools,knowhow or the premises.

[jeffriesmullet]

dont go 2 mini speed ther poo im sure a local garage will be cheaper and minis have been around so long ppl in local garages have as much maybe more than mini specialsts specialy minispeed

[xxplod]

Take a trip down to Southampton and pop in to Minis Only. There have a website a search will find them. Been going to them for years - superb outfit, their work often features in all the Mini Magazines and their prices are reasonable.

[minimax]

In my experience minispeed are overpriced, however that is just for parts - my mini driving friends tell me that their garage services are nothing to shout about either. I agree that you should find a local garage that knows mini's

[Vasi]

Plotloss said:

Ahh yes the joyous front bolts that if they break in the wrong place the shells a write off. Blinking marvellous!

!!!!! Dont be telling me that I have to drop my frame out in a couple of weeks!

[Paul V]

You can buy corner plates with new captive nuts on it, no need to be scrapping shells, that or drill them out then cut a small access hole in the rear door pockets and use normal nuts.

[WildfireS3]

Minispeed are definitely over priced. Drop me an email and I can give you the number of a chap who will repair it for a very good price.

[Cooperman]

When the bolts break off this is what you do:
Weld a 3/8" nut onto the stub of the broken boly. They normally break with at least 0.5" of bolt stub sticking out. Heat up around the bolt/sub-frame area with a butane lamp, making sure it gets really hot. Then undo the nut. This works about 90% of the time. Three of those on my 1990 car snapped of a couple of weeks ago and they all came out like this. It's worth running a 5/16" unf tap down the threads to remove any residual corrosion, then pumping the void behind the nuts full of Waxoyl. Put the new bolts in with lots of copper grease.
If that doesnt work, you grind off the bolt stub flush, drill out the old bolt, then drill oversize and tap 3/8" unf, opening out the sub-frame bracket hole to take a 3/8" bolt.
If all that doesnt work, you cut away the sill locally to get access to the inside and cut out/weld in a new nut. Then weld a closing piece of sheet metal to re-make the sill, gring flush and spray or paint.
You certainly don't scrap the shell!

Peter

[minimods]

Sorry if it is against the rules but i have a good second hand rear subby for sale in the southampton area. Mail me if you are intrested.

I changed the rear subby on mine and they aren't bad if they have been changed regularly. The best thing to do is tighten the nuts up before undoing them and do 1 turn on 1/2 a turn off and that should free them.

The worst thing with a subframe change is the other stuff that you find that needs replacing. Budget for:

-A rear subby (oviously)
-New bolts
-New bushes
-Knuckle joints (x2)
-Suspension cones (x2)
-Handbrake cable (not essential but for the price you might aswell change it while it is off)
-Rubber brake hoses(you would be stupid not to replace them)

The brakes will need bleeding aswell so have some good quality brake fluid ready.

Ian