487 replies to this topic

[racerlike]

Interesting info on the hardy spicer setup. Think I will look into it especially now I have an understanding how they work.

[racerlike]

Just because it bothers me a bit I found these photos to compare the wheel position relative to the arch. The bottom one was before I trimmed it up for wheel clearance.
Top is how mini was with original metal front end. Below, reassembled but now with the Curley carbonfibre one.


Quite a difference - the wheel no longer sits in the middle of the arch. Strange.

[jonny f]

That's quite a big difference.

What castor angle are you using?

[racerlike]

Not sure exactly. Its had castor, camber and toe all checked and set up at Slarks but Neil did comment on the position of the coil overs in that they noticeably angle backwards towards the car.
These have been on since the early days of the project and apart from the steering rack and subframe mods for the Pro-motive kit, they are the only change to the suspension and steering.

[racerlike]

So the diff is off and stripped down. Took about 2 1/2 hours which wasnt bad. probably took as long to scrape all the existing sealant off but I could see where it was thin and had spread leaving gaps hence the leaking.

Edited by racerlike, 04 April 2015 - 08:53 PM.

[racerlike]

Bought this seeing as the diff had to be stripped down. Seemed silly not to and hopefully will make the mini much more driveable

[racerlike]

Getting the crown wheel off was tricky. Without a big vice to do the job I had to be a bit more inventive. But it did the job at getting the bolts undone and then refitting the wheel to the LSD.



tomorrow I'm going to reseal the diff casing and all being well have it back up and running for monday

[racerlike]

The RTV almost did a good job of sealing it all up but there are a couple of places it started to weep just a slight amount. When the oil gets hot I can imagine this being much worse and much like it was before.
So it needs doing again - then a quick check on minipares reveals there are in fact two gaskets to do the job. Why these weren't fitted to begin with I don't know but quick trip up to Potters Bar and I now have the diff gaskets and new end plate gaskets which already have silicone on them for a better seal.
Home again at the end of the week to do it again - properly.

[Alan Carruthers]

All the very best with it, seems that the diff. is a bit of a pig but I'm sure you'll crack it this time.  Looking awesome and the Quaife will make a big difference.

 

Hope to see it in the flesh this summer.

 

Al

[racerlike]

Good progress this weekend in sorting the diff. Quaife doesn't fit straight in. Casing needed grinding down on the inside to accept it. However I didn't realise this until it was too late and put a crack in the casing. Only hairline but admitted defeat and just reinstalled the 4pin diff.
My 3rd track rod on drivers side stripped its thread on bolt and nut. all purchased from different places and apparently all of shocking quality.
Got a stripped thread on drivers side wheel nut as well.
In the end I had to call it a day and walk away from it.

[Alan Carruthers]

Jesus, how frustrating. Stick with it mate, I'm sure it'll come good.

[racerlike]

Given up on the diff. Instead taken the option of getting Pro-motive to build me up a brand new one with my Quaife. Save me a weekends work of stripping the old one down again. One of the magazines is looking to do a feature on the car and I don't want to put them off any longer in case they lose interest - been on the back burner for over a year as it is!

[racerlike]

The fully assembled Quaife LSD is now installed back on the car. Just need to fit the running gear and hubs etc back on tomorrow and hopefully job done.

[duds100]

Ace 👍 you'll be on the road in no time. What diff ratio have you got? 3.1?

[racerlike]

7 years have led to todays activity. Photoshoot with Simon Cooke from MiniWorld Magazine.
Looking forward to seeing some of the hundreds of shots he took.