8 replies to this topic

[minineon]

Hi so I done something really silly!!! I left my mini standing for a year and completely forgot to bag the ends of the drive shafts up after removing the engine. Now I have got to the point of putting the engine back in and I have lost one ball bearing from my 92 998 is there anywhere I can get one

[nicklouse]

Mmmm

As when the pot joints are reconditioned for resale or if they are out of original tolerance they can have larger than spec balls fitted.

In the old days I would pop down to the scrap yard and grab a handful and match what was needed against what I had.

So... Measure up what you have and then Google is your best friend. Or see what people have in their sheds...

[DomCr250]

Mmmm
As when the pot joints are reconditioned for resale or if they are out of original tolerance they can have larger than spec balls fitted.
In the old days I would pop down to the scrap yard and grab a handful and match what was needed against what I had.
So... Measure up what you have and then Google is your best friend. Or see what people have in their sheds...

You can order them on eBay too you just need the size and you will find a good few sellers offering them. I think bearingboys offers them too.

[petey81]

When do you need them by?

I have a few old drive shafts i can take them from.

[minineon]

Not in any rush to be honest yes it would be nice to get them this weekend but would just be great full for the help

[petey81]

Ok i will visit my garage tomorrow.
Pm me your address i will stick them in an envelope. Hopefully that would be fine.
Freebie from me.

Edited by petey81, 02 March 2016 - 10:58 PM.

[Spider]

The original factory balls were 9/16" dia, however, as Nick has pointed out, if yours have been reconditioned or are non-genuine, the balls could be any size, even metric.

 

You should tale one with you (cleaned up!) to a bearing supplier, they will be able to measure it and supply the correct sized ball.

 

Nothing worse than having badly sized balls!

Edited by Moke Spider, 03 March 2016 - 02:27 AM.

[MRA]

The factory original were 9/16th" but it was NOT the ball or spider assembly that was toleranced but the clearance between parts, they where almost a trial by fit assembly, so finding the correct ball on eBay will be impossible, or very much down to luck, also what would you measure it with ? a simple vernier will n ot be good enough, you would need a micrometer that does either ten thousandths of an inch (0.0001") or microns (0.001mm) 

 

What can happen is that one odd ball will throw the whole assembly off centre line, and also wear prematurely, you would be better off getting a replacement inner CV ...

 

However all of this begs the question as how did your inner CV joint fall apart in the first place ?  surely you didn't take it apart to get your engine out ? 

 

There is no need or in fact it is poor technique to strip an inner CV like this, also you do not need nor should you strip hubs etc....  if the job is done correctly the Mini engine can be lifted out the top very easily and still be on all 4 wheels and not have stripped out inner CV joints...  simply no need for it.

 

Ok being a 998 it may not be such an issue as the power is low, however you must for safety reasons make sure it moves freely in ALL of it's possible directions.

[petey81]

Hi

Did you get the bearing ok?

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