42 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

While rolling around under the mini recently welding on a new sill, I noticed the rubbers on both front knuckle joints have split yet again (from mini-mine). Now this is the 3^rd set that have done this and it seems I’m having to replace knuckle joints every year and half to 2 years. Luckily I have till the end of august to change them for the mot, but it’s not really the point, especially if I were to pay garage labour rates each time.

 

 

 

 

[Italianjob]

Just replaced mine recently for failed ones on an mot, bought one side from mini spares at last years l2b and the other side from eurocarparts! Only time will tell which ones will last better! I will say and many other also state that the rubber components these days are naff so chances are I'll be changing them next year again.

[MacGyver]

Also if you've refurbished (or have refurbished) your upper arms or radius arms, keep the old rubber or make some with some silicone tube or something. The rubber on the new kits are useless like the knuckle joints and track rod ends. My track rod ends lasted about 3months traveling only 20ish km.
Big issue with rubber from all suppliers. (the actual builders of rubber parts)

Edited by MacGyver, 10 June 2016 - 07:41 PM.

[mab01uk]

The quality of rubber components has been a problem for many years now on low volume production for classic cars.......

 

Quality rubber parts like CV boots are available for Mini's in Japan but in the UK most owners buy on price......the Japanese had made them because the quality of rubber gaiters etc from the UK had got steadily worse since the Rover mass production orders for OEM parts ended and old stock ran out. A few people will be happy to pay a premium for a genuine quality part, but when another firm see that someone is selling a rubber boot for £30 they up the price of their crap imported Chinese rubber boot and sell loads at a premium, the real premium ones then get a bad name & most people go back to buying the cheap bargain Chinese ones that perish in a year.....

The people supplying Minispares will say their stuff is perfect but as it never shows up as a problem until several months later it is obviously harder to sort out problems for disappointed customers with no alternative supply. Minispares try to source rubber parts that will last, but as with anything with Minis its difficult to justify a product that's going to cost three or fours times more than an identical looking product sold elsewhere and ordered in very low volumes (for the car industry).

 

Quality Of Mini Spares Rubber Parts:-

http://www.theminifo...s-rubber-parts/

 

RE-PRO RUBBER GAITERS

http://mk1-forum.net...t=9865&start=10

 

Rogue Parts (MCR forum):-

http://mcrforum.mini...c.php?f=7&t=334

Edited by mab01uk, 10 June 2016 - 07:50 PM.

[ukcooper]

Gota mine 20 years ago, lot better than the shizt they sell now....

[Spider]

2 years is good! I've had them perish before a minor restoration is complete.

[AlexMozza]

The ones we sell seem to last well, although I've bought some from another well known supplier ams they have lasted 6 months

[Fast Ivan]

Are yours from a different manufacturer than where mini-mine get theirs? I mean there can't be many manufacturers for such limited amounts

[1984mini25]

2 years is good! I've had them perish before a minor restoration is complete.

 

These are the longest lasting out of the 3 sets I've fitted so far, this is one set after less than a year.

 

 

 

BUT the big problem I have is mini suppliers must know about the crap quality of some parts (not just the disintegrating rubber items) they are selling, but are happy to keep on selling them, as its getting beyond a joke.

 

As the general excuse tends to be...

 

We sell 100`s of these kits a year through our various outlets and through our trade customers worldwide and have never had any reports of issues. We also fit these in our workshop and have never had any problems, etc, etc.....

[Daviewonder]

I've had this issue for the last couple of years. I've recently learned that soaking rubber in ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) makes it a lot more supple and less likely to dry out and crack. I'm gonna give this a go with my next set and see how it turns out.

[1984mini25]

So the time for mine to be replaced is coming up soon and I really don't want to have to change them again anytime soon. So who's knuckle joints are best?

 

Minispares genuine are out of stock. so that just lease mini spares non-genuine, eBay or the euro car parts offerings.

[AlexMozza]

http://www.somerford...roducts_id=3212

 

Try these, never had any issues, The set on mine have been on for a few years now, with no perishing.

[madaboutcherry]

but surely somerford don't make their own joints, they must buy them from the same source as everyone else?

[cian]

I would imagine everything no matter who's selling it comes from the same source be it China or wherever! The branded items unipart etc probs come from different manufacturers

[Norris73]

The genuine ones I bought from minispares a few months back are branded TRW, they were visibly dusty so probably old stock, I get suspicious when you have two seemingly identical items one costing under £4 the other nearer £15. Would always try to buy genuine if possible particularly with important components such as knuckle joints.

Edited by Norris73, 03 August 2016 - 01:16 PM.