Information to keep your “Mini Grin” going! …

1 ABOUT your CLASSIC mini . Information to keep your mini Grin going! installing front Hub ball Joints by Mike Kearney Service Shop Manager Items you will need for one car: Assembly Parts After cleaning the hub. it is time to start re-assembly: (2) GSJ0166 genuine or GSJ0166E aftermarket ball joint Repair Kit (each does one side). Hold the hub in a vise (this is necessary to properly tighten (1) 2A4242 ball joint Shim Kit the ball joint caps). Chassis Grease Starting with the top ball joint , install the lock tab and zerk fitting on the hub. Tools 1 deep half-inch drive socket The ball joints will need to be adjusted to set the pre- Small chisel load. This is sort of a by-feel procedure, with no real Medium Hammer specification, but this is how I have done it for 40 years: open end wrench for zerk fittings Vise The ball joint kit typically comes with six shims of different thicknesses, two of each. Every hub is different, so I start by putting one shim of each size on top of the lock tab We get calls all the time on how to install mini and assembling the seat, ball joint , and cap with some ball joints in the front hubs.

2 I have personally seen kind of chassis grease. You never get a perfect fit on the several very scary jobs done where the pin caps first try so the joint will either be loose or locked up. Let's were not fully tightened, a hazardous situation. say the ball joint is too loose. This will require removing The top and bottom ball joints are almost identi- shims until you get the correct load. I like to adjust the cal, with one exception: the bottom ball joint load so the ball joint is too tight, so that it takes a good has a spring set into a recess in the hub that amount of force to move it side to side. It will be about helps keep the load on the ball joint . For as- right when you can't really move the pin around with sembly purposes, I like to start by doing the your bare fingers, but you can still do so with a gloved top ball joint . If a new hub is being used, hand. Then take the thinnest remaining shim out and as supplied in purchases of a Cooper S disc torque the top cap to around 75 ft.

3 Pounds. This should brake kit C-AJJ4028E, a quick cleaning of the be a tight but correctly-adjusted ball joint . bare hub is all you need to do. If replacing Last step is to bend over the lock tab to finish the job. ball joints on existing used hubs, it will be necessary to do a complete and thorough To assemble the lower ball joint , repeat the above steps with the cleaning of the old hub. spring not in place. After you have the ball joint adjusted with proper load you can then add the spring under the seat as part First, take off the existing ball joints. With a of final assembly. small chisel, knock down the lock tab off the top cap of the ball joint . Using the deep 1 socket In either case, if any pin remains too tight, then you can add remove the top cap, then the ball joint and remov- clearance by reusing some of the used shims off your old hubs, able seat from the hub, then take off the old shims, remove the or adding the special 2A4240-30 thick shims and repeating the zerk fitting, then the lock tab, and save the old shims for now.

4 Procedure above until a good fit is achieved. UK-Made ball joint Kit ball joint Locktab joint Separators We stock UK-made The ball joint cup must be The lever action design Rover and aftermar- secured with a locktab to of sturdy large tool ket front ball joint kits. prevent the cup from backing will remove the most One kit does one side, buy off. These are also included in GSJ0166 and two per car. GSJ0166E one-side ball joint kits. Sold each. stubborn of ball joints, 2A4238 ..$ facilitating service of the front GSJ0166 Rover, SALE! $ suspension, while leaving the GSJ0166E Aftermarket, UK. SALE! $ ball joint Boot ball pin threads undamaged. ball joint Shim Kit The small C clamp device makes Rubber dust boot that fits on An assortment of ball joint shims, handy the ball pin. If you use a pick- easy work of removing the track rod end when installing new ball joints. Kit includes le fork ball joint splitter, these from the steering arm without doing dam- two (2) shims, two (2) , and rubber boots are usually damaged when age to the taper pin.

5 Two (2) shims. the tool is used, so you should keep a set of STL0008 ! $ 2A4242 ball joint shim $ spares on hand. Fits all mini ball pins. STL0023 ! $ 2A4240-30 shim, each..$ BTA0377 ..$ Have Special a technical Offers good Junequestion 20 throughon your Classic September 9, 2011 mini ? Give ourmay Prices experts a call be limited at (530). to stock 886-0771! on hand.