Olly
59 posts
Joined: 22/04/2005 12:12:11
Location: Newcaslte-under-Lyme United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
wheel catching the wheel arch
Dont know if anyone has experienced this before! when i am reversing on full lock the front passenger wheel catches the back of the wheel arch, as though the shock absorber is too low. After replacing the front shock absorbers, and expecting the problem to stop, i am still getting the same problem. is there anything i can do to stop this problem, anything else that needs replacing or does something different shock absorbers etc. Thanks for any help Olly
Posted: Sep 11, 2005 12:09 PM
Darren35se
54 posts
Joined: 10/01/2005 11:40:06
Location: Telscombe Cliffs United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
If you mean the single bar that goes to the front of the car, sort of diagonally that is the tie bar and you can get heavy duty ones of these. If its a part that runs accross the car its the top arm, bottom arm or driveshaft (unlikely). Unfortunately most garages dont know much about minis and accidentally do all sorts of damage - jacking them up on the floorpan, bending tie-bars when jacking etc. Just as reference, the main thing that effects ride height on minis are the rubber suspension cones, if your car is running low it is probably down to these. If it has Hi-Lo adjustable suspension parts this also determines the ride height and is adjustable but shouldnt be used to compensate for worn rubber cones. Bigger wheels usually need the front of the front wheel arches to be modified or the wheel will catch it.
Posted: Sep 29, 2005 05:02 PM
gary miniman
8 posts
Joined: 27/10/2006 22:47:40
Location: United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
Wheels catching
HI! IV'E JUST BOUGHT A SET OF 12X5 SUPERLIGHTS WITH THE POLISHED EDGE, FITTED WITH 165/60/12 FALCON TYRES TO GO ON A 1995 MINI SPRITE. I WAS TOLD NO BODY MODS WOULD BE NEEDED, BUT THE TYRES ARE CATCHING THE INSIDE OF THE ARCHES. CAN ANYBODY HELP?
Posted: Oct 29, 2006 05:43 PM
Tim
1849 posts
Joined: 18/10/2004 09:40:59
Location: Bournemouth United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
You shouldn't have any problems with those tyres on a standard setup. Where and when do the wheels catch the arches? Has the suspension been lowered? Are the bump stops missing?
Posted: Oct 30, 2006 09:26 AM
Big Ben's Little Mini
15 posts
Joined: 27/10/2006 15:55:38
Location: west midlands United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
i had a similar problem with mine, have the front wings been replaced at any time? if the cheap aftermarket wings are on, the wheels catch because they were cut to the wrong size, thats the only explanation other than if you have lowered the suspension that i can think of
Posted: Oct 30, 2006 04:01 PM
THANK YOU FOR REPLYING. AS FAR AS I KNOW THE CAR IS 100% IN ORIGIONAL CONDITION, THE WINGS AND THE SUSSPENTION ARE OK. I WILL CHECK THE BUMP STOPS. THANKS.
Posted: Oct 30, 2006 07:16 PM
THE TYRES ARE CATHCING ON THE INNER WHEEL ARCH ON A FULL LOCK, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE DOING IT ALL THE TIME, COULD IT BE WORSENED BY THE DIFFERENT CONTOURS OF THE ROAD?
Posted: Oct 30, 2006 07:51 PM
taffy1967
1783 posts
Joined: 27/09/2006 18:58:07
Location: Rhondda-Cynon-Taff United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
What state are your tie-bars in? Sometimes if either or both are bent due to jacking damage, this can cause the front wheels to be moved slightly forward.
Like someone else said, also check your ride height too.
Posted: Nov 11, 2006 01:06 AM
wheeles catching #2
Hi taffy1967.
you replied to a posting I put on about my new wheels catching, you suggested it might be the tie-bars, I have since had a look at the car and on the nearside the wheels don't catch, I can get two fingers in between the tyre and the front of the wheel arch. on the offside where the tyre is catching the arch on a full lock, I can only get one finger in between the tyre and the arch. would you think that was down to the tie-bars. I would be greatfull for your input.
If anyone else has any ideas, any help is welcome.
Posted: Nov 20, 2006 10:17 PM
GrahamHunter
7 posts
Joined: 07/03/2008 11:45:15
Location: Crieff United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
heater wont turn off and a smell tht catches your throat is coming out of it...
could someone please help me the heater on my mini is constantly on and a not so nice fume like smell is coming out of it and it catches your throat and makes u cough like mad...
need help ASAP
Thanking You
Graham
Posted: May 06, 2008 11:09 PM
John
1948 posts
Joined: 28/05/2006 16:49:46
Location: cambridge United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
wd40 on heater valve comming of head to free it off prob seazed
Posted: May 06, 2008 11:51 PM
Throat Catching Smell
Ive Fibally Got My Mini Looking Good Enough For My Friends Not To Slag Me Off And Laugh,, Now Im Getting Wow uv done a great job of that! but the hing is im still getting a smell of some sort which catches on ur throat? i dont have a clue what it smells like, my dad thinks thier is a smell of petrol init. sum1 said it could b exhust fumes because of a blow in the manifold.. could anyone help me? only 22 days til i can drive =O
Posted: Sep 08, 2008 09:19 AM
If you've got a leak at the manifold, or one of the joints under the car, then exhaust gas can leak into the cabin via the gearchange mechanism, or any of the bulkead holes (water pipes, choke cable, etc.). The best way to check for leaks is to run the ening at idle, then get someone to cover the end of the exhaust with a rag while you place your hand near the joints - you'll be able to feel the hot gas blowing out. Also, if your carb is set too rich, you will get an unpleasant-smelling exhaust.
Posted: Sep 08, 2008 10:24 AM
Also ensure the fuel tank vent pipe is fitted at the top of the fuel tank and that it runs through the boot floor and beneath via a rubber grommet: -
Here's some images and information: -
Helpful Link
Posted: Sep 08, 2008 03:07 PM
Eric
222 posts
Joined: 21/06/2007 10:12:29
Location: Cranbrook United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
Rear window catch
For a few days, the catch on the rear driver's side window has been rattling. Today, I suddenly realised that the catch had separated from the window, and so it was free to wave about, on the hinges, as I drove along. Has anyone ever had this before - and/or got any suggestions how to fix it?
It is the standard hinged window, with the folding catch at the back. The whole unit looks like this - http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=38439 .
However, with mine, where the silver hinged catch meets the window (it looks like a flat silver plate should squeeze beteen the metal surrond and the glass), the metal catch has come away from the window. If I try to stick the metal plate back between the metal frame and the glass again, it seems to do a pretty feeble attempt, and next time I hit a bump, it comes free again.
I've stopped the window opening temporarily by taking the rear passenger seatbelt out and round the window, hooked it over the headrest and back! Does anyone have a more permanent solution, other than paying well over £100 for a complete new window and hinge unit?
Posted: Jan 27, 2009 08:33 PM
quarterlight catch
Thanks for the reply.
What I don't understand is that it seems possible to buy a replacement catch - http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=34068&title=QUARTER%20LIGHT%20CATCH%20R/H%20*... So it must be possible to refit a catch.
My catch doesn't seem to be broken - it just doesn't seem to be able to be fixed back against the window. Anyone know what it is that holds it against the window? Is there a small screw, a rivet, some welding, some magic glue or what?
Posted: Jan 28, 2009 06:25 PM
colin britton
3 posts
Joined: 20/05/2009 15:30:25
Location: east bergholt United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
catch broken on n/s/r window
Hi ALL,
My spi cooper has broken the catch on the n/s/r window. Are these easy to fit and will the rhs one also fit the lhs as Minispares only seem to stock rhs ?
Thanks, Colin.
Posted: Oct 19, 2009 03:51 PM
cooper-man
2 posts
Joined: 18/07/2006 14:01:32
Location: belper United Kingdom (Excluding channel Islands)
wheels catching wheelarch
Hi, I have a 91 rover cooper which over the last year have gradually renewed and carried out various mods.Last decem ber I had new wings front panel etc and then fitted 5x12s and W&P wheelarch extensions. After several attempts to stop the wheel catching on full lock without success I renewed the suspension rubber cones which were bad. This was ok for a while but after 4-5 months I guess they have settled and on right lock its catching again and the clearance between the arch and tyre has reduced. Would fitting Hilos sort this problem, any advice would be appreciated. Stuart
Posted: May 22, 2010 11:36 AM
When you replaced the rubber cones did you replace the nylon cups in the knuckle joints? These make a considerable difference to the ride height. There really shouldn't be a problem with those wheels, unless your wheelarch extensions have significantly reduced the clearance?
Posted: May 22, 2010 01:03 PM
Hi Tim thanks for the information, no the neither the knuckle joints or the cups were replaced, maybe in hindsight we should have done. Thanks anyway will give it a try. Grateful for your comments and taking the time to reply. Regards Stuart
Posted: May 23, 2010 07:00 PM