First thing, get a decent workshop manual if you haven't already got one. YOu're going to need it!
Buy new shocks, most second-hand ones would be stuffed. Half decent ones (eg: Gabriel Red Ryder) should cost less than $100 a pair.
Minis and Mokes suffer from similar issues in the front end when neglected. This is the list of usual horrors that may await underneath the caked on grease and dirt!
- Worn out lower arm bushes and castor bar bushes - replace.
- Loose ball joints - reshim or replace. Replace the torn boots to keep dirt out. Grease thorougly.
- Worn ball-foot or knuckle joints. This is the ball and socket that fits into the top of the upper arm. The ball tends to wear through the nylon cup and grind itself to oblivion on the metal of the arm. Unfortunately you need to compress the cones and remove the metal trumpets to replace them. This can be a bugger of a job. Which brings me to...
- Squashed rubber cones, particularly on Mokes. They might not look bad, but if you compare old ones beside new ones, you will see a huge difference! Replace with new or good second hand ones. Your back will thank you for it!
- Steering rack - often worn in the right side inner tie rod joint, causing a rattle. Best exchanged for a reco unit. Another bugger of a job, becuase you need to drop the subframe down a few inches to get it out.
- Tie rod ends (wheel end) often worn out and have torn boots.
While you are under there you will want to look at wheel bearings, CV's, brake hoses, wheel cylinders or calipers and disks/drums for scoring.
It sounds like a long list, but most likely you won't need to replace all of this, and two days solid work and few hundred bucks should see it done on a DIY basis.
All the parts you need can be purchased at Mini specialists - Link Automotive, A Grade, Mini Mac, Minis Plus, Northern Mini etc... Or orde online from Karcraft.com.au, as they supply many of the Mini specialists anyway!
Hope this helps.
