I just spent most of the evening pulling one of the rear trailing arm brackets off in preparation for fitting the adjustable item, and it was Most Unpleasant getting that last bolt undone which hides behind the arm, could just barely get a spanner on it.

Wiggled the Mini Spares bracket into place and suddenly realised there is no way to get that top bolt in; the MS bracket folds over at the top exactly where the spanner needs to go, and obscures it almost completely.

Has anyone fitted one of these brackets without dropping the rear subframe? If so, how'd you do it? The instructions accompanying the brackets make out you can do the swap without removing the trailing arm, or dropping the subframe, but as far as I can see it's totally impossible to get that top bolt in.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

I replaced the top bolt with a hex key bolt instead (can't think of correct name - too many early morning this weekend.. http://www.roc.com.au/ ... ?socket bolt? )

Finding them in the right size was a real struggle -- and even then they were average quality with the allen key not all fitting well.... (which reminds me I want to see if I can get some better ones...)

I'll have to get the camera out to illustrate just how futile it seems to try and get a bolt of any kind in there. I can just barely see the hole, let alone manoeuvre a fitting in. Add to that, the arm is very, very close to the bolt head (to the point I had to lever the arm out of the way so the bolt would turn when removing it) so I can't see how any sort of socket fitting is going to work.

Right now, I've left the bracket bolted up tight with three of four bolts. I can only just get visible movement in the bracket with screwdriver leverage, but any movement there at all is going to result in variable toe angle under load and therefore bum-steer. I just don't see how I can get anything in that hole without grinding the fold-over off the bracket...

(btw, your link goes to 'Rally of Canberra'.. I assume that's not what you intended? I'm really interested in how you got a fitting in there...)

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Even using the socket bolt was still not easy... but a little while back now so cannot remember exactly how I did it.

May have had to loosen other bolts off to get enough access to get started.... Vizard mentions something about this sort of issue in "How to modify your mini"

Sort of bolts I mean: http://www.fastfixdirect.co.uk/code/navigation.asp?fType=Fasteners&MainCategoryID=19

( OtherLink was just what I've been up to this weekend with pre 5am starts both days helping out as a marshal.... head a bit fuzzy tonight ...... .. probably doze off watching F1...)

Yeah, that's what I thought you meant. Honestly, I have bugger-all idea how to even get one of those in there, let alone get an allen key on it. I'll have to have another look tomorrow and see if there's a way..

Now, off to the F1

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

I have put two sets in now, the idea is to use a 1/4" drive socket and extension bar.

It is a very narrow fit, so leave the other bolts 'loose' until you get that one in.

You did loosen the inside bolt on the trailing arm didn't you?

Out of 4 brackets I did have to mod one (elongate that top hole) slightly to get it all to fit.

Borrow a friend's hoist, it makes it a lot easier!!

Cheers

Matt

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68 Deluxe.... it's shiny..... I like shiny!!