Hi all.

I'm installing some new lower arms but have noticed the following -



Is the pin supposed to sit flush at the front? When pushed in fully, mine sits proud by about 4mm. There is a plate that abuts against a small flat on the pin (which stops it from turning), but it looks like it should rest against the larger flat by design, but doesn't...

I have just disassemble and dismantled my front end. Mine was all the way in with the pin head square on with the chassis against the flat locating bracket. Try swapping from side to side to see if there is any difference.

No it does not always go in flush at front. Neither of mine do. The nut pulls the other end's shoulder up against the subframe.
The important thing at front is it is located in the hole properly, and the flat on top is aligned against the bit of flat bar that's welded on there to stop it turning.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Mine are the originals from 1966, first time disassembled. You are right drmini that sometimes they do not always go flush, but mine do.

The other end could be a bit longer than the original

Ah, the wonderful fit of cheap aftermarket parts!
I'd pay extra for parts that fit like they should. IF we could buy them.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Good tip about comparing sides. Will have a geez later.

The straight unthreaded part of the pin, that the bushes slot onto, is firmly 'home' and doesn't look like it's going to budge by tightening the rear nut. I thought about hacking this bit up so that it pushes in further, but this may also push the bottom arm rearwards which is not good.

This pin is at least 10 years old (the time I've owned it). I have the original/spare which I will also dig out to compare...

subframes can sometimes get a bit bent inwards/backwards over the years to so don`t be too worried

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Some of the lower arm pins don't have the stepped plate on the larger end. They just have a thick circular boss (about 10mm thick) at that end with a flat section at the top to locate it correctly in the subframe hole.
When fitted properly the boss sticks out from the subframe hole by a few mm.
I don't know which model had this version of the lower arm pin, but I'm guessing it may have been the very early cars.

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Curly
'64 Cooper 'S' (Group Nb spec)
'67 Mini Marcos GT www.mm7056.wordpress.com

I compared the other side and it also doesn't sit flush. So I dug out the originals which are the same length -



Ended up greasing and re-installed. Bent subframe? Possible but not overly concerned, just overthunkit...

Yep, once that nut is done up she's not going anywhere.

When I rebuilt my old Moke subframes a few years ago, they were symptomatic of the same issues.
No problems on going though.

Happy mini-ing.