Hi all,
I’m going through the rear end on the mk2 restoration.
Seems like I’m bouncing from job to job at the moment. lol
Both mounting brackets for the trailing arms have a solid block in the upper corner.
Has anyone else come across this? I wonder if it done back in the day by the factory/ police workshop or was it done by a previous owner?
I have other brackets laying around and none of them have this solid block welded in there like these.

Maybe to reduce flex in the bracket?

There are two versions of that bracket - one for dry suspension (part 21A195 & 197) and another for hydro (21A1980 & 1982). That is probably the reason for the difference.

My MK II S has the bracket with the block like in your pic. It's original and not done by a previous owner.

Is it likely your other brackets came from a dry car?

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Thanks Doug,
Good to know that it’s factory. I have blasted it and the style and quality of the weld is identical to the rest of the welds on it.
I have two wet arms with the brackets still on them on the shelf and they don’t have the square block in the corner. They came out of a hydro car of unknown species...
The dry bracket on a Clubman doesn’t have it either.
I wonder if it’s one of those little differences that were built into the Cooper S during production.
Neil

Ditto with my Mk2 as I'm doing similar jobs as Neilwillo.

Incidentally my '69 K does not have those aligning/reinforcing blocks and they are definitely original to the car.

My comment about dry versus wet subframe brackets came from the Somerford Mini website and not from personal experience or knowledge.

Based on Bill's evidence above it appears the presence of blocks is a running change in 1969 or 1970 and not related to the type of suspension - dry or wet. Another little change point to be identified (where's gtogreen1969?).

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Sorry I can help with the exact change over. I knew there was 2 styles but didn't really worry about the change point or reason why. My Dec 1968 S had the non upgraded/block type. I guess we could wait for some others to comment with 1968 - 1969 cars and make an informed decision.

My 3/70 Matic doesn't have these. Nor does my son's 1971 hydro Clubby.

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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.

John Smidt referred me to his Mini Ming parts catalogue where it shows a reinforced pair of brackets made for the 13" wheel Moke (part numbers AYK8262 & 8263) alongside the standard brackets. He believes the reinforcement was done to overcome any problems due to increased load on the trailing arm from 13" wheels.

I guess we need more examples to narrow down what Mini models used what and when. Bill and I both have ex-NSW Police S's but I've not heard of this feature being unique to those cars. The earlier Mark 1 Police S's were the first to have the front suspension tie bar mounts upgraded prior to being introduced in general production so I guess it's possible.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

A set like that were on my 6/72 GT when I got it.

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1965 MK1 English Morris Cooper S (Downton)
1967 MK1 Morris Cooper S
1972 Clubman GT (6/72 Cadiz)
1968 MG Midget

It’s early days but there seems to be a bit of a pattern emerging. I agree with Winabbey that we need a larger sample to be sure but at this early stage it appears that the vehicles that have been fitted with this bracket are performance models. That is, the Mk2 CS and Clubman GT. Mine is an ex police 2/70 S and it’s got the reinforced brackets. Not sure if it was NSWHP or another state because I can find plenty of evidence of Police equipment but no id badge holes in the parcel shelf and no evidence of any repairs at all. Still working on that one...
Neil

Neil - can I use your bracket photo to start a discussion on FB Groups?

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Good idea Doug.
Yes. Absolutely. I also wondered if the change to 13” wheels on the moke had any influence on it because of lateral forces but Watto wrote in issue 6 of TME that that change happened in April 68.
Let’s see what turns up.
Neil

For those who also frequent Facebook I have posted the question on the Ausmini and the Cooper S Restoration group pages.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/250368238352982

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Mine is a Sept '70 ex Police Cooper S. It has the reinforcing block in common with Doug and Bill B's cars

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1970 Cooper S SPO41

I'll post what has been said by others on FB and privately to me in the next few days. Suffice to say there's a few different opinions, or degrees of knowledge, to put it another way. That the Moke bracket was used on Minis was news to some enthusiasts.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43