minispares alloy door hinges

[Callum]

Thinking of getting some of theses rather that rebushing my originals, anyone got any experience of them? Will the studs pull out too easily? Cheers

[swifty]

My experience of them wasn't good . They all came up different , as in all having a totally different shape . Mini spares refunded me ...... Ken

[rich@minispares.com]

as long as you are careful with them they will be fine, we have been selling them for over 15 years.

I always locktite the studs in and let it dry, that way its far harder to pull them out of the alloy if you are too hard on them when you tighten them up - you have to be careful with the stud at the very end of the smaller part due to the shape of the hinge.

once they are fitted, they are fine, and give no issues

[mk1]

I have used a number of sets & have always been happy with them. One thing that has happened recently though is the stainless steel studs snapped as they were being tightened. This may be a 1 off though.

M

[Charlynsane]

Hello

I used a set for my cooper mk2,

It fits perfectly, a good alternative to rebushing

[Callum]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I have ordered a set

[Callum]

I bought some of these and have had them fitted to the mk2 for a couple of months now. Recently I have been struggling to line up the drivers door as it keeps dropping off towards the rear, so tonight I took the hinges off and noticed quite a lot of play in them. Got a couple of videos

http://s1215.photobucket.com/user/callu ... 9.mp4.html

http://s1215.photobucket.com/user/callu ... 0.mp4.html

Anyone come across this before?

Cheers

[mk1]

I have used them on all my cars for years & have not had any problems.

Yours do look to have loosened up though.

M

[BRI MK1]

Hi i used a set on my radford which has electric windows and the doors area very heavy they have been on about three years now and i have had no problems.

[Callum]

Thanks for the replies. Spoke to minispares this morning and the response I got was something along the lines of...well we have never had this issue before so your obviously a bellend, send them to us at your own expense and we will have our suppliers check them, in the mean time if you want some more stick your hands in your pockets and buy some.

So not overly impressed with their customer service on this one I'm afraid.

[CooperTune]

Not to make light of your issues, I have been buying mini parts since the 60s. I have come to believe sales people have a sign over there desk " Well this has never happened before." Let's see there were the diff. pins that were never heat treated, The timing sets with incorrect key ways, soft ball pins, clutch plunger, TO bearing plates, to many things over the years to recall. It's nice having a friend with a Rockwell tester. Find a set of brass ones and have someone tig them up and rebuild. Every year it gets harder to provide something you can be proud of. Steve (CTR)

[rich@minispares.com]

I certainly don't have that sign above my desk........

anything made or delivered to minispares north is counted, checked, appraised, etc and sorted.

any issues with the stuff we sell is taken seriously and problems are sorted, we have a complete record of any warranty issues going back over 15 years (and it doesn't include a single issue with alloy hinges - and that's with circa 1500 sets sold in the last three years as a group.........)

as with any part supplier we have problems with suppliers 'trying it on' but we do tend to be on the top of it, we don't always get it right, but what company does........

unfortunately, when it comes to customers having issues with items, it is up to them to return them at their cost to us so the item can be appraised, then once, if it is an issue, the postage cost will be refunded - same as charging for replacement parts.

[CooperTune]

Hope I did not upset you Rich, I'm sure you do all you can for the customers. I'm not sure you were born when I started buying mini parts. I did not mention any supplier by name, no need for that. I have taken pictures done drawings and made complete notes of issues. After giving all that to a supplier I was told no one else has complained and we have 1000 on the shelf and will look into your concerns when they are all gone and we look for a new supplier. I believe I saved the email not that it matters. When I find a problem I suck it up and go on. Buying a part for $500. plus shipping spend more money and time having a tool made and fitting as per instructions and it fails in less than a race weekend. Then you pay another $100. to ship it back only to be told it's nothing we did teaches a lesson. Anyway thank you for your quick replies to my direct questions. Steve (CTR)

[rich@minispares.com]

Steve, I'm not upset at all. Poorly made stuff can come from anywhere, you only have to look at issues that car makers have with recalls etc.

I have a lot of experience with problem solving, warranty, etc and minispares as a company have very, very few issues with supply of poor parts because we avoid the 'no name' unboxed stuff that is flooding the market at the moment. Sure, there is the problem with poor rubber stuff, but that's a manufacturing, rather than supply issue, and one where suppliers can only sell what the producers claim is fit for purpose.....

As for the 'nice' stuff we make, I think most people would be surprised at how much is made in the u.k. we have learnt over the years that it's better to keep it local as it solves the issues that occur when stuff is made abroad.

The problem with the supply of mini parts in the old days was of course getting it made in sufficient quantities to get a decent cost price, and having people who would then pay a decent retail price for it. It's only in the last five years or so that the prices of minis have crept up and dragged the car out of the world of 'budget motoring' where people will only pay pence for the parts.

We as a company have certainly invested thousands in tooling in the last few years to ensure this good supply of parts, and funnily enough have just been on today with a supplier who wants to provide us with a route into getting a load more stuff made to 'make every one happy'!!!

[Gareth Brandt]

Rich, I know for a fact that many (incl myself) would pay looots more for real rubbers if they last as they used to. It's up to the companys who sell these to find better quality producers, not us.
And we would pay premium! Sick and tired of changing boots and other rubber (read plastic with softeners) items that don't last..............