help with snapping Tie rods on 1999 Cooper Sports Pack

[bill773mini]

I've had an email off a friend in Japan asking for help with is 99 Cooper Sports Pack.


"Over the last couple of months I have managed to snap first the right and the left tie rods!
They both snapped at the chassis mounting at the base of the thread.
They were not over tightened and were torqued halfway between the min/max recommended!
I'm having the alignment, tracking and tyre balance checked...but other than that Nakayama San and myself are at a loss.

The suspension is quite stiff and the setting is low.....if the angle between the chassis and the steering is too acute could this cause unnecessary wear and tear.
There were no 'symptoms ' before they snapped, knocking bad handling etc.
If you have any ideas I would really appreciate to hear them."




Any advice and help I can send his way would be appreciated.




Bill

[rich@minispares.com]

I bet it has adjustable tie bars on it (as its so rare that std ones break - almost never)

ive seen them before where the thread is under cut through poor design/machining, so the end is very weak - either that or the bushes are so hard that the bars are just under so much distress that they are snapping.

get some photos off him bill-san

[bill773mini]

Thanks Rich San I will.

[1071 S]

Poly bushes ??? that will do it every time... they're not flexible enough and transmit too much bending load into the rod. BTDT.

Fit one poly bush (In front) and a standard rubber one behind.

Cheers, Ian