Mini mk1 rear subframe (wet) bolts

[magicwandit]

Hi everyone

After some advice please regarding the rear bolts that bolt up through into the boot floor. According to the workshop Manual picture it looks like they bolt up through so that the nuts are in the boot is this correct. I can see maybe why as they are less likely to corrode this way. As they are not exposed to the dirt from underneath. I’ll add pictures to follow. Just doesn’t look correct to me.

CF884AF1-A315-4562-A5B3-C0F32187F306.jpeg

661FAFF1-D416-4011-BDE2-DE2EFACF09AA.jpeg

[mab01uk]

https://www.minispares.com/catalogues/c ... x?3~21~207

[minibitz]

Bolts pointing down and nuts underneath car.

Never going to happen but if a nut then comes loose you still have the bolt providing some kind of connection between body and subframe.

[Hipwell]

It’s nuts underneath… but when they rust out you can’t get them undone.

[Fanfaniracing]

I would suggest when you are grease the bolts properly, you will never ever experience that they're rusting and you couldn't get them undone...

[Andrew1967]

As everyone has said, bolts down and nuts underneath.

Copper slip the threads and bolts and they’ll come out years later with no problem.

[Polarsilver]

Excellent stuff Cooper Slip been around since Adam was lad ..I use on almost (but not internal engine ) every thread including threads that fit into alloy castings such as clutch cover etc; use Copper Slip on wheel Nuts/Studs also between the Brake Drum/ Disc / Wheel smear over the flat contact surfaces .. even use it on some gaskets such as the exhaust/intake manifold gasket & never ever had any problems even with nut torqued to spec; .. i apply Copper Slip to threads with a small artists brush as not a lot is needed a pot of Cooper Slip lasts a long time .

[magicwandit]

Thanks everyone I’ll get them changed the other way

And greased !

[rolesyboy]

I have just dismantled a lot of the suspension and steering components on my car that was put together 15 years ago. I haven't been particularly precious about the car and have never cleaned it underneath (I know, I know the shame of it..)
When I built it every nut and bolt got a brush of copper grease and I can vouch for the fact that everything came apart with ease.

[65MK1S]

This last mini that I restored (65 Cooper S) had never had the sub frames
off. It had lived in the high desert in Utah (4500 ft) most of its life and was
virtually rust free when I got it and came apart pretty easy. It now lives in
Salt lake City, Utah and in the winter they salt the roads here so it doesn't get
out much while it's snowing. Because of the salt, I have installed stainless bolts
and nylock locknuts anyplace where the water will go. It's a little more expensive
but I built this car for my son and grandsons and if they ever take it apart I
want it to be a good experience. The copper grease works very well also.

[mab01uk]

Not all stainless fixings have suitable tensile strength with anything safety critical and it will often react badly with any steel it's fitted against causing the steel to rust. Whenever you do use stainless fasteners they are best coated with an anti-seize compound to prevent galling.

[rolesyboy]

I agree with the tensile strength of stainless in certain applications. They may snap in the wrong environment

[Peter Laidler]

We never encountered any problems when we slowly transitioned from steel to stainless bolts, fixings and fasteners on our old Centurions. That said of course, some of the UNF bolts there were a tad thicker than your standard mini cooper bolts. Mind you, I don't expect that the Cents received the battering over Salisbury Plain and winter, boggy, Sennelager ranges that our sunny day mini's receive

[NZmember]

I spray all exposed nuts with this stuff . Coppereze on the inside threads and this encases the outside.
https://www.repco.co.nz/en/oils-fluids/ ... VkQAvD_BwE
The car has got more lanolin than a sheep.
Must be similar products in us/uk.

[richardACS]

I spray all exposed nuts with this stuff . Coppereze on the inside threads and this encases the outside.
https://www.repco.co.nz/en/oils-fluids/ ... VkQAvD_BwE
The car has got more lanolin than a sheep.
Must be similar products in us/uk.

Have to agree the lanolin is pretty amazing....