I have done exactly the same job on my my 2004 mini. All my bolts were badly corroded like these. I applied blow torch heat on the bolts on the outside of the hub. Hammered a socket on and they all came out pretty easily. All done with the driveshaft in place as well. Just kept the heat away from anything meltable. The wheel bearing was rusted in solid to the carrier but a couple of taps with a metal hammer and it popped out. Well done getting the ABS sensor out but you didn’t need to remove that. Your video highlights the joy of working on uk road cars of this age!!!
I had to come back and revisit this epic battle. Nail biting drama from the first slipped socket to the last skinned knuckle. A passionate tale of grit, perseverance, determination, heart break, incredulity, resignation and quietly surpressed, English rage.
I really like your workflow. Steady, no fuss, ready for what comes. Around here it's rare for anyone to replace a boot. Aftermarket axles have changed the market, but I hate seeing hardware hit the recycling trash.
Thanks I appreciate your kind comment. I think I already knew what I was going to be up against with a 2004 Mini... lots of rust! Our aftermarket shafts are cheap for some vehicles but not for this one. I always try to keep the cost down for the customer wherever possible.
Wow that throws the book time off a bit. Nicely done with the right sockets. I have the similar ones and like you shown they don't always match. I have taken some copper wire and folded it inside the socket and then pounded it on to take up the slack in poor fitment and sometimes it jets me out of a jam. Cheers Rob
Yeh the customer was advised that this job was not gonna be charged on book time. That's a good tip with the wire. I will have to try that. (There's a vid to make for ya) Cheers Steve
The reality for all mechanics up and down the land,very informative thanks for the high quality video,best one out there on this particular topic👍,without loosing your cool 😎 I think if I uploaded the same video it would be littered with f**ks😂 Top man,Thxs again
OMG .... That is one rusty mini ..!! ... Watching you do this is so real, it reminds me of all the old bangers I used to work on ... Think I would of been swearing at this one lol ... I think maybe you was on your best behavier here lol .... Great video, thanks for sharing and I just know my Copper won't be as dificult or rusty! ;-)
I always have to use a breaker bar with the bolt extractors. I find the impact gun just bounces it off, so the controlled force with a break bar has served me well.
brilliant stuff , nice to see how you garage chaps tackle them "PITA" corroded bolt heads , thats would of took me hours to get out maybe days lol, my guess is maybe the job was attempted before until that bad bolt was attempted also judging by how loose the first one was ! Anyway good job Rob look forward to part 2 ..
Rob this is an excellent example of working through a job methodically and calmly in the face of annoying and time consuming problems. This is the reality of wrenching on real cars and thats why this is such a great channel. Rarely is anything productive accomplished by throwing tools around the workshop so I'll second your composure. I often find those torque plus angle fasteners are near impossible to tighten according to the book, is this your experience and if so at what point do you call it a day?
Thank you i appreciate your kind comments. I have long outgrown throwing my tools across the shop. As you correctly state.. it accomplishes nothing. As for the torque + angle.. I will try it, but when my built in experienced wrist torque wrench clicks, I stop :)
Great video, but there's no need to remove the ABS sensor to change the wheel bearing on the MINI. On mine (which I was forced to replace the whole hub thanks to awfully designed pinch bolt that snapped) the nut holding the ABS sensor was no trouble, but getting the sensor itself out was nigh on impossible!
You don’t have to but I always do especially when I know I’m going to be battling the corroded hub bolts on that side. I’d rather spend a while getting it out of the way than be paying for a new one. Thanks for watching
Jezz, that bolt was a tough one. Not-so-big-nasty was nasty enough for this job. With all that corrosion and rust you'd think that car is from New York. Nice work getting everything sorted!
spiral socket over the top of the allen cap.. ??? They work so much better on bolt heads than on the nut side .. I have both metric and American sizes for that odd ball... we get corrosion in Chicago too : P You are sooo relaxed.. interesting watching you ..
Awesome Rob really enjoy your videos you are good at them 👍. What is in your "squirty" bottle? Is it your own mix of penetrating oil? Keep up the great work mate.
This is my life whenever I work on my cars...constantly fighting to undo fasteners....= some are rusty=ed, some are inaccessible, some are rounded off, some are torx but only a hex will do, some are hex but only a torx will do, some need a nut extractor, some need a chisel, some need a centre punch, some need heat, or hammer, or penetrating oil...But they all end up getting a lot of swearing.
One Auto, Yeah it's a great get out of jail card. Surprised you haven't got Oxy-Acetylene! Even Propane & Oxygen is a cheaper alternative. I wouldn't go down the BOC route if you did consider. Rent free all the way!
Aaah the delights of 20 years of corrosion....lived it many times !
I have done exactly the same job on my my 2004 mini. All my bolts were badly corroded like these. I applied blow torch heat on the bolts on the outside of the hub. Hammered a socket on and they all came out pretty easily. All done with the driveshaft in place as well. Just kept the heat away from anything meltable. The wheel bearing was rusted in solid to the carrier but a couple of taps with a metal hammer and it popped out. Well done getting the ABS sensor out but you didn’t need to remove that. Your video highlights the joy of working on uk road cars of this age!!!
I had to come back and revisit this epic battle. Nail biting drama from the first slipped socket to the last skinned knuckle. A passionate tale of grit, perseverance, determination, heart break, incredulity, resignation and quietly surpressed, English rage.
Thanks man. You make it sound like a film review 😄
I hate working on rusted junk like this but I just realized how fun it is to watch others struggle😂😂👍 good job .
Not one swear word dealing with those bolts 😂 you have super human restraint. Great work
😂😂 Oh come on badger it's not restraint... it's editing 👍
That fourth nut was like watching a Hitchcock thriller.. Had me on the edge of my seat.
I really like your workflow. Steady, no fuss, ready for what comes.
Around here it's rare for anyone to replace a boot. Aftermarket axles have changed the market, but I hate seeing hardware hit the recycling trash.
Thanks I appreciate your kind comment. I think I already knew what I was going to be up against with a 2004 Mini... lots of rust!
Our aftermarket shafts are cheap for some vehicles but not for this one. I always try to keep the cost down for the customer wherever possible.
Wow that throws the book time off a bit. Nicely done with the right sockets. I have the similar ones and like you shown they don't always match. I have taken some copper wire and folded it inside the socket and then pounded it on to take up the slack in poor fitment and sometimes it jets me out of a jam. Cheers Rob
Yeh the customer was advised that this job was not gonna be charged on book time. That's a good tip with the wire. I will have to try that. (There's a vid to make for ya) Cheers Steve
Jobs wouldn't be fun if things went smoothly every time! Have a good weekend!
Exactly it makes for interesting work. Cheers Thomas 🍻
The reality for all mechanics up and down the land,very informative thanks for the high quality video,best one out there on this particular topic👍,without loosing your cool 😎
I think if I uploaded the same video it would be littered with f**ks😂
Top man,Thxs again
Haha thanks. One day I will have to release a video of the swearing that got cut 😂
Excellent work Rob, always great watching your videos. Top man.
OMG .... That is one rusty mini ..!! ... Watching you do this is so real, it reminds me of all the old bangers I used to work on ... Think I would of been swearing at this one lol ... I think maybe you was on your best behavier here lol .... Great video, thanks for sharing and I just know my Copper won't be as dificult or rusty! ;-)
I always have to use a breaker bar with the bolt extractors. I find the impact gun just bounces it off, so the controlled force with a break bar has served me well.
Yeh I try anything lol
2:05 ...last night's spicy Chilli saying hello! LOL
Back to watching!
😳 could be 😂
Hi Rob, top job. That one would have had most DIYer's sweating.
I appreciate the clear detailed footage.
Cheers.
Thanks Mark, I appreciate it. 🍻
brilliant stuff , nice to see how you garage chaps tackle them "PITA" corroded bolt heads , thats would of took me hours to get out maybe days lol, my guess is maybe the job was attempted before until that bad bolt was attempted also judging by how loose the first one was ! Anyway good job Rob look forward to part 2 ..
Thanks Chris, patience and off camera swearing lol. Yes I reckon it had been attempted then given up as a bad job.
Rob this is an excellent example of working through a job methodically and calmly in the face of annoying and time consuming problems. This is the reality of wrenching on real cars and thats why this is such a great channel. Rarely is anything productive accomplished by throwing tools around the workshop so I'll second your composure.
I often find those torque plus angle fasteners are near impossible to tighten according to the book, is this your experience and if so at what point do you call it a day?
Thank you i appreciate your kind comments. I have long outgrown throwing my tools across the shop. As you correctly state.. it accomplishes nothing.
As for the torque + angle.. I will try it, but when my built in experienced wrist torque wrench clicks, I stop :)
Good info, should be helpful to anyone doing this job
Thanks Glen. Hopefully they won't have as much corrosion to deal with.
Great video, but there's no need to remove the ABS sensor to change the wheel bearing on the MINI. On mine (which I was forced to replace the whole hub thanks to awfully designed pinch bolt that snapped) the nut holding the ABS sensor was no trouble, but getting the sensor itself out was nigh on impossible!
You don’t have to but I always do especially when I know I’m going to be battling the corroded hub bolts on that side. I’d rather spend a while getting it out of the way than be paying for a new one. Thanks for watching
Jezz, that bolt was a tough one. Not-so-big-nasty was nasty enough for this job. With all that corrosion and rust you'd think that car is from New York. Nice work getting everything sorted!
Thanks Wyatt, I even broke into a sweat with that one. Cheers 🍻
Another job well done sir
you know Rob that rust makes a man out of you! lol every thing I get into is always rusted on always a little struggle!
It makes every bolt interesting that's for sure.
spiral socket over the top of the allen cap.. ??? They work so much better on bolt heads than on the nut side .. I have both metric and American sizes for that odd ball... we get corrosion in Chicago too : P You are sooo relaxed.. interesting watching you ..
I don't have a small enough spiral socket for the Allen cap but that way would certainly work. I wouldn't have been so relaxed 25 years ago 😂
Great video Rob
Brendan Brady fan Cheers 🍻
"Not quite nasty enough" LOL! Wow, where was that Mini stored? Under the sea?
Haha yea maybe
UK, lol
Nice video Rob, any chance of a link to that tub of silicone grease? thanks.
Daer sir
thanks !
Good video Rob a bit of crusty is good. Do they use salt on the roads or is that from the salt air?
Thanks Eric, yes salt is spread on our roads on cold winter nights from about November. But yes also cars on our coast so suffer from salt in the air.
Great job mate even though by the forth Bolt your voice was getting higher and higher lol
That's what happens when I don't swear out loud:)
rob what do you used for the rust? i used half oil and half acidtone mix and shake well
Sounds scientific. I use 'Double T' from GSF car parts
cheer try that
Great part one Rob can you imagine what eric at south main auto goes through with the rust lol some great tips to get stubben bolts out
He ain't seen half of it... Cheers Paul
us brits can handle everything lol
Paul Mayou the British bulldog spirit
bodgit and leggit garage definitely Leon
Great vid Rob
Cheers
Jamie
I say use the flathead screwdriver as what it is: a punch! I mean, when's the last time you unscrewed a flathead screw from a car ya know? ;-)
Absolutely correct sir, never looked at it that way before. Cheers 🍻
Heavy corrosion. I think they should put salt on the runways too. Runways need salt.
a garage did my rear bearing, which is sittin on my desk.
So do cars in England actually grow green moss on the underside?
Haha not if they keep moving
Awesome Rob really enjoy your videos you are good at them 👍. What is in your "squirty" bottle? Is it your own mix of penetrating oil? Keep up the great work mate.
Hi James, it's called 'Double T' I get if from GSF Car Parts. It's as good as WD40
One Auto, 👍👍👍
Don't you just love jobs like this. 1 battle after another,
They certainly are a challenge 👍
That is one crusty Mini Rob!
I'm still having nightmares about it Mike :)
Nice work there Guvnor. Cheers from sunny Australia..rust, whats that?
G'day mate 👍
Is that another vehicle from Western New York. 😉
Sure looks like it Randy 😃
keep cheapo sockets around, just to hammer them on for one time removal :)
You see, it DOES pay to hang on to the old Whitworth sockets & wrenches! Well done for getting the screw with the mutilated head out.
Thanks. Yes I never throw away old tools for just that reason.
They are never obsolete.
Too true - there are pipe fittings, for example, that are still around which demand Whitworth/BSF wrenches.
What a nightmare, I was thinking of buying a mini but looking at the corrosion on them I think I'll pass
The problem isn't the MINI, the problem is England and the salt put onto our roads :(
Safety squints on please
This is my life whenever I work on my cars...constantly fighting to undo fasteners....= some are rusty=ed, some are inaccessible, some are rounded off, some are torx but only a hex will do, some are hex but only a torx will do, some need a nut extractor, some need a chisel, some need a centre punch, some need heat, or hammer, or penetrating oil...But they all end up getting a lot of swearing.
You've been talking with Eric too much from SMA. He loves the crusties!
Eric would have been faster.. he would have blown the heads of the bolts off with the torch in seconds.
One Auto, Yeah it's a great get out of jail card. Surprised you haven't got Oxy-Acetylene! Even Propane & Oxygen is a cheaper alternative. I wouldn't go down the BOC route if you did consider. Rent free all the way!
No mate, I use Mapp gas for what I need. Anyway Health and Safety Exec wants us to use Induction Heaters now... booo
One Auto, Unbelievable!
What’s in your spray bottle
It’s Double T Penetrating oil.. like WD40
What a rusty crusty mess !
Hey Norm, It certainly seems that way
One Auto, Good work !!