i just did the struts on my mini r53, you do NOT have to remove anything but the upper nut on the end link 16mm with 5mm allen, the 3 13mm bolts on the mount and the 18 mm pinch bolt. and of course the rubber grommets for the brake hose and sensor. Nothing else!!!!!!! , the struts slides right out of the wheel carrier, dont even worry about that. what you should worry about is the integrity of the pinch bolt. one of the heads snapped off while i was putting the bolt back in after the job was done. the bolt was compromised upon removal , please make sure you have these on hand before you start the job. what a night mare, i did not.
My strut did not slide right out, you could see how stuck it was. Additionally I was replacing the whole coilover assembly; my bushings were shot, so the whole thing had to come out, so it was not necessary to mess around with the 16mm nut. Since I left my other components loose from earlier work, it was easier for me to take the whole knuckle and strut out, and hammer the strut out of the knuckle. You may not live in a place that gets snow and road salt.
I think you can send the factory Bilstein's shocks back to the factory and you can get them re-valved and serviced; at a cost of course. which I think is a better Idea than swapping your OEM Bilstein's for some off brand shock. Also for R53's I would look into upgrading to Koni active shocks; they are a little pricey but they improve both ride quality and wheel to road contact at pace which are both huge wins.
Cool huge help I was terrified to do this job myself! Brand new at fixing my mini Thanking I probably should not do this job myself but if this shock is that amazing maybe
I never tried anything besides brakes and normal maintenance. I snapped my spring and had no choice. My pinch bolt snapped and it’s goin on 3 weeks now. Started with basic tools now I have amassed a nice tool collection. I drilled it out. Took forever. Now having trouble getting new strut to sit properly. Pinch bolt tang isn’t getting all the way below the bolt hole. Like a centimeter short of the bolt going through. I just bought a wedge last nite and hoping by widening the gap the bolt will go completely down and I can get the bolt through. Fingers crossed. If your gonna try it start lubricating your bolts now. In case. Penetrating oil
Excellent video thank you so much but I am really scared to do this I guess this means I have to take off the brakes that just put on and rotors dang help do I have to do all of that all over again?
I did my front and back coilovers and the front was a PIA. I broke the head of both my pinch bolts and had to drill them out. No amount of heating, penetrating oil, and hammering got the pinch bolts out. They were rusted and fused to the steering knuckle. This was on 2010 mini s in Canada.
Same here. I can’t get my new strut to go all the way down the tang is blocking the pinch bolt hole. Just bought a wedge to widen it hopefully that’s the problem. Let me know if you had Similar issues when seating yur new one. I had to drill old one out. Nightmare
@@judd0112 seating the new coil overs in the front was a breeze. Taking the old ones out is a pain. If you still have the old front coil overs in the car find a big hammer and smash those pinch bolts. Put some good penetrating oil on those bolts for a day and than hammer away. It's going to be a pain because theirs not much space in the wheel well, but I believe that's the best course of action to get the pinch bolts out and than it's a simple matter of wiggling the struts out of their place.
@@Ray-uc8ij I got the old ones out but the new strut seems like it’s not goin in all the way the new pinch bolt can’t go through because the tang from the new strut is blocking it’s path or something. I got a wedge and will be using it to widen the gap that it slides into once it stops raining and this hurricane goes past us. Thanks.hopefully that’s been my problem this whole time I’ve been losing my mind about it and sleep
This is not the correct way to perform this task. Remove the the pinch bolt and the strut falls out no issue. Pinch bold can be a pain to remove. Patience and release oil. With the top bolts holding the strut in place, using wood and a mallet you can easily remove the strut from the lower arm.
for sure, that's the plan, i'm going to break in the new clutch first and make sure everything is good before selling. 500 miles to freedom lol. cheers
This is the one that I have: www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/2004/Mini/Cooper/Shock_and_Strut_Set/75-85772_2C?crid=2828900 But there are other options here if you want all 4: www.buyautoparts.com/selectpart/2004_Mini/Cooper/Shock_and_Strut_Set/75-8.html
Been around a lot of car people for a lot of my life, as well as the internet (forums, youtube) for super specific stuff, and a lot of figuring it out myself
supercharger pulley reduction, whole different supercharger, limited slip if you want to do a massive amount of work, exhaust, cold air filter.....there are lots of other things you can do too
I don't think they have the complete set for 09 listed on their website, but they do on Amazon here: amzn.to/2HL8lWn (affiliate link). Just double check your fitment before buying, I don't know if you have a clubman, regular or sport suspension, etc.
haha these struts are probably one of the more worthwhile things to do for this car....can't wait to see if there's a ride difference...might drive it today
I don't think you understand how stuck it was. You might not live in a place that gets snow and road salt. The upper strut bushing would rip out before the strut would break loose from the knuckle.
@@aDIYCarGuy Yeah, I thought, why take it all apart and then saw hard to you had to pound on it. My fell out, but the assembly is too long and I can't get it back together. Argh. I came in after I took it apart and told the wife, cool, that was easy. 3 hours later, still haven't gotten the strut back in the knuckle.
Thats the long and hard work way you dont have to take the whole hub off ive done mine already after you do it this way you'll need a wheel alignment
i just did the struts on my mini r53, you do NOT have to remove anything but the upper nut on the end link 16mm with 5mm allen, the 3 13mm bolts on the mount and the 18 mm pinch bolt. and of course the rubber grommets for the brake hose and sensor.
Nothing else!!!!!!! , the struts slides right out of the wheel carrier, dont even worry about that. what you should worry about is the integrity of the pinch bolt. one of the heads snapped off while i was putting the bolt back in after the job was done. the bolt was compromised upon removal , please make sure you have these on hand before you start the job. what a night mare, i did not.
My strut did not slide right out, you could see how stuck it was. Additionally I was replacing the whole coilover assembly; my bushings were shot, so the whole thing had to come out, so it was not necessary to mess around with the 16mm nut. Since I left my other components loose from earlier work, it was easier for me to take the whole knuckle and strut out, and hammer the strut out of the knuckle. You may not live in a place that gets snow and road salt.
how did you get the strut to slide out?
@@93V I used the biggest hammer I could find hit top of hub once everything is disconnected. Hit many times to get mine off
I think you can send the factory Bilstein's shocks back to the factory and you can get them re-valved and serviced; at a cost of course. which I think is a better Idea than swapping your OEM Bilstein's for some off brand shock. Also for R53's I would look into upgrading to Koni active shocks; they are a little pricey but they improve both ride quality and wheel to road contact at pace which are both huge wins.
Cool huge help I was terrified to do this job myself! Brand new at fixing my mini Thanking I probably should not do this job myself but if this shock is that amazing maybe
I never tried anything besides brakes and normal maintenance. I snapped my spring and had no choice. My pinch bolt snapped and it’s goin on 3 weeks now. Started with basic tools now I have amassed a nice tool collection. I drilled it out. Took forever. Now having trouble getting new strut to sit properly. Pinch bolt tang isn’t getting all the way below the bolt hole. Like a centimeter short of the bolt going through. I just bought a wedge last nite and hoping by widening the gap the bolt will go completely down and I can get the bolt through. Fingers crossed. If your gonna try it start lubricating your bolts now. In case. Penetrating oil
Excellent video thank you so much but I am really scared to do this I guess this means I have to take off the brakes that just put on and rotors dang help do I have to do all of that all over again?
Your videos are interesting and helpful, but need more views
thank you, i agree haha, it's hard to get views
What are the torque specs, i don’t see them?
I can not find preloaded for 2013 r56 s... :'(
Ugg I have a 13 as well! Dammit
I did my front and back coilovers and the front was a PIA. I broke the head of both my pinch bolts and had to drill them out. No amount of heating, penetrating oil, and hammering got the pinch bolts out. They were rusted and fused to the steering knuckle. This was on 2010 mini s in Canada.
Same here. I can’t get my new strut to go all the way down the tang is blocking the pinch bolt hole. Just bought a wedge to widen it hopefully that’s the problem. Let me know if you had Similar issues when seating yur new one. I had to drill old one out. Nightmare
@@judd0112 seating the new coil overs in the front was a breeze. Taking the old ones out is a pain. If you still have the old front coil overs in the car find a big hammer and smash those pinch bolts. Put some good penetrating oil on those bolts for a day and than hammer away. It's going to be a pain because theirs not much space in the wheel well, but I believe that's the best course of action to get the pinch bolts out and than it's a simple matter of wiggling the struts out of their place.
@@Ray-uc8ij I got the old ones out but the new strut seems like it’s not goin in all the way the new pinch bolt can’t go through because the tang from the new strut is blocking it’s path or something. I got a wedge and will be using it to widen the gap that it slides into once it stops raining and this hurricane goes past us. Thanks.hopefully that’s been my problem this whole time I’ve been losing my mind about it and sleep
Hey how are these shocks holding up? Are they comparable to stock?
Do the S and Base models use the same strut???
Your videos are very god!!! greetings from Mexico
thank you!
This is not the correct way to perform this task. Remove the the pinch bolt and the strut falls out no issue. Pinch bold can be a pain to remove. Patience and release oil. With the top bolts holding the strut in place, using wood and a mallet you can easily remove the strut from the lower arm.
Correct. I have just done exactly as you said.
Your method is much less work.
Gary, mate thats been a big job on that Mini, if I were you I would get it sold ASAP.
Great vids, keep it up
Cheers
Mark
for sure, that's the plan, i'm going to break in the new clutch first and make sure everything is good before selling. 500 miles to freedom lol. cheers
I shared the video if you continue with Mimi u will get them Keep making informative excellent videos I think you would do well
Like the tru grit ,back yard mechanic, in the dirt, ya!
Hello
Fit the shock and strut to a mini cooper s 2004??
What is the part number on the shock and strut you have bought??
//Robert
This is the one that I have: www.buyautoparts.com/buynow/2004/Mini/Cooper/Shock_and_Strut_Set/75-85772_2C?crid=2828900
But there are other options here if you want all 4: www.buyautoparts.com/selectpart/2004_Mini/Cooper/Shock_and_Strut_Set/75-8.html
How did you learn to do all this
Been around a lot of car people for a lot of my life, as well as the internet (forums, youtube) for super specific stuff, and a lot of figuring it out myself
Charles O'Donnell the
What are some cool mods for r53 2006 mini?
supercharger pulley reduction, whole different supercharger, limited slip if you want to do a massive amount of work, exhaust, cold air filter.....there are lots of other things you can do too
I can't find that complete strut assembly on their site for a 2009 mini Cooper s..
I don't think they have the complete set for 09 listed on their website, but they do on Amazon here: amzn.to/2HL8lWn (affiliate link). Just double check your fitment before buying, I don't know if you have a clubman, regular or sport suspension, etc.
a DIY Car Guy thanks
crap it's finally going to be finished!!!! Heck emyeah
fingers crossed nothing else breaks on it while I test it for a few hundred miles
I’m doing mine next week. But I’m assembling myself. Sad
Laugh out loud I’m think it ! Ugg
Link is broken
Works for me, it takes you to a page with the model pre-filled but you need to select your fitment front or rear or both, or S or base
@@aDIYCarGuy you're right, must have been a bad connection on my end.
Too complicated. There is no need to take the brake system down.
Put some grease around the top part of the shock to make it slid in the mounting.
Good god that looks difficult. That Minibus going to be like new when you're done tho ;-)
haha these struts are probably one of the more worthwhile things to do for this car....can't wait to see if there's a ride difference...might drive it today
a DIY Car Guy Darn auto correct, I see it put Minibus instead of "Mini is" LoL
a DIY Car Guy how did it ride after the change out?
I’m guessing total pain in the butt to do this? Correct
You did this in the most dumb way ever. Leave topmount bolted on and push down on the hub after using wd40
I don't think you understand how stuck it was. You might not live in a place that gets snow and road salt. The upper strut bushing would rip out before the strut would break loose from the knuckle.
@@aDIYCarGuy fair point
@@aDIYCarGuy Yeah, I thought, why take it all apart and then saw hard to you had to pound on it. My fell out, but the assembly is too long and I can't get it back together. Argh. I came in after I took it apart and told the wife, cool, that was easy. 3 hours later, still haven't gotten the strut back in the knuckle.
@@awboat I'm having exact same problem how did u end up getting it in
Course I just did my whole entire car brakes dang ugg :(