To all Minifans!
A story about what can go wrong with classic cars..
"I think theres a lesson to be learned from that" ("Monty Python")
My Austin '69 MKII hydrolastic have been pullling to the right since I bought it 4 years ago.
Its a nuisance - so different mechanics have tried their guess - without success... Also tried wheel alignment, toe-out and so on... Tyres wore quick and uneven.
This spring a Mini-mechanic with specialty in rebuilding classic car bodywork looked at it.
He examined it closely and found not one - but FOUR major errors:
(Previous I had found out, that the right side of the car was at least
1 cm shorter than the left side - from hub to hub.)
- The car have had an accident many years ago - the right side of the car is 5 mm. shorter (he looked at the doors!). Bad bodywork.
- The subframe is NOT mounted precise - it is around 5 mm. wrong - probably because of the accident damage mentioned in 1.
- The front "eye" for the right tie-bar arm had been welded - but not exactly in the same place - it was slightly bent backwards toward the rear wheel.
- The unexpected error - the RIGHT hydrolastic arm had another profile and length than the left - he had never seen anything like that - he had to make a cardboard profile to be sure. But the upper right hydrolatic wheel arm IS different. Maybe an arm from a Marina or another hydrolastic car? If any knows about different hydro upper wheel arms please tell!
ALL the errors pulled the car to the right! And the errors sums up to around 2cm!
The remedy - ideally the front subframe should be removed - new holes made for bolting the subframe to the car. New subframe. Restored bodywork.
WELL - until my funds are big enough (!!!) - I have done the quick fix - ADJUTABLE TIE-BAR ARMS from Minispares. And I must say - there worth every EURO! These adjustable arms have made the car much, much more fun to drive! With a little trimming and careful adjusting they can help tremendously - and costs less than one hour of mechanical service..!
So now the car runs happily until funds are sufficient for that rebuilding.
Best regards and many happy mini-trips to all Minifans from cloudy and rainy Copenhagen!
Henrik S. - Austin Mini MKII Hydrolastic - in red.