1969-2001 Mini Service & Repair Manual

Page 16

Every 6000 miles or 6 months

1•15

16.1a Lubricating the swivel hub upper grease nipple . . .

16.1b . . . the upper suspension arm inner pivot grease nipple . . .

16.1c . . . and the rear radius arm pivot grease nipple

driveshaft and attempting to rotate the wheel. Repeat this check by holding the inner joint and attempting to rotate the driveshaft. Any appreciable movement indicates wear in the joints, wear in the driveshaft splines, or a loose driveshaft retaining nut.

5 Although not actually part of the steering and suspension, the handbrake cable guides and the moving sectors on the rear subframe should be lubricated at this time to ensure smooth operation. There are no grease nipples, so the grease should be applied with a wooden spatula or similar tool to lubricate these areas thoroughly.

make sure the hose has not expanded and/or hardened where it slips over the fitting, allowing it to leak. 5 Check all fluid reservoirs, filler caps, drain plugs and fittings etc, looking for any signs of leakage of oil, transmission and/or brake hydraulic fluid or coolant. If the vehicle is regularly parked in the same place, close inspection of the ground underneath it will soon show any leaks. As soon as a leak is detected, its source must be traced and rectified. Where oil has been leaking for some time, it is usually necessary to use a steam cleaner, pressure washer or similar, to clean away the accumulated dirt, so that the exact source of the leak can be identified.

16 Steering and suspension lubrication

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1 Unlike most modern cars, there are a number of steering and suspension joints on the Mini which require regular attention. Provision for lubrication of these joints is by means of a grease nipple, to which a grease gun can be engaged. The grease nipples are located in the following areas (see illustrations): a) Steering swivel hub; two nipples, one upper and one lower on each side. b) Upper suspension arm inner pivot; one nipple on each arm. c) Rear radius arm pivot; one nipple on each pivot. Remove the rubber blanking plug to expose the nipple on early models. 2 When lubricating the front grease nipples it is preferable to raise the front of the car and support it on axle stands (see “Jacking and vehicle support”) so that the load is taken off the suspension. This will allow the grease to penetrate into the joints more effectively. The rear radius arm pivots can be lubricated with the car on its roadwheels if wished. 3 With the car raised and suitably supported, wipe clean the area all round the grease nipple and the nipple itself. Engage the head of a grease gun, filled with the specified grease, squarely onto the nipple, keeping it pushed fully home. Operate the gun until grease can be seen to appear from under the dust cover over the joint or from around the side of the pivot bushes. 4 When lubricating the rear radius arm pivots, a generous amount of grease will be needed each side, quite a bit more than was required for the front suspension joints. It probably won’t be possible to tell when sufficient has been applied, unless you look underneath at the inner attachment on the subframe, it may be possible to see it appear around the inner pivot; add a bit more if in doubt .This is a vitally important area on the Mini and it must be well lubricated.

17 Rear brake wear check

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The procedure for checking the rear brake components is the same as described in Section 14 for models with drum brakes.

18 Underbonnet check for fluid leaks and hose condition

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General 1 High temperatures in the engine compartment can cause the deterioration of the rubber and plastic hoses used for engine, accessory and emission systems operation. Periodic inspection should be made for cracks, loose clamps, material hardening and leaks. 2 Carefully check the large top and bottom radiator hoses, along with the other smallerdiameter cooling system hoses and metal pipes; do not forget the heater hoses/pipes which run from the engine to the bulkhead. Inspect each hose along its entire length, replacing any that are cracked, swollen or shows signs of deterioration. Cracks may become more apparent if the hose is squeezed (see Haynes Hint). 3 Make sure that all hose connections are tight. If the spring clamps that are used to secure some of the hoses appear to be slackening, they should be renewed to prevent the possibility of leaks. 4 Some other hoses are secured to their fittings with screw type clips. Where screw type clips are used, check to be sure they haven’t slackened, allowing the hose to leak. If clamps or screw type clips aren’t used,

Vacuum hoses 6 It’s quite common for vacuum hoses, especially those in the emissions system, to be numbered or colour-coded, or to be identified by coloured stripes moulded into them. Various systems require hoses with different wall thicknesses, collapse resistance and temperature resistance. When renewing hoses, be sure the new ones are made of the same material. 7 Often the only effective way to check a hose is to remove it completely from the vehicle. If more than one hose is removed, be sure to label the hoses and fittings to ensure correct installation. 8 When checking vacuum hoses, be sure to include any plastic T-fittings in the check.

A leak in the cooling system will usually show up as white or rust coloured deposits on the area adjoining the leak

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Check the emission control equipment (Section

3min
page 34

Renew the brake fluid (Section

1min
page 36

Renew the coolant (Section

3min
page 35

Renew the spark plugs (Section

6min
page 33

Inspect the distributor cap, rotor arm and HT leads Section

6min
page 32

Check and if necessary adjust the valve clearances Section

4min
page 31

Renew the air cleaner element (Section

4min
page 30

Road test (Section

5min
page 29

paintwork (Section

3min
page 28

Lubricate the locks and hinges (Section Check the condition of the exterior trim and

4min
page 27

Check and if necessary adjust the carburettor idle speed and mixture settings (Section

5min
page 26

Check and if necessary adjust the ignition timing Section

4min
page 25

Check and if necessary adjust the clutch return stop (Section

4min
page 22

Check the condition of the contact breaker points and adjust or renew (Section

5min
page 20

Lubricate the distributor (Section

4min
page 21

Check and if necessary top up the carburettor piston dashpot and lubricate the linkage Section

3min
page 19

Check all underbonnet components and hoses for fluid leaks (Section

5min
page 18

Check the condition of the driveshaft gaiters Section

5min
page 15

Lubricate the suspension and steering grease points (Section Check the condition of the rear brake shoes and

4min
page 16

renew if necessary (Section

4min
page 17

pads, and renew if necessary (Section

4min
page 14

Renew the engine/transmission oil and filter Section Check the condition of the front brake shoes and/or

3min
page 13

Check the headlight beam alignment (Section

3min
page 12

Section

4min
page 11

Inspect the clutch hydraulic components Section Check the condition of the seats and seat belts

4min
page 10

Check the condition and security of the exhaust system (Section Check the condition of the fan belt and renew if

1min
page 7

Check the condition of the air pump drivebelt (where applicable) and renew if necessary Section

5min
page 9

Check the condition and security of the steering and suspension components (Section

1min
page 5

necessary (Section

1min
page 8

Check the operation of the handbrake and adjust if necessary (Section

3min
page 4
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