Hotchkis sways- or a lesson in how NOT to realign a front subframe.

[mndsm]

So- as everyone knows, I had purchased a set of the Hotchkis sways a while back, and then realized I was WAY in over my head with the install. Well. the other night, Erik (rewedmiata) stated that Saturday, we were installing them. So Saturday, we installed them. And let me tell you, that is one SCARY install. The front subframe cradle needs to be moved down a good 5-6 inches. Once you remove the 4 giant bolts and the 4 little bolts, it drops pretty easily, but also at an angle. So putting it back is a pain in the ASS. It took us TWO jacks and a pair of snatch straps to realign the pig. (there's pics around somewhere). Oh, and a special "alignment tool" which was really and 18" Craftsman breaker bar, that I had thoughtfully wedged into a hole on the floorpan of the car, that actually appears to be there for the purpose of realigning the subframe. All in all, with a break to go fix yet another flat on the Mini, eating tasty pizza sammiches provided by Eriks' lovely wife joelle, and decided whether or not we should really do this because dropping the subframe scared the shit out of us both, it took like, 9 hours to do the front. Probably closed to 6 with all the other shit we had to do.

Back on the other hand, was 30min. MAX.

And let me tell you, HOLY SHIT do they make a difference. The car still rotates like a champ, but there is no longer that scary moment when the car wants to roll over on the back when you get it loose. She just sticks now. Even Taya was riding with me, and when I hammered the shit out of a corner, her IMMEDIATE question was, "What do you think these would do to the MINI?" That's how awesome they are. Anyone with an ms3.... needs these. And unless they REALLY like to fight with a car, they would do well to pay someone else to do it.

 

[dmention7]

What was so scary about getting the subframe back into place? Just the fact that you're fighting against the struts to get that shit lifted back up?

 

[mndsm]

No, that wasn't it, because I was able to shove it nearly back to the right height with just my hands. The problem was, when it dropped, it rotated counter-clockwise.... so the right front was nearly touching the front of the wheel well (you couldn't get a hand between the tire and the well itself) and the left side was touching the back of the wheel well in a similar fashion. We had to try and pull the right side back and try and get it bolted so we had a swing point to try and shove the left side back. That was probably the hardest part, other than the left side bar mount being right up against the power steering rack, and not being able to get a wrench in there. We had the craziest combination of bullshit ever hooked to a ratchet trying to get the back bolt in. And because they're mounted horizontally, you can't see a damn thing while you're doing it, so aligning it was questionable, to say the least.

 

[dmention7]

Ah, gotcha. Well, glad to hear you got that stuff done okay.

Too bad you didn't grab pics or anything... woulda made for a nice writeup. But I know how that goes, when you're trying to get your shit put back together before midnight, pics and notes are the last thing on your mind.

 

[mndsm]

I have all the notes, I could easily do a writeup blindfolded now. Hell I remember most of the socket sizes.

 

[dmention7]

Would I be correct if I guessed 12mm, 14mm, 17mm, a couple of 19mm, and a bunch of 10mm for the splash guard? lol

 

[mndsm]

Add a 21mm for the GIGANTIC bolts on the upper cradle mounts, or maybe it was the lower, you would be right. That fucker was a good 3 inches long. Also, no need for the 10mm for the splashguard, that doesn't move. And you need a box wrench for the front endlinks because you gotta stick an allen head in it.

 

[DrWebster]

ANOTHER flat on the Mini? Doing more burnouts again?

 

[mndsm]

Taya ran over a screw, and apparently drove on it for a little while, because the tire was cooked. Oh well, thats why they invented warranties.

 

[derrian]

I would like to get these for my car. So maybe on that install Erik and Tom can take more time for instructions since they are now pros at it

 

[mndsm]

These are worthwhile, Erik will tell you so. I'd probably be willing to attempt the install at least once more.

 

[Matt D.]

Good to hear, Tom. If anyone wants to get their car to turn a little better just add a bigger rear swaybar and you'll be amazed at how much better the car handles.