E24 - Front Subframe Restoration - R53 Mini Cooper S

[@billcunningham8485]

Just did a similar service. My subframe luckily wasn’t rusted. I ended up ceramic coating the subframe while i had it out of the R53. PowerFlex bushes all around (purple not the black). I bought the lower control arm mounts already pressed in. My OEM originals were mint - only 42,000 miles on my new to me R53. Previous owner hit a sidewalk or something stable as it needed a new lower control arm on the right side. Was $80 here in the US delivered. Thats how the car was put up for sale - suspension damage. I replace all wear parts. Tire rods and inner and out ball joints as well. You were correct about keeping the front Anti-sway bar. I have read and heard on other KZbin channels that the 24MM is enough. Any more stiffness will cause the car to push through turns. I too will be upgrading my rear sway bar, I picked up an Alta adjustable for $20. Had it blasted and powder coated to be like jew again. Need to install that next.

[@automotivecc]

Really enjoying this series and following your progress. It’s giving me inspiration to crack on with my Mini project car. 👍

[@garrietaylor9519]

kudos on the MCM cap & great to see you back at it

[@spuriouspseudo]

Ace work! That looks super spiffy!

[@ZEV79]

Very good job 👍🏻

[@michaelsenkbeil3871]

Great job! Keep it up!

[@naimer420]

Good work, I'm in the process of doing my subframe rebuild along with the clutch. One of the sway bar mount bolts stripped on the way out...had to get one from the dealer...and also my steering rack bolts won't budge so I have to deal with that as my original rack is cracked...why do we like these cars so much lol?

[@RegardingAutomobiles]

The video is all cut up but I soaked the last sway bar bolt for about a week, from the bottom, in PB blaster and then still used a pipe on a breaker bar to get it out. I am shocked it didn’t snap.

[@andrewr920]

I am going to be doing the same thing on my R53 very soon. I'm not removing my engine but I am replacing the clutch and dropping the subframe. Where did you send the subframe to be sandblasted and painted? I'm going to be doing the powerflex poly bushings but the street versions.

[@RegardingAutomobiles]

Place called Surface Solutions. www.surfacesolutions2.com

[@DHEvans]

Good job tapping the control arm. How does the car feel on the road with this modification ?

[@RegardingAutomobiles]

Engine isn’t back in the car yet to test it out. Hopefully June-ish it will be alive again.

[@ZEV79]

Go Mini R53 hyper blue 🇨🇭👍🏻

[@randywilliams500]

Where did you get the front sway bar to buy?

[@RegardingAutomobiles]

Ebay!

[@donyel30]

I want to here it run watch my mini videos show u what I did to mine "minidonyel "