Any Mini Cooper owners in here changed your own clutch? (obvious vanity / information request)

N/A ^ | 24 July 2005 | Lloyd227

[Lloyd227]

Ok, so this isn't news and I hope the mods will tell me if this is a mis use of the service here.... but, Freepers are such a wide variety that I'm confident SOMEONE in here has likely performed their own mechanical work on a Mini Cooper and has knowledge stored in their brain that I could put to good use.

I have an 02 MC which I believe lost the pressure plate in the clutch last week. I'm just getting into the parts removal and haven't pulled the transmission yet, but the symptoms are like there is no connection between the motor and transmission.

Put the transmission in gear, release pedal (which feels 'odd') and nothing at all.... no matter what gear you put the trans in, no transfer of energy at all... motor just sits and idles as though it's in neutral, except you don't even hear any transmission noise.

So, I'm guessing that the pressure plate has collapsed and is making no attempt to engage the disk (or dare I say it, the transmission shaft has snapped or the differential has exploded). The pedal does feel a bit 'odd' (harder to push / more resistance) but it continues to travel up and down and has a bit of resistance in the feel. Not sure what a hydraulic clutch should feel like if the pressure plate is bad, but I sort of expected it to just stay down.

At any rate, the car has 55,000 miles so it's out of warranty and I guess I have to do this job myself since I can't afford the labor rates on a job this size.

My Bentley manual just arrived, and it appears there are two approaches to removing the transmission:
1: Drop the entire front sub-frame, including the entire steering/suspension or...
2: Pull the engine/tranaxle as a unit

.

Anyone have any advice before I get any deeper into the parts removal? Which approach would you / have you experience with? Are there any specific technical bulletins I should be aware, any cautions specific to the MINI, any chance I could get someone else to do this for if I buy the beer? :-)

[Lloyd227]

Seriously, would sincerely appreciate any advice specific to the Mini. I've changed a clutch before, but never worked on these and it looks "rather compact" under the hood.

Thanks,
Lloyd

[rlmorel]

I don't think it is a misuse-you see these types of requests on occasion.

I hope they make changing the clutch easier than it was in my old MG Midget...:(

That was a frigging nightmare.

[FreedomPoster]

Ask on a Mini forum?

http://www.mini2.com/forum/

[tje]

Check out this site: http://www.roadfly.com/

The forums for my old BMW have been great.. They have one for the Mini..

t

[small voice in the wilderness]

I think McDonald's is giving Mini clutches out in their next Happy Meals.

Just kidding...don't get mad...;)

[Larry Lucido]

After driving on the freeway in a mini-cooper, I would think one might need to change their underwear before they need to change their clutch.

[tacticalogic]

I can't speak to the mechanical specifics, but the symptoms you describe sound more like the release arm is bound up than a collapsed diaphragm.

[Lloyd227]

"Ask on a Mini forum?"

Been there, done that... while browsing some news it just crossed my mind that a Freeper may have some experience in this area and I intuitively trust people on this forum more than others :-)

The Mini2 forum posting is at this URL - No responses yet

I guess instead of browsing news, I should be down in the garage pulling wrenches huh? :-)
Thanks,
Lloyd

[John Jorsett]

If you don't get a good answer here. you might try doing a google newsgroup search.

[Bear_Slayer]

At any rate, the car has 55,000 miles so it's out of warranty

Out of warranty - already?

[rlmorel]

I think that is why some people buy them...:)

Seriously, my boss has one, and let me drive it...the thing goes like a raped ape!

[CrazyIvan]

I think tacticalogic may be on the right track. It sounds more like a linkage problem of some sort. I'm assuming that this is a hydraulic clutch like most are lately. If so, a bad piston seal at either end could have similar symptoms.

[Lloyd227]

"Check out this site: http://www.roadfly.com/

Just posted on roadfly, thanks for the advice...

Cheers,
Lloyd

[TXBSAFH]

Changing the clutch on a MG MIdget is easy. It is literally taking the half car a part to get to the clutch that is hard. Good luck.

[ChadGore]

After careful consideration I'm going to recommend a detailed 3 step process.

1) Sell the mini

2) Buy a new one (they're disposable!)

3) Drink the Beer

[Lloyd227]

"Out of warranty - already?"

Yup... 50,000 miles

Fun car to drive, but the warranty isn't what it should be.... Wifey just HAD to have one, so what else could I do? ;-)

[proudofthesouth]

I have a question: Are the Coopers American or British? I love antique cars and am always interested in learning about them. Thanks in advance.

[Lloyd227]

I've removed enough parts to see the slave cylinder and arm moving.... so the hydraulic portion is working.... have to remove more parts and go deeper....

Thanks,
Lloyd

[tacticalogic]

I was thinking it sounds like the pushrod has gotten loose from one of it's detent holes and is wedged in against the outside of the arm, or the edge of the slave cylinder.