How do I put the jack together? I'm trying to change my rims and I have no idea which piece goes where? I'm using the jack that was provided in the boot.

Thanks in advance

 

Check page 119 of your owners manual - they have a picture of the jack on the jack point.
I've never had mine out of the bag - floor jacks rule!

 

I dont have my owner manual on me I guess I'm just gonna have to wait for another day

 

You got a jack?? I didn't even get a spare tire. (Well... not in the car anyway.)

 

Hold on there Mini_Chan, here is a link for changing tires (and using a jack) on your MINI!
http://bobodyne.com/web-docs/robots/...ire/index.html
Good luck to you!!!

 

Thats aweful!!!
Hey wait, I dont either!!! That sucks!!!

 

The jacks provided by most car manufactures are for emergency use. You would be better of using a floor jack. Costco sells a real nice aluminum one for about $100. Harbor freight between $60-$100. Do yourself a favor and get the right tool for the job.

 

I agree, a floor jack is the only way to go, not just for ease of use, but also saftey.
But, if he needs to use the jack which was provided with the car out on the road, and has no clue how to use it (and no book), well, reading up prior to a blow out would probably serve him well.

 

Thanks for the site moodylewdd. I wanted to jack up my car to put some new wheels on. But I couldn't do it today because I thought the wheel stopper was part of the jack itself . I think my dad has a floor jack in the basement I just have to find it.

 

Floor jacks are a must -- but everytime I'm about to buy one, I spend the money on a mod instead . . . so I've used my MINI jack everytime, and never had an issue. I do, however, only use it to put the car on jack stands -- I would never get under the car if it's on the MINI jack.

 

I've been using this one for awhile now. Perfect for the MINI.

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...seBVCookie=Yes

 

Theres alot of bad reviews for that jack you suggested SayGoodbye. Did you have any problems yet?

 

 

Okay, I use the jack which comes with the Mini even though I have a floor jack. The Mini jack is easy to use and quick. The reason I don't use the floor jack is because I don't know where I can place it without damaging the underside of the car. Where do you guys put it?

It would be particularly useful to have a good jack point able to lift up both front wheels and another to lift up both back wheels as well as the side locations to lift up both wheels on a side.

 

 

The stock jack has slipped on me twice, once in an "emergency situation," and the second time on perfectly flat ground. With the stock unit fully expanded, I end up having three wheels off the ground. The car moves left-right as well as up-down. Tricky. Last time it slipped it left a nice dime-sized ding on the side and scrapped the black trim all to hell.

I picked up a $16 floor jack at K-Mart, works fine and I can trust it long enough to slip a jack stand underneath whenever doing work. I'm a total convert.

 

BlueBonnet, check out:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=105323

the link I give in post #14 on that thread should be helpful too

 

Thanks. Your txwerks link didn't work for me (store undergoing maintenance page shows so it may work later). It is the trim at the jack point which worries me. I'll have to investigate my stands carefully to see how and if they can fit at the jack points without damage.

 

I just bought a 2-ton floor jack from The Andersons for about $35 and it works great. I also got a set of 3-ton jack stands from Auto Zone for about $20 a pair and they work fine as well - I've had the car up on all 4 stands several times and it's solid as a rock - WELL WORTH the small cash investment, and it makes swapping my wheels very simple and stress-free.

 

I got a problem I jacked up the car removed the 4 bolts from the front tire but it doesnt come out. The brake spins with the tire. Do I have to remove the Mini cover in the middle to take it off?

 

I had that happen before. The wheel loosened up after I whacked it with a mallet. It's that old aluminum and iron don't mix thingy again...rusts the wheel on, so ya gotta break it loose.

 

It is stuck on the hub and you do not need to remove the center cap. You will need to hit it hard from behind to get it loose. I use a 5 LB sledge. If you intend to hit it with your foot from underneath then be sure it is solidly on jack stands.

Once the wheel is off I clean the center section with fine sandpaper or steel wool and spray it with lithium grease. Just a very little bit helps it come off easier next time.

This is a common thing not only on Minis. At least you are lucky that you are not on the side of the road trying to get it off.

Rich

 

Yep, same thing happened to me. I agree a whack or two (or ten ) should break it loose. Just make sure you hit the tire and not the wheel.

 

Very true, and, when you reinstall the wheel, add some anti-seize goop to where the surfaces meet. It's nasty stuff, but it WILL help to keep that rusting at bay.

 

I called my dealership today and they said they will do the rotation for free. So I'm gonna bring the car to them tomorrow and have them change it. Then that way I can do it myself as soon as its free from the rust.