Sorry to create another thread, but I couldn't find one. Anyways, is this a DIY? If it is, how long should it take?

 

Before I returned my Hotchkis arms, I read the directions and it seemed pretty easy. It looked a lot easier than installing a RSB. One downside may be getting an alignment which may be enough to convince some to have a shop do it as they could drive it right onto the rack afterward.

 

Yah, it just looks like 2 bolts and that's it. Obviously, the lower bolt looks like a cinch to get to, and maybe on open ended wrench for the top one. I'm no pro, but is it really that simple?

 

Pretty simple. I had to remove a brake caliper on one side. No big deal

 

I'm a lil' confused... you had to remove a brake caliper on one side so you can install one of the rear control arms?

 

Yep. Had a bit of a funky angle. Seen it on a couple MINI's. Thank goodness they're not all the same

 

My wife was told by an alignment shop and a knowledgable MINI owner she needed new rear lower control arms. I had won a $200 gift certificate at AMVIV from MINI Corsa. She drove to Danny's shop where he and a helper put the car on a rack. They replaced both sides(With new Helix brand) in about a half an hour, only removing and installing the bolts. Then it was aligned next door (front and rear!) in another half hour. By watching Danny, yes you can do it at home, but you still need to go to an alignment shop. I read about this before MINI Corsa did the work,which by the way cost us $75 on top of the $200 certificate.

 

Okay, I must be a complete dunce because I have no clue how to remove the upper bolt from the rear control arm. I can only get to the top bolt closest to the exhaust, but when I try to loosen it, the bolt moves. I can't figure out a way to get a wrench or socket back there on both ends to remove the top bolt. After installing my coilovers yesterday, I thought the control arms would be a breeze, but I'm stuck.

Can someone throw me a bone?

 

If I recall, I used two box-end wrenches.

 

Did one of them look like this? Because I can't fathom how 2 normal would work because the one in the rear (fartherst from the rear of the car) is hard to get to.

 

You would use an 18mm socket with a one inch extension.

 

just installed a set of ireland engineering lower control arms and it was a breeze. did it with the rear of the car on jack stands (safety first), top and bottom bolts/nuts easy enough to get to with socket, wrench, 1 inch extension. i actually pushed up just a little on the bottom of the wheel with my leg to take pressure off the control arm to get the bolts out. if you've lowered the car, you'll need to shorten the length of the arms. to get in the ballpark for less rear camber, i used a level and measured the distance from bottom of tire to top before starting, then shortened the arms a couple of turns, tightened, lowered the car, drove it, then remeasured. so easy i raised the car twice and readjusted. you may still want to take it to an alignment shop afterwards. one of the easiest mods ever.