On my lunch break the other day, I started hearing this awful clanking noise. After lunch, I popped the hood and on the lower passenger side of the engine bay, I see something has come loose.

Finally had a chance to look further into it and it's a hydraulic part with a ring on the end of it and the stud it is suppose to be secured to is attached to the engine mount or something in the area of the engine mount. I am guessing there is supposed to be a bushing as well as the ring fits very loosely over the stud. I thought it might have been the tensioner falling apart, but I don't think I would have made it an hour drive if that was it. Car drives and runs great.

What is this part? I can try and get pictures...

 

If you have one handy, a picture would definitely be helpful.

 

 

First pic is of it attached to the stud.

 

And I am only guessing that's where the part goes to... lol

 

That's part of your belt tensioner

 

Pretty much the best price for a quality part.

 

From the pic, it looks like the bolt has backed itself out... Maybe just tighten it?

If I do have to replace the tensioner, how big of a PITA is it?

 

There used to be a bushing in there. You could just put a bolt back in I guess but the shock is going to move around a lot. It's possible the hardware store might have a bushing , I doubt but can't hurt to look.

Tensioner isnt too hard to change. If you don't have the special tool to loosen the belt it's just a matter of figuring out the best way to get it off. I use a pry bar. The bolts are easy enough to get off, it is a pretty tight fit getting it out though. I just loosen the motor mount a little bit to get some more room. A few guides are out there detailing how to do it

 

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarti...eplacement.htm

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...tine-belt.html

Couple of guides for you. I think they both over complicate things, but different things work for different people

 

I was looking at the Powerflex bushings that WMW has for sale. I'm thinking the bushing just degraded enough that it rotted off which allowed the hydraulic to come off. I believe I'll try replacing just the bushings first before I drop the money on a new tensioner. Plus, WMW is only a 30 minute drive for me.

Thanks for your replies!

 

We actually make our own delrin bushings to replace those. We find the rubber drys out and falls apart all the time, and never had good luck with the poly so we went delrin. These are the most cost effective option too.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-sup...shing-set.html

 

That's cool, didn't know you had those. Lucky Bernie lives really close to you too.

 

How on Earth did you drive an hour w/o the tensioner????

 

Very good question. And I was cruising at highway speeds with about 10 red lights mixed in. lol I honestly don't know, but this car has been resilient as ever. Hell, about two months ago, I drove a mile without the drive belt on the car (in limp mode) just to get it to a place where I could leave it for the night. I read on MINI2 that it was likely the TPS on the throttle body... Wasn't until I got to the parking lot that I realized that the drive belt had snapped and the car was overheating. Replaced the crank pulley and belt and he came back to life, no problems. I've honestly have never had an engine that's been able to take a beating like this and come out like nothing even happened. lol +1 to MINI for an awesome engine.

 

Well, looks like I know what I'm picking up on Friday!

 

No problem I keep many in stock, just order on the website and select package pickup and we'll have them ready for you.

 

Finished this repair and wanted to followup... Really easy repair once the passenger wheel and fender liner are removed. 13mm bolts secure the hydraulic in place. The bushings slide over the ends of a metal sleeve and hold the hydraulic in place. It was a blessing in disguise that the top bushing is the one that broke off. The bottom on is the one that could end your Mini's life... and when I replaced the bottom one, the bolt had backed itself out about two turns and only half of the stock bushing was left. The top one going prevented me having to deal with the bottom one being a disaster. Feeling blessed TBH. $30 fix and my Bernie is back on the road!

And I love having WMW in my backyard and will continue to give them my business!!!

 

Thanks, glad you got it back together already.