First, before anyone can ding me on it, I was using a torque wrench !!!!!

I was in the process of removing the front strut brace. I had put on 5 of the 6 bolts when, on the sixth bolt, it sheared off at about 25 to 27 Nm . According to my Bentley manual, they should all be torqued to 34 Nm.

So, is there any way to replace that one stinking, miserable, no-good excuse for a piece of metal, bolt?? Please don't tell me I need to replace the whole strut assembly:impatient !!!!!

Thanks!!

 

You need to replace item #5 the "strut top mount" on page 310-12. I don't believe the studs are service item parts.

 

Sounds like a good excuse to get some Adj Camber plates

 

JustGo4It is right. It is #1 (Guide Support) in this diagram.

I've sheared off a bolt too, and on the other side the threads were stretched so the plates had to be replaced on both sides. I had stupidly tried to use the same torque wrench I use for my wheel lugs. 34 Nm (25 ft-lbs) was at the very bottom of its scale, and the reading was way off. My mechanic said that at such low values, I should be using a torque wrench capable of foot-ounce accuracy.

 

Well, I guess that's not too bad, but it looks like I'll still need to take the whole assembly apart, get a spring compressor, blah, blah, blah. So it goes!

As for the adj camber plates, I like the idea but I was taking the strut brace off as I get ready to sell the MINI. Not to fret though....the GP will be in soon!!!

Thanks for the help!