Jonn began his appraisal of our 1994 Rover Mini Cooper by charging the battery and conducting a walk-around inspection of the vehicle. The car was then placed on a ramp to continue the assessment. All grease points were lubricated, and the tyres were checked and inflated as needed. The rear brakes were stripped, cleaned, and inspected. The offside adjuster, which was seized, was wire-brushed and lubricated.
Further work on the offside rear brake involved heating the adjuster to free it, and removing it for thorough cleaning, lubricating, and refitting. The brake shoes and wheel bearing were reinstalled, and the wheel bearing was adjusted before refitting the drum. The brake was then adjusted, and the wheel was refitted. The battery terminals were tightened.
Attention was given to the exhaust system by securing the exhaust clamp to the gearbox mount. The spotlights and grille were removed, along with both front subframe mounts in preparation for replacement while the grille was off. Electrical issues with the lights were addressed by testing with a power probe and reconnecting the main beam wires. A faulty connector was replaced, restoring function to the lights, though the main beam light on the dashboard remained non-functional. A new ring terminal was fitted to the horn earth connection.
The stereo was checked, and all power and earth connections were correct, indicating the unit itself was faulty. It was removed for replacement. The interior mirror was secured. An issue with the washers was investigated, revealing a power and earth connection issue. Once reconnected, the pump operated correctly.
The front flexible brake hoses were attended to, starting with the offside. The hose was twisted, but attempts to turn it in place were unsuccessful. The brake pipe banjo and pipes were removed from the offside joiner, and the flexi securing nut was loosened to allow for untwisting. The assembly was then reassembled with a new copper washer, and the pipes were secured. The offside front wheel was refitted, and the wheel bearing was adjusted before installing a new split pin. The cap was refitted, and the wheel was tightened.
A similar process was carried out on the nearside, where the brake pipe was removed from the flexi hose, the securing nut was loosened to untwist the hose, and the components were reassembled and tightened. The wheel bearing was adjusted, a new split pin was fitted, and the wheel was secured.
The front brakes were bled with assistance from Big John. The reservoir was topped up, and a pressure check was performed, revealing a minor leak from the offside. The pipe was tightened as much as possible, and a recheck confirmed the issue was resolved.
A new stereo was installed, with pin positions in the plugs verified against the wiring. The unit functioned correctly, though the radio reception was poor.
