MINI Cooper Project 25 : Clutch Replacement

[Wayne 962]

Anyone got any questions on Project 25 - Clutch Replacement for your MINI Cooper or Cooper S?

Here's a back link to the original article: Pelican Technical Article: 25-TRANS-Clutch_Replacement

-Wayne

[Nobbi]

Hi,
my clutch has worn out on the mini, a Valeo single mass flywheel clutch kit was installed 18month and 20.000 miles ago. I cannot find anything faulty to explain this short lifetime. Any idea what to check?
Can I buy a normal clutch kit or super clutch kit to work with the single mass Valeo flywheel?
Thanks,
Norbert

[JJ 911SC]

Wayne

Is it going to be out in time for a X-mas gift?

[MichaelLm]

I'm in the process of replacing the clutch on my 2005 R50 Cooper. While going through the steps to remove the subframe, though, I can't get past removing the ball joints. I've removed the bolts holding the ball joint to the steering knuckle, but despite three nights of spraying penetrating oil and resorting to using a hammer and chisel to try and separate the ball joint from the knuckle, I've made almost no progress. I tried removing the center nut out of desperation, thinking that I've already probably damaged the ball joint beyond reuse, and perhaps separating it from the control arm would give a better angle, but event that joint is frozen solid.

I rented a ball joint separator, but it seems like the generic tool doesn't help on the Mini. When I looked at the tech article on replacing the control arm bushings and ball joints, it shows the ball joint puller helping to separate the ball joint from the control arm, but I can't see any suggestions on how to separate the ball joint from the knuckle.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
-m

[gtxtom]

If you're talking about the outer ball joints, they're bolted into the knuckle using 2 13mm bolts on each one. Take those out and then there's a little lip that hangs out that you can get a chisel and a hammer (I've always used air hammers) and you can separate them that way.

[desloan]

Is there a big difference in the clutch replacement instructions provided in your article for a 2011 countryman S model mini?