Exhaust bracket broken

[j53]

Quote: Originally Posted by nickw (original)

Hi, picked up my MCS 03 on Sunday private sale. Got home to find the passenger side muffler hanging loose with the bracket corroded through. Is this an easy fix and can I take it to any exhaust / tyre place to fix. Any idea on price, didnt think I would be spending any money on repairs just yet., only modding it.

Cheers
Nick

It's a piece of cake to fit, you'll need i think it was a 10 or 11mm socket and wrench, 2 long screwdrivers and some fairy liquid in a spray gun ( to lube up the rubber joints and where the bracket hangers attach to the rubber mount). have a look and if your mechanically minded it will be easy - if your not sure go to kwik fit but i was initally told by them that they wont fit any part unless they supplied it and at kwik fit they cant fit a cooper s exhaust/brackets since they dont make one yet! good luck tho...

[oldnell]

Quote: Originally Posted by j53 (original)

It's a piece of cake to fit

Quote: Originally Posted by j53 (original)

... if your mechanically minded it will be easy

That's perhaps where I was going wrong

[Leeszy]

Quote: Originally Posted by j53 (original)

It's a piece of cake to fit, you'll need i think it was a 10 or 11mm socket and wrench, 2 long screwdrivers and some fairy liquid in a spray gun ( to lube up the rubber joints and where the bracket hangers attach to the rubber mount). have a look and if your mechanically minded it will be easy - if your not sure go to kwik fit but i was initally told by them that they wont fit any part unless they supplied it and at kwik fit they cant fit a cooper s exhaust/brackets since they dont make one yet! good luck tho...

Just had the same problem on my 03 Cooper S (strap rusted through on the near side) and acting on the advice of "a piece of cake" promptly bought the bits (about £30). After 2 hours of hard sweat I have given up!

I can not get the brackets to pop out of the existing rubbers, maybe there is a tool or a special technique, but its hard work (even jacked with the wheel off) lubed up etc. The clearance is minimal and you just can not get the leverage to pop them out. I can see it would be a lot easier to fit than remove!!

Any advice would be welome.

[Leeszy]

OK..Decided not to be beaten and regrouped for a second go.

It is easy when you know how. I used a pair of "water pump pliers" to basically you push the bracket out. One side of the jaws on the rubber, the other on the bracket, loads and loads of lube and it works!!

The outside one is easiest with the wheel removed inside is a bit of a faff but all done now

Still the design is obviously very poor reading the number of people that have reported the same type of failure.

[oldnell]

Thanks for the update. I'll see if I can get such a tool.

Oli

[zoomie]

daughter hit a pothole - broke and rusted brackets, driver's left side. right side also looks pretty rusted.

What is a good source for exhaust hanger brackets and parts in the US ?
Thanks
Mark
zoomieviper@gmail.com

2002 MCS, Maryland

[mab01uk]

Try Minimania:
Mini Cooper Parts and Mini Cooper Accessories Online! MINI Cooper, MINI Cooper S, MINI Clubman and Classic Mini Coopers!

[zoomie]

Thank you , appreciate all the pointers I can get. I also found www.minicarparts.net
MINI Cooper Parts & Accessories Including BMW MINI & Cooper S Performance Parts at MiniCarParts.net .. good diagrams of the systems, and
so far good prices..
11.95 for the exhaust bracket - lower right or left
and 38.95 for the exhaust hanger bracket left hand - rear upper
and 10.49 for the bolt on exhaust hanger swivel bracket

so far .. still checking

I understand getting the rubber hanger off is a challenge, but do=able with lubricant and
a clamp press .

thanks again,
Mark