Hi all, Just joined the forum at the weekend after collecting my 95 90 tdi.
A wee bit of history on the vehicle may help with answers.
It has been laid up for approx 4 years although it has been used very lightly offroad so it has been started over the period. It has 112k on it and i know this is genuine.
It requires a bit of chassis work, namely the rear crossmember and i have ordered a replacement off "Pressbrake" on the forum and it is hopefully on its way. The rear outriggers need replaced as well and i have been able to repair the front outriggers to a satisfactory standard.
I have noticed whilst driving it for a short distance that the brakes are binding.
Q. Are the calipers prone to the pistons seizing? If so, would a caliper overhaul be OK or would i be better replacing them with new?
I would like to fit a non standard steering wheel and i already have one with a boss from a 94 Cooper S on it. I have seen boss's advertised with 36 spline and 48 spline
Q. Does anyone know which would be fittted to my vehicle?
I have noticed a clonk when letting the clutch out. There doesnt seem to be any vibration from the drivetrain and a look at the rear trailing arm bushes where the go through the chassis show a bit of movement.
Q. Is wear on the trailing arm bushes common and how big a job is it to fit the bush at the axle end?
Lastly ( for now). There is a gap between the floor panel and the sill and it looks to me that there should be some sort of seal there. There is a seal riveted to the bottom of the door but i have checked online and i keep coming up with part number ALR6250 but i,m unsure if this is supposed to be fitted to the door or the floor. I have been thinking of wedging a self adhesive sponge into the gap (fairly solid and waterproof).
Any help and advice would be appreciated. Cheers

seal should be on the floor, newer ones have it on the door
Bigg Red for brake overhauls

Could be sticking pistons as it has had little use of late.Replacement calipers are available at fair prices, probably not worth doing seals as pistons are likely corroded after being stood some time.

If the brakes are binding it will likely need Pistons and seals in the sticking calliper. I have done all four callipers in mine, the allmakes kit with the Pistons and seals is good value, but if cost is not too much of an issue, you can get new callipers for not a lot more.

Trailing arm to axle bushes are common, and the arm needs the bush pressing or butchering out, and a new one pressing in. You can use poly bushes which can be fitted by hand but they may not last as long as original ones.

Try to use oe bushes as the aftermarket ones may be poor quality. (Avoid blue boxes)

My door seals are on the floor, may be wrong though as I fitted them there!!

SteNova said:

seal should be on the floor, newer ones have it on the door
Bigg Red for brake overhauls

Click to expand...

Thanks for that, brilliant site for brakes and info.
Re:the door seal, then i,m assuming that mine is correct in not having the seal at the floor and the gap between the floor and door is normal?

Thanks kez86.
I,ve overhauled a few calipers before on other classics and found them handy enough to do. The car will be used everyday so long periods of inactivity for it should be a thing of the past and i know that this is a killer for dodgy calipers.
I,m in agreement entirely with OE bushes as i fitted polybushes to the front of mini a while back. It made the car very harsh on the road so i ended up taking them out and using original spec ones. Dont get me wrong, there are some things that i dont mind polybushing but in this instance i,ll go with ordinary bushes.