how do you remove a front subframe?

[Hans Efde]

Yesterday I tried to remove the front subframe on my Midas. The front bolts are removed quickly, but the aft ones are a pain. The subframe mounts are bolted to the floor of the car and many tools won't go in to get to the nuts inside. A pipe socket is too long. A socket and extender can go in, but there is not enough room below the floor for the head of the wrench. This morning I thought perhaps I can put a spanner on the end of the extender. Else I have to remove the mounts from the car together with the subframe. Is this a good idea or can it give problems with assembly again?
Anyone else who has experience with removal/installation of the front subframe?

[manifold]

Hi Hans.

Yes it can be a pain down there. Even more so if you lose the socket too! Magnets are your friend then.

I seem to remember using an open ended spanner on mine..... after using an angle grinder on the previous ones on the nuts....which were fortunately on the underneath outside of the car. Obviously all the fixings are now replaced with stainless steel now on mine as a matter of course.

[Rich]

I seem to remember a ring spanner saving me on this one.

While it doesn't solve your immediate problem I picked up a pair of plates for mounting captive nuts to for the Midas. I could take a template from them if you want or should be able to make copies if you prefer?

[Hans Efde]

Hi Rich, thanks for the offer but it's easy to make a template myself from cardboard if I go that way. I intend to do something like that for the bell on the steering column. Working with 2 spanners (one taped to the body) is a time consuming job to remove a few nuts and bolts.

[Geoff Butcher]

Hi Hans.
Obviously all the fixings are now replaced with stainless steel now on mine as a matter of course.

Wot, no Ti?

[manifold]

Hi Hans.
Obviously all the fixings are now replaced with stainless steel now on mine as a matter of course.

Wot, no Ti?

LOL

[graemedench]

I've just done this to mine and found a ratchet spanner tiptop. In-fact if you don't have a set I now after having then for a year a top priority tool. Make sure you get ones with fine teeth and you'll be onto a winner.

[Hans Efde]

Great, today I've managed to get my front subframe out. To get to the aft nuts I shortened a pipe socket:

So I could get into the subframe mount. I put a screwdriver trough the holes in the pipe socket and used a spanner on the bolt to break the torque:


With a screwdriver I was able to wiggle the steering column adaptor of the steering rack. But this was only possible after removing the straps from the steering rack. At last an empty engine bay:

And the dirty subframe outside the garage. I'll wrap it in plastic for the time being:


I hoped to reposition the subframe slightly because it's not symmetrical with the car, but it's not possible.The subframe mounts have fixed positions and you can't adjust them. That's a pity because the mount have slots so (apparently) on the Metro you can slide them around a bit.
Also I found it a pain to disconnect the steering rack. Reconnecting will be even a greater challenge. I think I am going to install the rack and connect to the steering column before I install the new subframe. When the subframe is in place I can bolt the steering rack to it.

[manifold]

Interesting to see you have a hydraulic clutch like me Hans.

[Hans Efde]

Interesting to see you have a hydraulic clutch like me Hans.

Yes, it was installed by the previous owner because he had breaking clutch cables. I thought they broke because it was a grey clutch pressure plate. When I stripped the engine down I found an orange pressure plate.The cause of it all was that he hadn't shimmed the pressure plate. He should have because the flywheel is a lightened one. Because there were no shims, the pressure plate could push too far, causing excessive wear of the crank shaft and regularly breaking clutch cables. This will all be solved now, but I still like the hydraulic clutch so am going to keep it. I only need to close the holes in the base plate because when it rains water gets through causing wet trousers.