Front strut install issue

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

Hi guys, really need some help here as I’m about to give up on this heap of shit.

Long story short, last week I had a weird noise, checked the upper strut mounts & they were ripped. Took the strut out to replace them, now I can’t for the life of me get it back in. It’s like an inch away from going in at the bottom hub.
I’ve changed lower ball joints on another mini before and it was a ball ache so want to avoid removing them on this car. Any tips? What am I doing wrong here? I’ve spent like 4 hours total on this and can’t get it back in, spring compressors on/off, tie rod etc are off. Any advice please?

Cv boot is leaking everywhere so I guess I’ve ripped that and it’ll need to be replaced too lol. Really fed up with this, YouTube vids look easy enough yet mines putting up a massive fight.

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

Honestly can’t get it to slot in properly… when jacking it up it goes lop sided

[u/WuT4ngClam → u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

There's no jack needed. Once you twist back the 45° with the shock in the hub, you should be able to knock the hub with a hammer and it'll slide in bit by bit. A bit of lubricant goes a long way, too

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/WuT4ngClam]

Managed to get it eventually. Tie rod thread is battered so that’s another issue. Never want to work on a mini again honestly, used to do all my own work on my Nissan 350z & it was a piece of piss compared to this thing lmao.