MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 16:45

Title: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 16:45
Is there a knack to refitting the front undertray on the FL, the one that sleeves onto the subframes?
It's the first time I've tried to refit one on a FL and the sides won't reach up to the fixing points in the chassis rails.
I didn't take enough notice when I removed them weeks ago...
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Topdownman on April 23, 2023, 16:50
I found that hard too. It was some time after I took it off that I went to put it back and remember struggling and wondering where I was going wrong. Cant offer any tips though, just some moral support for your efforts!
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 16:58
At least you didn't just reply with the "I leave mine off" get out clause 😃
I was supposed to have it all back together this afternoon ready for going back on the road 1st May, taking longer to put the trays on than it did to swap the PS pipes and wishbones...
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: tricky1138 on April 23, 2023, 17:15
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 16:45Is there a knack to refitting the front undertray on the FL, the one that sleeves onto the subframes?
It's the first time I've tried to refit one on a FL and the sides won't reach up to the fixing points in the chassis rails.
I didn't take enough notice when I removed them weeks ago...

Under tray goes on before the front bracing. At least that's what I was told when the garage replaced my front sub frame.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 17:34
Quote from: tricky1138 on April 23, 2023, 17:15Under tray goes on before the front bracing. At least that's what I was told when the garage replaced my front sub frame.
What are we called front bracing Tricky? I was trying to decide from the drain holes and witness marks on the tray but they don't give anything away and I can't find it in the green book either 🤓
It's like it's the coolant pipes that aren't letting it go up far enough but I haven't touched those.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: tricky1138 on April 23, 2023, 18:04
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 17:34What are we called front bracing Tricky? I was trying to decide from the drain holes and witness marks on the tray but they don't give anything away and I can't find it in the green book either 🤓
It's like it's the coolant pipes that aren't letting it go up far enough but I haven't touched those.

The large flat (silver?) braces is what I meant.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: tricky1138 on April 23, 2023, 18:10
Post 4 shows the long FL bracing and the position of the under tray.

https://www.mr2roc.org/index.php?topic=70994.0
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 18:15
You're an absolute star! Whereas I'm a f@&kwit who's now got to pretty much take all the frames etc off again just to fit the bloody plastic.
Arse...
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: 1979scotte on April 23, 2023, 22:03
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 18:15You're an absolute star! Whereas I'm a f@&kwit

You're not the first and you won't be the last to do something stupid with a car.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 22:18
Quote from: 1979scotte on April 23, 2023, 22:03You're not the first and you won't be the last to do something stupid with a car.
I usually take photos before I launch in with dismantling stuff and it's the first time I've done an FL, I just misremembered which bit slid underneath the arms. 
Costly mistake in terms of time as it's now going to be next weekend before I can try again and I'm not sure how much I will have to take off again to refit the bugger...
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Mollydog on April 24, 2023, 04:38
well when I took off the Bin holding the spare wheel a few months back, there was no front under try on my MR2

we had the car repaired after my son slid on some black ice 10 years back, maybe the reaper shop never bothered to refit the under tray, will this be an issue?
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 24, 2023, 06:48
They're mainly for cosmetic/basic protection purposes to keep road filth away from the underside of the components but can also trap the same road filth against the chassis.
If you've been without one for the last 10 years I imagine you'd know by now if you had any issues...
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Joesson on April 24, 2023, 14:31
Quote from: Mollydog on April 24, 2023, 04:38well when I took off the Bin holding the spare wheel a few months back, there was no front under try on my MR2

we had the car repaired after my son slid on some black ice 10 years back, maybe the reaper shop never bothered to refit the under tray, will this be an issue?

There might be if you wanted the tray back,  that is likely long gone to a landfill somewhere.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Topdownman on April 24, 2023, 15:32
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 23, 2023, 22:18I usually take photos before I launch in with dismantling stuff and it's the first time I've done an FL, I just misremembered which bit slid underneath the arms.
Costly mistake in terms of time as it's now going to be next weekend before I can try again and I'm not sure how much I will have to take off again to refit the bugger...

I must have fitted mine back on wrongly then because I don't think I took anything more off to refit it!

Good luck....
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Joesson on April 24, 2023, 15:42
Quote from: Topdownman on April 24, 2023, 15:32I must have fitted mine back on wrongly then because I don't think I took anything more off to refit it!

Good luck....

I do agree, having  spent sometime under the front ( and rear) of my PFL recently I am pretty sure that the under trays  are independent of anything else and are a coverall for whatever reason and so would be the last items to be fitted.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 24, 2023, 16:53
Quote from: Topdownman on April 24, 2023, 15:32I must have fitted mine back on wrongly then because I don't think I took anything more off to refit it!

Good luck....
I've already refitted all the arms etc after fitting the wishbones and the wishbone screw goes through the naffing subframe so I'm hoping not to have to unscrew it but the law of Sod applies.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 24, 2023, 16:55
Quote from: Joesson on April 24, 2023, 15:42I do agree, having  spent sometime under the front ( and rear) of my PFL recently I am pretty sure that the under trays  are independent of anything else and are a coverall for whatever reason and so would be the last items to be fitted.
They won't reach over the subframes, that's all I can say.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Joesson on April 24, 2023, 17:10
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 24, 2023, 16:55They won't reach over the subframes, that's all I can say.

My car is 2002/ PFL all OE or equivalent (if SuperPro wishbone bushes are so)
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 24, 2023, 17:35
Quote from: Joesson on April 24, 2023, 17:10My car is 2002/ PFL all OE or equivalent (if SuperPro wishbone bushes are so)
I didn't read your initial comment properly, the FL front end geometry is different to the PFL with extra longitudinal subframes and cross bracing.
So also different undertrays, I've done my own PFL many times but this is my first FL.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: SV-3 on April 26, 2023, 16:04
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 24, 2023, 17:35I didn't read your initial comment properly, the FL front end geometry is different to the PFL with extra longitudinal subframes and cross bracing.
So also different undertrays, I've done my own PFL many times but this is my first FL.
Hi CTM
I had a look under my 2003 car at the MOT today.

The leading edge fits under the flat bumper plate at two positions (2 bolts?)

The trailing edge is secured across the subframe (4 bolts?) - it doesn't sit behind anything.

I have some photos if that helps.
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 26, 2023, 16:45
Quote from: SV-3 on April 26, 2023, 16:04Hi CTM
I had a look under my 2003 car at the MOT today.

The leading edge fits under the flat bumper plate at two positions (2 bolts?)

The trailing edge is secured across the subframe (4 bolts?) - it doesn't sit behind anything.

I have some photos if that helps.
If you could that would be smashing, please, although I'm not sure we're talking about the same cover but photos would definitely confirm either way 👍🏻
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: SV-3 on April 26, 2023, 18:10
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 26, 2023, 16:45If you could that would be smashing, please, although I'm not sure we're talking about the same cover but photos would definitely confirm either way 👍🏻
Ok, here you go:
(https://i.ibb.co/SnLsqch/IMG-20230426-142905.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SnLsqch)

(https://i.ibb.co/mSKrJSK/IMG-20230426-142955.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mSKrJSK)

(https://i.ibb.co/KVQX5pq/IMG-20230426-143053.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KVQX5pq)
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: Call the midlife! on April 26, 2023, 18:24
Yup, as I feared, although yours is an FL it's one of the first at 2003 and doesn't have the extra undermembers that mine does on an 06. 
But I thank you for your efforts, regardless 👍🏻
Title: Re: FL front undertray
Post by: SV-3 on April 26, 2023, 18:34
Quote from: Call the midlife! on April 26, 2023, 18:24Yup, as I feared, although yours is an FL it's one of the first at 2003 and doesn't have the extra undermembers that mine does on an 06.
But I thank you for your efforts, regardless 👍🏻
You're welcome.