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  #1  
Old 11-07-2009, 08:50 PM
loadtoad loadtoad is offline
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Vibration after lowering question.

Like many others I have the vibration under acceleration that came about after lowering my MINI (H&R Springs). I really would like to get rid of this problem and was curious if getting the JCW Suspension kit would alleviate/get rid of the vibration? Would be nice to have it back to OEM specs in case any warranty issues come up I am trying to avoid any unwanted problems down the road..

As always thanks for the input.


EDIT: I did have the MINI aligned immediately after we lowered it and am still running the stock tires.
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  #2  
Old 11-07-2009, 09:02 PM
bluefox280 bluefox280 is offline
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What were the changed values, if any, on the alignment specs after lowering the car?
Is it possible the week OEM lower control arm rear bushings are creating that vibration?
Is it at all speed related?

- Erik
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  #3  
Old 11-07-2009, 09:30 PM
loadtoad loadtoad is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluefox280 View Post
What were the changed values, if any, on the alignment specs after lowering the car?
Is it possible the week OEM lower control arm rear bushings are creating that vibration?
Is it at all speed related?

- Erik
Not sure what the changed values were. Will dig up the paperwork tomorrow and see if it gave a before/after snapshot. However they did say everything was brought back into OEM specs.

The rear lower control arms are aftermarket and it's not a vibration from them.

No speed really is not an issue which is why I didn't think it was a suspension problem at first. I get a vibration 100% of the time when under higher torque loads from acceleration. Just getting on the throttle will bring about the vibrations and it subsides as I let off the pedal. At higher speeds on the hwy you can start feeling the vibe come back in but normal day to day driving on a street you cannot feel it unless accelerating.
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Old 11-08-2009, 07:56 AM
Gilboyto Gilboyto is offline
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Mine is the same way. I have not gotten an alignment, but I dont believe mine went TOO far out of spec.

Mines mostly when accelerating in the lower RPMs in 1-3rd gear. It was really bad previously (I have H&R coils) and after raising the front up a few threads...it still does it just not as badly.
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  #5  
Old 11-08-2009, 08:05 AM
bluefox280 bluefox280 is offline
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Has anyone traced it to binding CV axle tripod bearings or the like?
If you're saying that when you raise it up slightly the vibration is reduced, something tells me that you're getting back into the efficiency range of the bearing perhaps.

With an intensive VW background, we've seen the same thing when lowering significant amounts.

- Erik
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  #6  
Old 11-08-2009, 08:12 AM
loadtoad loadtoad is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluefox280 View Post
Has anyone traced it to binding CV axle tripod bearings or the like?
If you're saying that when you raise it up slightly the vibration is reduced, something tells me that you're getting back into the efficiency range of the bearing perhaps.

With an intensive VW background, we've seen the same thing when lowering significant amounts.

- Erik

From what I have read that is exactly where it is. That's why I was curious if getting the JCW suspension should fix this? (putting the coils on was a temp. mod originally)
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Old 11-08-2009, 08:18 AM
bluefox280 bluefox280 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by loadtoad View Post
That's why I was curious if getting the JCW suspension should fix this?
What's included in the said JCW kit? Wheel uprights? Axles?
Will you be sourcing all OEM parts?

- Erik
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Old 11-08-2009, 11:58 PM
slinger688 slinger688 is offline
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What are wheel uprights?

JCW suspension kit is the F&R Sway bars, F&R Springs, F&R shocks.
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  #9  
Old 11-09-2009, 05:54 AM
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Mine does it too w H&R springs... i did get it aligned however, but its been like 18K miles and it still vibrates sometimes through second gear....

Like others said its the angle of the axles... Some said it wears in and stops vibrating, but i guess we'll see. Mine has seemed to improve, but on hard accelleration its definately still there.
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  #10  
Old 11-09-2009, 06:22 AM
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I'm willing to bet that it's not the CV joint angle alone. I have my car lowered an extreme amount (6") and I have no vibrations at all. I know there can be some variance between cars, but mine are at such an extreme angle that you'd imagine I'd be encountering the same issues if it were the CV's.

The VW's only have the issue when lowered an extreme amount too. Your CV joint angle is barely even changed on something as conservative as H&R springs which only drop the car 1.2-1.4". If you're curious, put your head under there and check your CV angle. I'd venture to guess that it's pretty close to level.
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Old 11-09-2009, 06:30 AM
BlckJCWGhst BlckJCWGhst is offline
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The JCW Kit May In Fact Solve Your Problem " I Too Dropped My Car On H&R's But I Dont Have Any Vibration, I Do Have The JCW Strut Bar Though So That May Help ? If Not Maybe It Is The JCW Components That Smooth Out The Ride With The Suspension Mod. Too Bad You Couldn't Borrow A Strut Bar From Someone ( If You Already Have A Strut Bar And It's Doing It With It On Then Disregard My Post And I Will Go Sit In The Corner In Utter Quietness lol )
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  #12  
Old 11-09-2009, 12:20 PM
bluefox280 bluefox280 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slinger688 View Post
What are wheel uprights?
Another name for a hub or steering knuckle.

- Erik
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Old 11-09-2009, 05:30 PM
drewstermalloy drewstermalloy is offline
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Do ALL the H&R springs vibrate, or just some? I was planning on getting them in the spring along with new wheels because I like how much the H&R springs drop the car. Are there better springs out there somewhere that won't make the car vibrate?
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  #14  
Old 11-09-2009, 06:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by drewstermalloy View Post
Do ALL the H&R springs vibrate, or just some? I was planning on getting them in the spring along with new wheels because I like how much the H&R springs drop the car. Are there better springs out there somewhere that won't make the car vibrate?
It's not actually caused by the springs themselves. It's an effect of lowering the car whether you're using one brand or another. For some reason, only some cars experience the vibrations while many owners never experience a vibration at all after lowering the car.
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  #15  
Old 11-10-2009, 03:20 AM
countryboyshane countryboyshane is online now
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No vibrations with H&R springs here!
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Old 11-10-2009, 12:35 PM
drewstermalloy drewstermalloy is offline
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Awesome, I'll go for it.
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Old Today, 10:56 AM
Gilboyto Gilboyto is offline
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The vibration when accelerating hard is a minor inconvenience when having to deal with how AWESOME your car will look

Ive gotten used to it...Like they say. Mine mostly happens in 2nd gear alone. I havent noticed it happening at a higher gear/speed
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