Does anyone have bump steering issues with their mini? When I go on a overpass and hit a joint the car is all over the place. Today I hit one just right and it veared hard to the right to where I had to seriously correct it, not just let it straighten itself out. Any suggestions?

 

Yes, replace the crappy shocks and springs.

Koni and TSW springs solved that problem. (I also got rid of the crappy runflat tires.)

 

Ok that's what I was thinking but since I just bought it I figured I would ask the people that know.

 

And you're supposed to slow down on those joints.

 

Eh? Why? If you get good shocks the car just stops doing that..

 

Unless your car is lowered.. Or parts are bent/worn.. You should not be getting bump steer issues.

If the joint is on a curve, chances are it's just physics of a car losing traction for a split second.

 

I'm just too connected w/ mine. I'd feel its pain. Hate those dips & bumps.
Gen1s have stiffer ride & weaker top mounts. Reinforcement plates are a must have.

 

These couple joints are nothing major. I hit them at 80 leaned over on my ducati and nothing. That's why I asked if it was an issue known with these. I found a lot of info in the past on other sports car forums I have owned. This thing has kinda stiff suspension, so wanted to see if it was parts issues or others experienced it before I start tearing apart. Gives me a longer "got to get" list!

 

my all4 would do that with the stock run flat tires ... got rid of them and the bump steer is gone

 

Imagine the ride is a little better with the softer side tires even going up to 18's with lower profile tires?

 

What model have you got? If gen1, suspension travel is pretty limited compared to the 2nd & 3rd gens. If you plan to remain stock, Koni FSDs are good struts. Go over your suspension by kicking tires to check for play. Check all your bushes, ball joints & strut mounts. If you're lowering, do it w/ proper coilovers like KW.

 

I'll get some nasty bump steer on some expansion joints on overpasses like you described. I have lowering springs on stock dampers, so I think that is my problem. I'm debating between coilovers or koni yellows. I'm leaning toward coil overs because I like the ability to adjust ride height. Either route should alleviate the issue.

Do you know if your car is lowered?

 

i ordered mine with the 18 inch wheels, came with 225/45R18 pirelli p7 summer rfs ... they were brutal

i swapped them out @~7,000 miles for the michelin pilot super sports sized 225/50R18, went up to the 50 profile for more sidewall and as a side bonus, the larger OD (26.9 inch vs stock 25.9 inch) brought my speedo spot on instead of reading faster than actual

everything about the PSS is better than the P7 rfs!

 

I believe everything is still stock. It's a 09 clubman s. I am a v8 guy owning corvette, cobra, saleen, and such in the past so I am completely new to my little gocart. I have no idea what gen it is or r5?

 

You have a Gen 2, R55.

 

Thank you, now I can start looking for stuff easier

 

For what it's worth, I have mildly lowered KW2's supporting 16" performance summer tires (RS3's), and still get bump steer.

While better shocks and grippier non-RFT performance tires alleviated the symptoms at steady rate driving, accelerating over any road imperfections while turning even 15 degrees induces aggressive bump/torque steer. Basically, bump steer exacerbates torque steer to the point where I have to lift to regain traction.

My primary use-case is accelerating while turning over any road imperfections, not just going over overpass joints. I don't recall the latter ever being a concern, but then again I started with sports suspension ditched RFTs within 2K miles of owning my R56.

Perhaps, some of this is the price of driving a mildly torque-ye FWD car?

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P.S.: This is my first ever FWD vehicle after 15+ RWD cars, mostly BMWs.

 

Did you buy your Clubman S from dealer CPO or private party?

How many miles does it have?

Are you running Summer tires or All Season tires?

 

Carmax 67,000 miles. Not sure on tires

 

Just because you have coil overs, doesn't mean they are correctly adjusted. Mid corner jolts when hitting a bump are an indication of too much high speed compression damping. The tire hits a sharp bump, (expansion joint), and the wheel just bounces up, centripetal force slings the car out.

My car scared the crud out of me when it was new the first time it did that. I replaced the shocks with Koni's at about 3000 miles, and it has never done it again.

 

Getting rid of run flats put a complete stop to that nonsense on mine. Was kinda fun while it did it, but a little scary

 

At 67,000 miles, your Clubman S is out of warranty and at a minimum, probably had the tires changed.

If the wheel size or suspension was changed, that could contribute to the problem.

An independant Mini mechanic could tell you what has been changed, so you know where to start.

 

after lowering my car I have experienced major bump steer. on coils alone I had none. but after coilovers and other lowering mods it is evident that tie rod angles need to be changed. I am working on a replacement outer tie rod that is adjustable much like the mustang bump steer kits

 

I've noticed this quirk a few times when I'm accelerating hard into a corner and hit a small bump or uneven pavement (because I love NOTHING more than leaving tailgating SUVs in the dust going into on-ramps and corners). A manageable quirk, but it did catch me by surprise the first time it happened.