hey i have been having a knocking noise when i make left turns. i was told to check the strut mounts. my strut mounts were shot on both sides so i just replaced them with some aftermarket ones from ireland engineering. the noise is not as loud but it is still there. any idea what this could be? i'm thinking it could be the cv joints??? help, please!! thanks.

 

We need more info.

Tell us any of your suspension changes, or modifications. How long has it been happening? Mileage? Was there a change to the car just before it started?

 

i have only had the car for about a month. as far as i know it is a stock suspension except for the ireland strut mounts that i just installed. the car has 85k miles. it has pretty much been making the noise since i bought the car but it has steadily been getting worse. i was also told this could be the sway bar???

 

OK. As far as I can tell, you may be referring to the Fixed Camber Plates that IE sells? http://store.nexternal.com/shared/St...t=products.asp

If so, those have been known to make the stock springs rub the fender. Do a search for them.

 

yep, those are the plates i got. so the new plates make noise?? that really sucks.

 

now the car also shakes a bit and pulls hard to the right. i think there is something seriously messed up in my suspension.

 

Don't drive it if you can help it! It could be something other than the suspension

 

IE had a problem at one point with the material use to fuse the bearing to the outside camber plate. I would check these and you can do so by using your jack to lift one side...ask someone to move the wheel violently and check for looseness. A bad bearing is typically easy to see, and dangerous to drive with.

 

What he said! x3

 

Ijust startedd to have a ping sound from left side I can't tell if its fornt or rear, sound more like its cooming from rear. Started when I tried mounting 225/45-17 tires, shop said they were too big, and afterwards sound started. It sounds more like a metal (ie: imagine lug bolt falling) object falling on pavement. Any ideas?? BTW: shop said tires rubbed on front shock mounts.

 

(I don't know where my posts went... I haven't logged in in a while...)

ryansoxfan, do you also hear the "knocking" noise over bumps? Do you have an aftermarket sway bar installed? The first gen Mini Mania sway bay has a tendency to twist itself and start bumping on the shocks. Other possibilities would be the shock mount or bearings.
As for the shaking and pulling to the right, make sure your lug bolts are tight on your wheels (this is an embarrassing story...)

howsoonisnow1985 - I thought 225's were too big for the Mini?! I have 215's and that's the widest that I could put on without rubbing... did you offset your wheels?
also, how do you like the ATE slotted rotors & the green stuff pads?

 

took mini into shop and the cv axle is shot! rubber boot was torn open and the joint is a pile of rust. guess i found the problem!!