It's time for me to pay some attention(and some cash) to the suspension on my car. I decided to go with Bavarian Autosport poly bushings for the front control arms.

Just pressed them in today, into a spare set of brackets I had...







...hopefully I can install them this week.
Thanks to Keith aka k-huevo for his insight on which way to press these, because the metal sleeve is offset to one side.

BTW...these are on clearance right now, and they also have some that are offset for more caster.

I'm glad I found them, because they also have the matching rear trailing arm bushings
for MINIs up to 3/2003...

...which I prefer over installing inserts. These should be on there way to me this week.

 

I didn't know anyone made rear trailing arm bushings. I've only seen the inserts. I'm interested in how they turn out and how they are installed. It must be difficult or else every other company would be making the actual bushing instead of an insert.

 

From talking with k-huevo, I just have to make sure that I don't deform the trailing arm bushing carrier while pressing out the stock bushings.

 

IE also has the RTA bushings for the early MINI

 

I looked on the IE website while doing my research, all I saw were the engine and trans mount bushings/inserts.
I think they may have removed them from their product line, plus I like having matching front and rear bushings.

 

You'll love your control arm bushings. I have powerflex...but its all the same material, pick your brand. But they are quite nice, very direct feel, instant steering response, confident threshold braking...and IMHO the ride doesn't get THAT harsh, I honestly barely noticed it.

 

Thanks for the insight about the ride...i'm sure these bushings will make a world of difference.

 

I've got the offset ones in my Cooper. They work very well. Of course, my most direct comparison was between the new bav auto ones and the old, worn out stock ones. So, pretty much anything would have been an improvement.

 

No problem...let me know if your experience differs.

Also, it does mention in my sig that I have RTAB's, and I do...they just aren't in the car yet. The bushings in the 05's are so small and dont deflect too much as it is, so I'm not sure I'm going to replace them for the hell of it. I'm probably going to upgrade to R56 alum trailing arms and do it then. Somebody total your R56 (not get hurt!) and sell me your rear suspension

 

I thought about the offset ones, but my car is pretty much all street. It's almost time for you guys to get the Brown MINI ready for the track.

I'll definitely post my impressions after the install.

 

Yep, IE is redoing the site and some parts are not listed, but they are still in stock and can also be found on my site. Bottom of this page, http://www.autoxcooper.com/ie_suspension.html

 

Man, your site is better than theirs. Thanks for posting.

 

Just received the trailing arm bushings today...





...man, I can't wait to install these!

 

I installed the front bushings today...wow, what a difference from the stock cracked ones. Seriously, the car feels a lot tighter. There is a tad more NVH than before, but not bad at all. I also changed the inner and outer ball joints while I had it all apart. The outer joint was a pain, had to heat the arms a little to get them out.

I won't do a play-by-play of the bushing install, because k-huevo already did one here...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...g-install.html

A few pics...


...in the press.
Pressing the bushings on the arms was a piece of cake with this thing. My friend who owns Nutmeg Tool & Products converted this press to hydraulic, the thing is nuts...



...one more, finally on the car...and all back together...



...i'll be doing the rears next week.

 

Judging by the size of the Rear bushings, thats going to be one hell of a difference!

 

I hope so...can't wait to get them in. 82k on the ones in there now, there should be a significant difference.

 

I installed the trailing arm bushings today, they were a whole lot easier than the control arm bushings... as far as the job is concerned. The trailing arm, with the bracket at the front and the hub/rotor still bolted on at the back makes for a very awkward assembly to get into place.

On the ride home I took some back roads with a few twisties...I can definitely go into the curves a lot harder than I used to and the car feels more solid.

Right now i'm running on 185/65/15 Bridgestone Potenza G009 tires mounted on steelies, and the car feels nice. Once I put my 215/45/17 Firestone Firehawk Wide Ovals on, then I will push it harder.

Anyway, here are some pics...


...left side trailing arm out and on the ground...


...bushing carrier still bolted to the arm...


...bushing carrier...


...stock bushing pressed out...


...new Bavarian Autosport Poly bushing installed...


...the other side...


...bushing and carrier bolted back on the arm...


...the back side...


...and back in the car, just have to finish bolting everything back together and this side is done.

 

But what is the deal with these rear trailing arm bushings on cars made after June 1, 2003? What I do for my 2004 MCS built in March 2004?

 

Apparently after 5/2003, MINI started using the "small" trailing arm bushing, such as the ones in your car. Not sure as to why the change...and I haven't heard about any issues with either design.

Powerflex makes an actual bushing replacement for the later design...
http://store.powerflexusa.com/shared...t=products.asp

...and MiniMadness makes some poly inserts...
http://www.mini-madness.com/index.as...ROD&ProdID=324

 

Thanks!

 

Those ones from MM are actually the same as the Powerflex's...I believe both are full replacements...thats just how small the later versions are.

Having looked at my own powerflex replacements they look identical, and having looked at the stock trailing arm bushing, there didn't appear to be anywhere to insert these bushings...hence I assume they are replacements

 

driving impressions?

 

where do you get them?

i found the rear trailing arms on bavauto
but where did you get the fronts?

-Ricky

 

Thanks for clearing that up...the Madness description is very misleading...

Like I posted above...the car feels more solid now, and I can go into the curves more aggressively. Once I get my summer tires on, I will push it harder to really get the feel of these front and rear bushings.

 

After you put in your year and model on the homepage, click on "clearance items" on the left, then click on "performance parts" and scroll down.