For the last few months I've been feeling my steering wheel vibrate when going between 45mph+. I got the tires balanced many times, but the steering wheel was still vibrating. I finally went to a machanic, he checked it out and said it was the lower control arm bushing on the passenger side on the backside. So, has anyone had this problem? Also after lowering the car, will it void warranty?

Thank you

Kalvin

 

If you have already lowered your MINI then the dealer may tell you that any modification done to the suspension has affected all other parts of the suspension and therefore the warranty on the lower rear control arm is void. They can claim the lowered car now has put additional stress on the lower rear control arm which led to your problem.

There are various aftermarket control arms both fixed length and adjustable that offer more strength with better bushings and adjustability. Only the lower rear control arms need be replaced if you want. The upgrade doesn't really affect ride quality much but the adjustable control arms do allow easy adjustment of the rear negative camber.

Some rear control arms are lighter in weight than stock. Another idea is to find someone that has replaced their stock control arms and buy their left over stock parts for cheap. Almost as good as fixed under warranty. Who needs the dealer when you have NAM.

 

Before I had put any performance part on my car, I had asked a service advisor if I could put an intake on it and he said you can put anything on your car as long as it has nothing to do with electric. So, that's when I started to do add all the after market parts.

Thanks for the help, too.

Kalvin

 

i recently had my mcs tech'd for the upcoming driver's school and found the bushings on my rear lower control arms on the passengers side to be trashed. the tech inspector said it's an installation problem and i should take it back to them to fix it. but i think i'm gonna hafta order some bushings from the mini dealer.

btw, i had the h-sport rear control arms, h-sport springs and rdr rear swaybar all installed at the same time. ~1200 miles ago. so in no way is it a wear-and-tear problem.