Has anyone else experienced a slight shudder or vibration during acceleration after lowering. Last week I installed NM lowering springs and since I have randomly noticed a lil vibration from about 5 to 15 mph's. Is it coincidence that I'm noticing this or something associated with lowering? I have not gotten alignment yet so I don't know if that will make it stop. Thats coming next week. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

It's a fairly common driveshaft shudder from the different angle due to the lowering. One reason why I went with the JCW suspension which settles in less than a 1 inch drop.

 

Gotcha. but it's not goin to hurt anything right?

 

I have driven myself crazy over this vibration issue. I've been through 2 suspension systems. I decided to go with coilovers so I can adjust the height to a point where vibration is minimal. The vibration is caused by the angle of the halfshafts, but also their length. The only reason why only SOME minis have this issue after lowering is because it seems that some production batches of these shafts are slightly longer than others. When you lower the car, the shaft angle levels out and causes binding due to too much pressure on the output bearing from the differential. I've driven the car for almost 15k with the vibration (58k total on the car now) and I have just gotten used to it. Doesn't seem to worsen, although there may be long term effects.

Moral of the story...live with it or go JCW or Stock!

 

Lost my CVs.

 

What was your suspension setup and how many miles/lowered miles on the car when the CVs gave out?

 

1.5" approx lowered. Eibach multi- pros coils. Two sets. Lasted only one track day each.

 

Yikes! Knock on wood, I'll be ok for a while..

 

Sorry to thread jack...is the vibration pretty much a given when you drop it? I'm trying to figure out if I'm going to go jcw suspension or aftermarket. Any opinions would be great!

 

No, it depends on the car really. Total crap shoot.

 

Thanks. Should I just go with springs? Or the whole JCW package. Stealership is quoting me 3k for JCW install.

 

Depends on the condition of your current suspension, because there's no use putting springs on a battered stock suspension (not sure of your year and mileage). Don't go through the stealership for the JCW kit, that's robbery.

 

It's brand new. 450 miles on it. I maybe mistaken it should be 2k for JCW. Is that still garbage?

 

Oh wow, so fresh! To totally avoid the vibration (or any repair liability for it), stick to JCW. I think I've seen the set for 1500 somewhere. Plus install at a good mechanic, 400?

 

Isn't the kit only about 1k? Here is a link http://mini.sewellparts.com/oem-cata...SLCI-2012.html

Am I missing something?

Thanks for all your help!

 

There ya go, thought it was more. The trickiest parts of this conversion are the sway bars because the subframes have to be unbolted and gapped to slide the bar in and out. Still, I had a total suspension kit put in for about 400.

 

How was the drop? My main reason is to get rid if some of that wheel gap.

 

Just an update. I got the car aligned last week and the vibration is all but gone. Only notice it with I have 2 or more people in the car and even then it is greatly reduced.