A little backstory:

I installed B14 Coilovers on my 2013 R56S some years ago now. After the install, which seemed to go smoothly, we took it for a test drive. There was a bad vibration coming from the drivers side front wheel. It seems as if the vibration is load and speed based because it intensifies under heavy load and gets faster as the vehicle moves faster. At first, we thought we didn't tighten the lug bolts(oh no!), but everything was tight. At this point, i am stumped as to what is causing this vibration so i call my shop and set up an appointment. First diagnosis is that the suspension is all tight and installed correctly and it has to be the axle. After replacing both axles with sneed4speed racing axles, and the vibration still present, we replace the long axle again(i think this is drivers side?). Nope, still vibrating. After this the following diagnosis's occur: wheel hubs/bearings, lower engine mount, tire balance, new tires, alignment. All of which were replaced/repaired, and the vibration is still there!

At this point, out of fear of messing up further i just have my shop reinstall my stock springs/struts. STILL VIBRATING. I've now owned the car about 2 years, done most of the stage 2 modifications, have a clutch and diff in my closet bought off a fellow NAM, and i have a car that has a vibration i cant seem to figure out, and my shop cant figure it out either. So its just a pretty depressing situation. It is my daily driver too, so having to drive it with this vibration really isnt my favorite thing. The car is still drivable but its just like a big hindrance to the enjoyment i get out of it.

I brought the car back a few months later and had them install prepressed powerflex front lower control arm bushings, in an attempt to revitalize my spirit in the car. It did tighten up the suspension, and for a quick second i thought the vibration was solved, but after driving it for over a year now, i am sure it is not.

My next step in the elimination process is to replace the whole control arms in the front along with the ball joints. I will probably do this at the same time as installing a new suspension setup.

Man i love the R56 cooper S, but finding professionals who know a lot about these cars is very hard and makes repairing odd issues a nightmare.

Welcome to my nightmare with the R56.

 

In addition to the control arms im going to do the tie rods too. Getting close to replacing everything.

 

Are you sure you don't have a bent wheel? Or more than one? Just a thought.

 

I have had the wheels balanced and rotated many times and have had new tires fitted and the vibration remains constant no matter where the wheels are located. This does however hang over my head and i want to get NM RSe05s in black just to cross that off the list. However, i really do believe at this point it is a tie rod, control arm(bent) or the steering rack that is causing this vibration.

I am trying to set up an appointment with my shop to get the tie rods and control arms replaced and a new alignment and tire rotation. Hoping that finally solves my issue.

 

Did you maybe knock off a wheel weight by accident?

 

I wish, that would have made my problem so much easier. Unfortunately, no, i have had the wheel weights and balance of the wheels checked over and over again.

 

Ok, let us know what you find.

 

With COVID-19 going on my shop isnt even answering my calls. I am trying to have the control arms, tie rods replaced, and tires rotated and alignment checked. I am hoping that will solve my problem as i think the root cause may be a tie rod. I am also wanting to get a downpipe installed and finally tune it to stage 2, but that is besides this thread :P

 

Find a shop with a Pico Scope. ( https://www.picoauto.com/products/no...g/nvh-overview ) They use a magnetic pickup with an oscilloscope to determine the frequency of a vibration to pinpoint the source. EVERY GM DEALER HAS ONE AS PART OF THEIR FACTORY TOOLS. I spent a year working on the GM Tech Assistance Line. Have you ever seen the complaints about vibrations on Chevy/GMC trucks? With a Pico file and software, i could diagnose everything from tire problems to a defective drum in an 8-speed trans. These things are amazing.

 

If anyone cares, my vibration has been solved by replacing the other engine mounts. Everything but the torque arm mount was replaced and she rejuvenated. Found out that my intake tube going to the turbo is cracked though so onto the next issue lol. It does feel nice finally after 2 years and many parts thrown at the car to say this issue is solved.

Cheers everyone