Another thread got me thinking.

You see a lot of posts about changing the lower rear control arms. For understandable reasons for sure. Most of which are to improve handling.

Realistically wouldn't you want to change both upper and lower at the same time? Different bushing compliances would net you some odd behavior wouldn't it?

 

...hmmm, depends on where you want compliance. But, I changed all four.

 

I plan to but have been curious about the lack of conversation about this. We often debate minutia(usually a good thing) about many aspects of the MINI.
I just found it odd that this hadn't been.

Would you say doing the upper strut bushing at the same time is the right way to go?

 

This thread had a lot of good info regarding rear control arms:

Rear Adjustable control arm

Several members (including onasled) do not recommend mixing hemi joints with non-hemi joints, but manufacturers, such as Alta, do not appear to preceive it as a problem.

I would be interesting in knowing how many members are running mixed. I have had Alta lowers and stock uppers for about 3500 miles now with stock camber. With respects to handling, I can not tell much difference over stock.

 

Yea, in really thinking about this I would correct myself in the thinking that mixing upper to lower was bad. I tend to always think race or tracking. I think for the street that it would be OK.

 

That's also along the lines of what I was looking into. Is there a point where this difference is acceptable?
It's nice to say "it's OK on the street" because the potentially odd behavior won't be met frequently like on the track. The downside to this is, if the behavior is a bad thing then on the street it will show up when you need it least. i.e. Dodging cell phone soccer mom, broken down car on a blind corner, etc.

Thinking about this I might be leading to the question; "Is there a point where having different bushings is unsafe?"

 

I changed all four at the same time, and went with moly alloy heim joints to boot. The upper control arms allow for toe adjustments, the lower for camber. Both upper and lower sets are of importance to someone seeking suspension upgrades, especially on lowered cars. If I had it all over to do again, I probably wouldn't have gone the heim joint way, as there is NO play - you feel every movement of the rear suspension - great on a smooth as glass track, hell for the patchworked macadam, concrete and asphalt that passes for roads in the real world.