so i replaced the struts and strut mounts on my 2006 mini cooper r50 did it myself (first time) everything was cool for a couple of days and now the rubber on the mount is bulging upwards and when ever you turn the steering wheel there is a awful sound and the top of the mount moves around like its trying to break out. Think like alien when they burst out the stomachs. WTF? anyone have any ideas
here are the videos of the driver then passenger side, passenger not so bad but my sound is from the driver makes weird stretching noise when turning...

 

Where did you get the new upper mounts from? I wonder if they could have been setting on the shelf for years, and the rubber has degraded? They shouldn't be bulging up like that.

 

i live in the middle of no where so oreilys was my only source for parts and these are master pro mounts cuz they were the only ones they had in stock that i could get for my time frame of getting this job done with my schedule. so is this something i did wrong or is it just and inferior strut mount.

 

It could have something to do with how you put the struts back in. Are they putting too much pressure on the mounts? Might be a good idea to jack up the car, pull the front tires, and go back through everything and check it out.

How did the original ones look? Were they all stretched out just like these new ones? If so, maybe there are some other suspension parts in the front that are worn out and putting a strain on the mounts.

 

the originals were cracked all the way around the inner part like they had been bulged up what other suspension part would cause that problem?

 

holy crap you think i over torqued the mount nut at the top of the mount? oh and what is that spec?

 

I don't know off the top of my head.....Did the struts get mounted back correctly? That's all I can think off at the moment.

 

yeah im pretty sure i put everything back correctly except for that torque spec on the top nut i do think i overtightened

 

The top nut torque spec is only 25ft/lbs if I remember right. Looks to me like the bearings in the mount might be seized from not being lubricated so the whole mount is twisting instead of just the bearings? Either that or you just overtightened the crap out of the top nut which would cause the same problem.

 

Did you connect the tie bars?

 

It shouldn't be happening at all.. Even if the mount's are completely screwed they shouldn't move like that… thats what the metal piece that goes between the "Pinch Bolt" is there to stop..

 

So everything was connected right but the strut nut on the top was loose enough for me to turn with a spark plug socket and a crescent so I guess they came loose is it possible for me to tighten with out taking the strut out ?

 

I'd try that before taking the struts off again.

 

Your control arm bushings must be shot.. Thats the only reason i can think of, that would make the strut tops move like that. If you can move the control arm at the bushing end (up and down, left and right, kinda loose..) have them replaced. In theory, you shouldn't have any "play" at the bushing end.

You can do it your-self, but, you have to pull the subframe.

How many miles on the car?

 

90100

 

Would the control arm bushings cause a vibration during acceleration at speeds greater than 50. ? Cuz that's my main problem

 

If the control arm bushings are shot, your inner and outer ball joints are probably worn out also (mine were). With all of those suspension components worn out, I'm betting that your front end alignment is way out of whack. That can cause all kinds of problems....

With those upper mounts bulging up like that, I don't know how much driving I would do. You would hate for them to completely rip out (is that possible?). And, it's going to wear them out really fast (if not worn out already).

To test out your lower control arm bushings.....stand in front of your car and kick the front tires backwards.....if you can see them more back, the control arm bushings were shot. When mine went bad, when I kicked the front tires backwards...they would spring back around 1/2"...not good.

 

There should be no movement however hard you kick the tires front to back if your LCA bushes are good.
Also check for mushrooming of the strut tower. At those miles, I'm definite you have mushroomed towers if you never had reinforcement plates installed. If you have it, straighten it out before installing your new strut mounts.
Genuine OE strut mounts are not great. Replacements, other than the ZF owned trio of Lemforder/Sachs/Boge, are worse. Some have upgraded to Ireland Eng'g's fixed camber plates or Eibach SPC's adjustable ones. Quite a handful go for coilovers w/ camber plates.

 

Oh Yes… To be honest, until you figure out the problem, i wouldn't go that fast ")

I have to ask, When you went to O'Rielly's did you buy OEM/aftermarket MINI struts? or just pick a set that fit the steering knuckle. Cause the wrong struts will pull the CAB apart. (pull the control arm "out" of the bushing) That could account for why it took a couple of days.

 

my strut tops make a big squeaky like that too. It started after I changed the tops and installed reinforcing plates. I plan to fix the mushrooming by flattening the strut mounts and reinstalling new top mounts bearings.
I think the mushrooming causes the mount to bulge quickly which causes binding of the bearing and the noise.

 

He said he bought upper strut mounts....not the struts. I'm guessing the whole problem is the LCA bushings. They allow the control are to move, which is hooked to the strut...so that allows the entire strut to move around when you turn the wheel...just like he's showing in the video.

I'm guessing those LCA bushings are totally shot.

 

Oooops, Sorry missed that bit…

 

thanks for all the responses guys i wont know much else till i get chance this weekend to jack it up and recheck everything but the info on LCABs is important, i just bought this used from a dealer on jan 24th of this year and i kinda screwed myself because this is my first mini so i didnt know all the tell tale signs of a bad suspension so the dealer wants me to bring it in this monday so they are gonna check it out too and help point me in the right direction , again thanks this community is awesome

 

Good luck!!