Good afternoon fellow mini owners.

Over the weekend I changed the CV axle along with the strut mount and the sway bar end link all on the passenger side. Reason I changed the CV axle was the boot was torn and started leaking, the strut mount was cracked and was making a noise while I turned the steering wheel, and the sway bar end link well because I was there and might as well. My question is now when I go over a bump or the road gets rough there is almost a thud that comes from either under the car or up stop near the strut mount. I doesn't sound normal at all haha. Is there a break in period or anything like that? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

No break in period. Likely something is loose. Did you drop the subframe? Recheck / torque all of the suspension bolts and mounting points.

 

Did you remember to tighten and torque the intermediate carrier bearing mount?

Just go back and double check all your work. touch every part, make sure it is secure.

Best of luck.

Motor On!

 

Also, what brand cv axle did you go with? I was doing research into replacing mine and found a lot of horror stories about el cheapo’s.

 

I just replaced the passenger's side axle on my 05 MCS, I had an AX scheduled for Saturday, the axle started to shudder violently on Thursday, the only one I could find locally was from Autozone-2 hours drive to pick it up, 4 hours spent trying to install it- the shaft and splines were 0.010" too large-POS. I missed my AX! I took it back and ordered a DSS from CARid, 3 year warranty and it slid right in once it arrived, identical to the factory one that I removed. Just be sure to get the carrier bearing aligned to the block as you slide the axle into place, the upper bolt is a PITA to get to. Check your lower ball joint while you're there, at that point its just the nut and popping it out to replace it.

 

Check periodically for leaks where the passenger side axle enters the transmission.

 

Speaking of passenger side axles...I am reinstalling mine. When the bolts for the carrier bearing line up, the shaft is about 1/4 from fully seating in the differential. See Pic. Is this normal? I don't believe the bearing moved while removing it.

 

Try again maybe. Verify its nice and square, then maybe it will need a few taps.

 

I have tried to nudge the carrier bearing to the right with a soft hammer. It moved about 1/8". Doesn't want to seem to move any more. Will the bearing slide on the axle?

 

As I recall there is a circle on the passenger side, at the carrier bearing. Did you reinsert it? If so, then the bearing carrier is in the only place it will go.