So, I have the Cravenspeed reinforcing plates, but need to fix the mushroomed struct towers before they will bolt up. I know everyone says beat the towers back flat with a big hammer on a block of wood while the wheel is off the ground. But, to me, the strut bearing plate is still bent and will resist the attempt at straightening the strut tower. So, I am thinking that removing the strut, replacing the bearing is the way to go. While the strut is out, beat the tower flat.

This way, you are back to a straight bearing and flat strut tower before reinforcing with plates.

What do the masses say?

 

If you are going to go to the length of taking the strut off, I would get a couple of appropriate sized pieces of 1/4" plate steel, drill appropriate size holes in them to match the strut bolts and then use some grade 8 nuts and bolts to squeeze it back flat.

 

Correct! The mounting bolts would have splayed as well. I had to hammer down the bolts to remove the strut assembly. The OEM part is around $80 if I recall correctly. I went on a different road and got Ireland's fixed camber plates. Much more robust than the OEM piece. Have side by side pic's in my gallery. I figured if I was going to drop the struts anyway... And installed Koni's to boot.

 

well, prevention is obviously the best measure. i was one of those obcessive zealots who put on the m7 strut tower plates and bar the first week i got the mini.

aside from prevention i would go camber plates and strut tower plates aka "the sandwhich" after straightening things out.....your method is certainly more civilized/well thought out. my next step was bc coilovers as i figured i'd be getting the plates and shocks...and would appreciate a little drop. still trying to slow down on those mods good luck!

 

so basically anyone who owns an R53 can become a victim of mushrooming?? I thought this was only a problem in the first run of R53 and that it was corrected somewhere near 04 or 05?? Am I wrong in this??? What about running stock suspension vs. lowering springs/shocks or coilovers does that add to it??

Steve

 

it's fixed in the R56... no reports to the contrary at the moment. R50/R53's only have two inches of effective travel. Doesn't take much to starting riding the bump stops and start transferring loads to the strut towers. Put in lowering springs and you better hope the spring manufacturer has upped the spring rate. and the dampers will have to cope with a shorter stroke (OEM struts will not like this at all, though some recommend cutting the bumpstop in half to preserve as much travel as possible with lowering springs). And you better hope the coilover manufacturer has done their homework as well. most have higher spring rates than stock. so the answer is.. maybe. it also depends on the condition of roads one normally drives.