Had new winter/snow tires put on the Justa today. The cabin is finally free of tire noise, and hopefully my days of fishtailing in a fwd car are over, even if it was amusing.

In any case, I had an alignment done with the installation. Alignment is out of spec on the rear tires. I asked them why it was still this way after the alignment was just done. Tech claims there's a MINI factory tool needed to adjust the rear alignment on the R56, so that wasn't done.

The only tool Google leads me to is this one: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-.../83300494002/#

The description says 1st generation though. Is it the correct tool, or is there something different needed?

FWIW, it's the right rear wheel that's out of spec. -1.1 Camber, -0.39 Toe. Left rear is fine.

 

I did find this article HERE. It has a part number listed as 32-4-200. So yes, the tool is HERE with a revised part number. Look at the second paragraph under rear suspension.

Also, some really good info in this thread HERE, check it out.

 

That explains it all nicely, thank you.

 

Got the tool (took a little while due to special order and a minor payment hiccup), took the car back and got it aligned again. Handling feels much better now. If anybody in the central CT area would like to borrow it, I'd be willing to lend it out with a deposit completely refundable upon its safe return to me.

 

Thats the tool we carry,

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/83300494002/





Glad you were able to get it aligned. Were the tires cupping before hand ?

 

No special tools are required to do an alignment on these cars, people make "specialty tools", but they are not necessary.

FWIW: Adjusting rear alignment
16mm socket
24mm socket
Ratchet
Torque wrench
Medium size prybar

Front alignment:
T50 socket
Ratchet
13mm wrench
13mm socket
Hammer
Brass punch
Torque wrench

 

I didn't notice any cupping, just a touch of inside half type of tire wear on both the rear tires. From what I've read this is pretty typical on the R56. Both were at the wear bars when I acquired the car last fall, the right rear with a bit less tread depth than the left. Tough to say how responsible the alignment was for any of the wear.

 

Yes, they due tend to wear faster on the inside of the rear wheel. depending on how far out of alignment I have seen major cupping issues when dialed out. If you have that alignment will help with the tire only if they are newer, once they get the wear pattern its hard with alignment to have them come back to normal and they get louder.