I recently (about 2000 miles ago) installed an HSport 19mm Rear Sway Bar on my '05 MC. I'm running it on the middle adjustment setting and love how it keeps the MINI pointed into hard turns.

Since the install, I've noticed a whole lot more tire tread noise coming from the rear wheels. Between 30-40 mph it starts humming to the point that it sounds like I've got some sort of off-road tires on the back. Haven't noticed any appreciable degradation in handling. Might be my imagination because it's barely perceptible, but I can almost make out the start of uneven tire wear on the inside edge of my Hankook Ventus HRII 205/50-16s.

Is there something that could have been inadvertently knocked out of alignment during the RSB install? Hard to believe it's merely a by-product of the bar itself. I'm starting to wonder what my snow tires are going to sound like back there if I don't do something... Plus, I'm not crazy about premature wear of my tires.

The typically sage NAM advice is appreciated.

 

Well, first of all, you have H rated tires instead of V. Secondly ----------

 

Not sure how this is even relevant. I haven't come close to 130 mph (H), let alone 149 (V), and don't plan on doing it. Plus, the tires performed superbly for 25K miles prior to the RSB install.

 

It was good to see you in Madison, remind me what all your mods are in the rear? Did you rotor the tires 2K ago? if not when was the last time you did?

 

Hey there Dustin, as far as the suspension just the aftermarket rotors and pads and the HSport bar. I will confess that it's probably been 6K since the last rotation...I was hoping to last another six weeks or so until the snows go on...

 

Might need a rear camber adjustment if the tire is wearing odd it will lead to a bad tire at some point. Check your door jam, if your 05 was built in or after Jan of 05 you have the stock rear camber adjustment, if not you need a set of arms. I'd rotor the tires ASAP and see if the sound is still there if not then it's 99% tires, if it's still there then it's something more. How many miles are there on the MINI? My rear alignment went at 70K, added arms and all good.

 

Any time you drop the rear subframe there is a chance that it was not returned to the same position it was removed from. The swaybar itself would not effect the alignment but repositioning the rear subframe could.
That is one of the advandages of the Tarrett/Web style. If you cut off the stock bar their is no need to drop the subframe to install and can save the cost of an alignment.
Steve

 

Itch, it doesn't look like they make a set for the Mini, or am I missing something? Everything that I have seen while I have been looking says that you have to drop the subframe for the install, but I would really prefer not to if I don't have to.

 

It looks like you are attempting to Mod your MINI so it will handle better in the turns. The H rated tires will not give you what you want. The construction of the sidewall is different than the V rated tire.The V has a stronger sidewall and tread area that will improve the performance of your car. The misconception about speed ratings is it really is a performance rating and not really a speed rating and that is why MINI installs them at the factory. Yes, you should have the alignment checked and rotate your tires every 5000 or 6000 miles. If you like the Hankook tires, try the V4es next time. They are a performance all season tire at a very good price.

 

Mini's all have some negative camber in the rear and it's not adjustable unless you install adjustable control arms. The wear on the inside is, unfortunately, normal given the negative camber. I have the same H Sport bar on my '05 but with JCW suspension and the negative camber is more pronounced a with the attendant accelerated wear on the inside of the rear tires. Regular tire rotation is a must but it won't mitigate the wear, just spread it out over all 4 tires.
The tire noise is probably coincidental in that as tires wear they get noisier since there's less tread to wiggle around. The tires are on the ground more solidly and consequently noisier.
Itch is correct that the bar doesn't affect alignment but the subframe removal/installation could. The subframe is located pretty well and goes back into place quite well. I had no alignment issues after the installation.
The only quirk in the H Sport install I noted is that it impinges on the body seam just forward of the R/H bar bushing. The bushing cap hits the body, at least on my car. I adjusted the seam away from the bushing. It's possible road noise is being transmitted the car through the bushing cap if it's contacting the body.

 

UnsanePyro
You can get the Tarrett bar here http://www.tarett.com/items/mini-coo...sba-detail.htm I highly recommend their quality and service. Because this is a straight bar with attached arms the subframe does not need to be dropped if you cut the old bar for removal. An abrasive cut off wheel (available at your local hardware store) in a electric drill will have the job done in minutes. If you wish to keep a stock bar with the intent to ever go back to stock you can find them for almost nothing. I know that if I had dropped the rear subframe I would have gone for an alignment just to be sure nothing changed (granted I can be a little **** about those things).
If you figure in the cost of adjustable endlinks, infinite adjustability, very easy install, and no need for re-alignment the Tarrett bar becomes competitively priced. It also is very quite and one of the lightest out there.
Steve

 

Well, it's definitely the tires and not the bar. I completed a rotation last night and went for a spirited test drive this afternoon. All of the road noise I was hearing in the rear has been transferred to the front. At slow speeds I can now feel a "buzz" in the steering wheel. I guess I just pushed the rears for too long this year and should have been more vigilant about rotating them. With the tires off the car I was able to see the uneven wear. I did check out the HSport bushing caps as Mr. S suggested; they were pretty darn close to the body seams but not touching.

Guess I'll just live with it until it's time to change over to the snows. I'll order up and mount a new set of performance tires this winter and have them stacked and ready to go for next year's motoring season. It'll make looking forward to Spring all that much sweeter.

 

just had my RSB installed 3 days ago then went on a very spirited drive the day after. didn't notice anything wrong. guess i'll have my alignment checked just to be sure