I thought I would post this to help some people.

I was experiencing a vibration while braking, I first thought it was a warped rotor b/c a tire shop over torqued one lug, tightened 2 and left one loose... I replaced the rotor and it when away... but returned after a short time. I feared a bent hub. The weird thing was that if my car sat over night the steering wouldn't vibrate under braking until I had driven for a while.

A short time after the vibration showed up with braking I was getting a vibration with acceleration. It would happen under hard acceleration on the highway. The steering would vibrate under acceleration and stay when I lifted off the accelerator going away after a short time. I feared a bent drive shaft.

When I moved to DC I had to go to a dealer for some old botched warranty work from Fl. I was told my Lower Control Arm bushings were bad. I recently replaced the bushings and all my symptoms disappeared. Funny thing is that my wife's MINI has the same mileage and a dealer told us the LCA bushings needed to be replaced which we did. Her only symptom was the car would follow the smallest groove in the road.

I hope this helps someone else and saves them from replacing rotors, hubs or drive shafts.

 

Good warning, It's not very common for the bushings to cause vibrations, but as you know it is possible and they should always be checked. And I don't need to say it but the Powerflex bushings make the best replacement.

 

Good to hear Joel.

 

How can a lay person check the bushings? I have no idea what a good set or worn set looks like.... btw, I love the Powerflex

 

You are right Joel, it can be hard to know if the bushings are bad until you get under the car and look and test them. I'm working on a video to make checking them at home easier to do.