Hi Fellow Motorers!

I moved to New Jersey about six months ago, and the roads here aren't always the best. I've hit my fair share of chug holes, and now I feel like something is just not right. Just so you know I've had the M7 strut tower brace installed pretty much since I bought it.

Anyway, I feel a wobble through the steering wheel when I turn...the faster I'm going...the more obvious it is...and it's only when I turn. (possibly a wheel bearing? Or could it be something worse?)

I took it into a shop that works on MINIs before moving to Jersey. (That was 6 months ago.) Had them check it over. They said the brakes/suspension were fine.

Anyway, I'm going to end up taking it in to have it looked at. I bought my MINI new in 06. Like I said I've never replaced the shock/struts or the brakes. (77,000 miles) Should I begin to consider getting that done? How can you tell when the shock/struts need replacing?

 

Check your lower control arm bushing, sway bar endlinks, sway bar bushings and tie rods. Here is how to check the wheel bearing to save you some money from taking it to a shop

1. Jack up your vehicle.
   Support it on jack stands.
2. Without getting under the vehicle, grasp each wheel at the top and bottom and attempt to rock it.
   There should be minimal movement. Excessive play may indicate that the wheel bearing is worn and needs adjustment or replacement.
3. Put the gearshift in Neutral and Rotate the wheel.
4. Listen for any unusual noise and feel for any roughness as it rotates, which may indicate that the bearing is damaged and needs to be replaced.

 

Bounce the front suspension for your first test. Do this by placing a knee on the front bumper and then distributing your weight to that knee. Lean your weight onto the knee and bounce the vehicle downward to get it rocking. After the vehicle is bouncing on its own, stop and step away and try to count how many times it bounces after you stopped. More than two bounces in an up and down motion is considered weak.

Take the vehicle for a drive and choose a bumpy road. Look for bounciness and poor suspension handling, and listen for a clunking noise up front. This could be an indication of the strut(s) bottoming out while maneuvering. Relatively small bumps that create clunking in the front end or strut is a clear indication of weakness.
Look at the front of your vehicle to see if one side leans in more than the other. This might be an indication there is at least one weak strut in the front.

Placethe vehicle in Park on a paved, level driveway or in a garage. Apply the parking brake and place a wheel chock behind one of the rear tires. Lift the front end, one side at a time (you don't have to lift the entire axle), using the floor jack. Place the jack stand in a safe place. Inspect and touch the shaft and housing of the strut. Check for signs of the hydraulic fluid from inside the strut leaking out on the shaft of the strut. It will have an oily feel. If you live on or drive on dirt or dusty roads, caked-on dirt, sand and grime are another telltale sign it's leaking. Although you can't tell how much fluid is left inside the strut, a leaking strut won't stop leaking and should be replaced soon. Also, run your hands up and down the coil spring and check for broken or snapped springs.

Lift and check the strut on the other side. Just because one strut is or isn't leaking doesn't mean the other one will be in the same shape. However, it's always recommended to replace any suspension components in pairs.