I have had this car only for a couple hundred miles but it's been sitting since I bought it because it needed lots of little work that I am now doing, the car has 75K miles. My concern is the noise that comes from the passenger side. It's a clank I guess. Kind of sounds metallic, reminds me of a race car with a heim joint clunking over a bump. I can hear this noise just backing out of the garage and coming off the little inch and a half bump, or going into or out of the driveway....so it happens at very low speeds.

I have already put new struts all the way around, replaced the front strut mounts and fixed the ballooning shock towers. The noise is still there. The tires are bald and old so harsher than normal. I have new rims and tires that will go on as soon as the car is driveable again but I don't think that will make much difference.

The hydraulic motor mount is completely shot, a new one is on order but I don't know if that could be part of the problem or not.

I have checked the front suspension but can't find any looseness or severely worn parts. If anyone can suggest a good way to check these parts that would be much appreciated. The suspension is so tight that I can't seem to make it move at all . I don't know if I need to separate the lower ball joint and deal the the lower control arms by themselves to see if I can find any bad ball joints or bushings.

I want to take this car to Atlanta three weeks from tomorrow so I don't want to do elective work, just what is needed.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I have to go to chuch in an hour and will be unavailable until 9 pm central standard but will answer any questions anyone might have ASAP.

Thank you in advance. I've been part of many forums for Mustangs and everyone is always eager to help. I can't see it being any different for Minis!!!

 

Thread was moderated - approved it, and moved to Gen1 Stock Problems/Issues where you should get some help. You didn't say explicitly but I'm guessing Gen1 from some of the issues you described.

 

Yes, thank you. Its a 2005 Mini Cooper S. I have the whole front end off and am resealing the engine and doing preventative maintenance and a quick restoration so it's the perfect time to fix as much as I can.

 

 

Thank you I will follow your instruction as soon as I get out I the garage today. Much appreciated

 

 

 

I replaced the control arm bushings with ones from PowerFlex, I also went ahead and replaced the sway bar bushings and both inner ball joints while I was in there so everything attached to the sub-frame is new. When I finally get this car on the road again if the noise is still present it can only be outer ball joint or sway bar end link, which are both easy to get to with the car completely assembled.

 

It may well be bad motor mounts

 

I just replaced the hydraulic motor mount, others looked fine. Can't drive the car yet but I'll know for sure if the noise is gone this week.