I am planning on fixing the strut towers on my MINI. I installed my m7 strut brace and found out that I have 1-2 mm deflection of strut towers. I was able to torque the bolts to the proper 25 ft lbs but I wanted to fix the problem before I finally install this brace and plates.

I would appreciate any tips from you folks that have done this fix. Stonger camber plates are next when I update the suspension.

Thanks all!

 

i havent had to do it on mine, but i would use a piece of wood,
large mallet and wack it a couple of times.

 

That's what I did to one of mine, right after the bodyshop supposedly fixed them (same situation as you....went to put the M7 plates on and one wouldn't fit properly).

Get a 2 X 4

Jack your car up at the corner where the strut tower is deformed (make sure the secure the car from moving) with wheel chocks or whatever.


Hit the top of the 2 X 4 with a hammer.

Works like a charm.

 

...and that's exactly what they do at the dealer if you took it in for repair - block of wood and hammer.

 

Thats what I did but first I removed the 3 nuts holding the strut to the tower. The strut will drop low enough so the studs will clear the holes but won't drop low enough to cause a problem. After doing the 2x4 hammer trick, I jacked up the wheel until the studs came through the holes, attached the STB and torqued to 25 Ft. Lbs.