I own a 2007 Cooper "S" that I put a set of H&R Springs on recently and off the line I'm experiencing slight vibration even though the tires have been re-balanced and also did an alignment. The vibration is more noticeable when I step on it off a dead start than gaining gradual speed. A friend of mine is experiencing the same exact problem with his 2007 Mini "S" that has a set of H&Rs. Please advise.

 

You sure the wheels aren't slipping a little bit? Harder to notice if the suspension isn't bucking like it did when stock. I have H&Rs also and I don't have any issues.

 

Double check that everything got torques correctly.

I know Adam at Alta was working though the same issue with someone a month or two back. Scour through the faults and fixes forum.

 

It might also be the CV's .....some cars notice vibration when lowering and some don't. It seems to really depend on the car.

check out this thread for some other possibilities: http://www.motoringunderground.com/f...ight=vibration

 

Yea, I remember that as well. There were two different guys and if I remember correctly, one is still dealing with the issue.

Worrisome for me since I'll be putting on a set of lowering springs next month, and am debating between H&R or Mach V... Yes, I know there are other users who have installed the H&R's and not had a single problem. But it's just a bit strange to me that I've read of no problems with the Mach V's.

Best of luck in getting everything fixed!

 

Probably because the Mach V springs are a little higher, or are less agressive.

 

msteadman,

People have had the same issue with mach v also:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co....php?p=1881969

I have the same issue 07mcs with H&R springs;
0-30mph vibrations are felt in the passenger front side.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=120956

I agree with RallyMini, if you look in some of the posts someone had their axles and cv's replaced by the dealer "fixed the issue according to them". I am going to bring my car into the dealer since I live close to one, I just haven't had the time yet.

 

Yea, they are a bit higher, just roughly 0.15", and softer.

I actually read that thread. However a a couple guys with H&R springs and the exact same problem starting chiming in, so I totally forgot it was initially the Mach V's in question.

Damn that wheel gap! I really want to get rid of it, but it seems the current solutions are a bit lacking. Well other than going to coilovers, which simply isn't in the cards right now.

 

My take on the vibration is this:

- It is pretty subtle. When a customer first brought it to my attention, I had to drive around for a long time before I could perceive what he was talking about. Some cars do it very little, some cars do it more.
- It seems to have something to do with the amount of lowering. I think any set of springs that lowers this much -- our springs, H&R's or others -- will probably have this same issue.
- My guess is that it has to do with the behavior of the bearings at a certain shaft angle on the CV joint. The joint may be "unloaded" and have slightly more play at a given angle, which happens to be present when the car is lowered.
- I'd guess it won't have any detrimental effects in the long run. The CV joints are always at some angle, and are designed to work at many various angles and loads depending on suspension and steering position. They're also pretty heavy-duty looking considering the small size of this car.

These are just my guesses. If I learn anything more concrete I'll post here on NAM.

--Dan
Mach V

 

I lowered mine and had the same vibration on the passenger side, it has since gone away, within about 1000 miles of driving. It was very noticeable at first, especially between 20-30mph.

 

Same feeling with M7 coilovers....only from 0-30mph...lowering set at about 1-1/4"...gets alot more noticeable with 3 people in the car!

 

I also experience the same vibration at 60 mph with my H&R Springs and passed that it is gone. Anyone else with the same issue?

 

I lowered my car with H&R and experiencing the same vibration, most on 2nd gear at around 20-30 mph. Any fix yet?

 

Wow, I have the exact same issue with my Mach V springs I just installed.

I was going to do some research, but just happened to stumble upon this thread. The vibration only happens between 0-30 mph. I notice that it is much more noticeable in 2nd gear. When I shift early into 3rd, the vibration is much less pronounced.

Only concern I have is if I take it to the dealer, they will just blame the any problem on the aftermarket springs....

Nick

 

The same thing as a few other have said. Its the CV joints being at a greater angle than they were prior to lowering. The R53 did it as well...my R53 was lowered, but I never really experienced the issue, although I felt a very very very slight vibration when accelerating.

A lot of times it will go away after a while as the CV joints start to wear at the new, lowered angle.

There is a HUGE thread in the R53 suspension forum that discusses this very issue in great detail.

 

Out of curiosity, do you all have stock suspension or sport suspension shocks?

 

I have a stock suspension with H&R springs. This vibration is annoying in a stop-and-go rush hour traffic.

 

Bump.

I have the same problem with Mach V springs installed with the JCW suspension. Has anyone determined the cause or fiix for the problem?

 

Has H&R with factory shocks now.
I had Koni FSDs on them when I put the springs on. I have decided to go back to the factory shocks with the H&R Sports and it is so much more fun to drive. It actually dropped the rear to about 1 3/4 inches over the factory and with the koni's was only dropped not quiet 1 inch. In the front now it dropped to about 1 1/4 inches. With the Koni's it dropped the front to just a tad over 1 inch. Go figure
But the vibration is not there now since I have had the factory shocks reinstalled.

 

We have still yet to figure this out. Some speculate the CV, some its an alignment issue, who really knows. But to me, there is no way Mini could design the car to not function in all angles of the suspension travel. Esspecially angles that the wheels will travel in normal daily operation (plur or minus 1-2" off ride height). Using this logic, things like alignments could be the issue, or a bad control arm bushing. When the new JCW car comes out, its not going to have this problem, right??

Anyway, if we or H&R can figure out what causes this we will make everyone aware of the solution.

 

You state that mini designed the vehicle to handle properly with varying ride heights of 1-2" while driving.

This is true, but,even if the design had a flaw and would shimmy at that travel, it would only be for a split second and would go unoticed.
but now that the vehicle is at a constant 1-2" lowered it is noticable.

I notice this myself while cruising on the freeway at 60+, but i thought it to be a tire balance issue. it's not enough to annoy me, but it is there. I'm thinking geometry issues to be the cause.
Something in the steering arrangement gets moved to low or straight, and does not work properly at the new angle.

Does the vehicle have a vibration issue when using a complete coil over assembly? I would think it would, because just the strut towers are shorter to accomadate the shorter springs. the steering geometry should still be off as with just a spring swap.

 

We have had 3 shop cars in the last 2 years, some the early R56 and the last one a new 08 R56. We have had springs and coilovers on all of them and never had the issue. So its a huge mystery.

Also for Mini to not design the car to be lowered is pretty bad. They, for 100%, know that a % of them will be lowered at some point and they must have designed around this. So i just can't believe it has to do with that. I think its an alignment issue. We still get calls once a week from an alignment shop asking how to align the rear toe, and front camber. To me, this is the variable with the vibration.

 

I agree with you, i have lowered many vehicles 1-3" in the past. mostly American muscle cars and street rods, but I always send it out for an alignment. Ive not had any complaints. i have done other FWD vehicles and had no effects on vibrations either. I would venture to say, it is more then likely an alignment issue.

sounds to me like the clients are bringing there cars to the "cheapest" alignment shops.
Thats why i suggested a performance knowledge alignment shop. they cost more but know what they are doing.

 

It's not an alignment issue, and it's not an install issue. We've lowered quite a few MINIs, and this vibration seems to vary from nonexistant to minor. We don't yet know the cause. But we have ruled out installation or alignment as the cause.

--Dan
Mach V

 

How is that though? It dosent make sense for just a spring by itself to cause a vibration. there has to be another factor involved dosent it? i mean, the spring just holds the weight of the car. it dosent know weather its a little taller or shorter. unless the rate is changed, even then unless its drastic, i wouldn't think it to cause an issue.

about what % are you having problems in this area? Any other types of vehicles? or just the mini.