Alright guys I really need some help from you guys. I bought my Mini a few months ago and decided to upgrade the suspension to close up that wheel gap. I have installed springs and coilovers on other vehicles and so I went ahead and installed my Tein springs. I have had them on for a few days now and am going in for an alignment in a few days. The problem is I drove it the other day and keep hearing this knocking sound while driving. I can't figure out what is causing the sound, so please if you guys can throw out some ideas so I can get this thing figured out I'd really appreciate it.

 

What kind of knocking noise? When does it happen? Where does it sound like it is coming from? Does it happen when you hit a bump? When you turn?

 

It's hard to explain the noise it's like a creeking knock its weird and it sounds like it is just coming from the front right corner of the car which is weird. The sound happens at weird times as well sometimes over bumps and sometimes not, same with turns sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't and I thought it might be due to hard cornering but it doesn't make the sound on hard cornering.

 

Well, if it happens when you corner, is it just when you turn right? I'd say it would be a CV joint. Also, did you replace the springs only? If so, you may have a blown strut. Mine is in the shop right now because of the knocking noise. It's getting the struts replaced as we speak.

I'm still learning a lot about my MINI, so I'm sure there are other members with more info.

 

Thanks for the thoughts it ran through my mind it might be the strut I was just praying it wasn't, but what can you do.

 

Had strange creaking noises once. Turned out it just needed some retightening. Did all visible nuts & bolts. Try & rule this out before going any further.

 

Sanity thanks for the advice, I jacked it up today and retightened everything i could find but the noise still persists. It's goin in for an alignment tomorrow so I'm hoping that it might solve the problem if not I might have to take it to the shop and have them take a look.

 

Did the alignment help? Are you getting a bump from the suspension bumper? Perhaps give my colleague a shout - jason@oxspeed.com. He will "steer" you in the right direction.

-Rick

 

A couple common clunks that can occur after a spring replacement.
- The top strut bolt (top of shock shaft) did not thread down all the way so the spring is a little loose in the perch.
- Sway bar end link nuts are a little loose allowing the link to rattle in the sway bar hole.

 

I hate to jump on this thread but I didn't want to start a new one. I've got an '04 Mini Cooper that I replaced all 4 struts on last summer. I also replaced the ball joints, inner and outer tie rods and the CV joint on the passenger front. Even before I did that I was hearing a clunking noise in the right front when I go over a bump, turn, etc. The sway bar links are only 2 years old and appear to be intact. I'm not ruling out that the right front is bad though. Anybody have any guesses as to what this is? Again, it's a clunking noise at all speeds when turning or going over bumps. Thanks for any help that can be offered....

 

Could be torn/ripped rubber on the front top strut mount. You can inspect the strut top rubber bushing from the engine compartment. Look for any tears/rips in the rubber.

 

Inner/Outer ball joint maybe? If you hear it randomly, but not during hard cornering, it might be because it is holding a load while you turn hard. When you are not cornering hard it is loose and can knock around. Other than that, check the top of the strut as others have said, and the control arm bushing.

 

The top of the strut mount appears to be OK. I'm going to put the car up this weekend to take a look at the sway bar links and bushings. From there I'll check everything else as suggested. Although I doubt it's ball joints. The outer is new and I don't think the inner would make this kind of a sound. The control arm bushing definitely would though. I'm hoping it's not that though.

 

It was the sway bar link. Appears that the lower end of the link was stripped and couldn't be tightened up. I put a new one on, drove the car, and no more noise!

 

Glad you got it solved with a relatively easy fix.

 

When I changed my springs I didn't fully tighten the top nut on the strut assembly. When driving it I heard clunking on bumps. Took them off the car and re tightened everything and all was good. Make sure you tighten everything up as mentioned earlier.

 

Didn't see you fixed it but I also had a similar problem. The nut on the link can get stripped and won't tighten fully even though it seems snug. It will clunk every time