Good afternoon. I just completed the install of my new Alta 22mm rear swaybar. I originally wanted to go with the NM but funds were slightly limited. Either way, Install was very straight forward and went really smooth. I was traveling some bumpy roads and noticed a little more noises from the rear of the car. I am wondering if the sway bar requires some break in time to loosen up? I can't see what would be making the noise i'm hearing. It appears to be somewhat of a slight clunking noise. Any thoughts?

 

Does Alta require any lube of the bushings?
Are the rear subframe bolts tight?

- Erik

 

yes, the sway bar kit came with a small tube of grease for the energy suspension bushings which I evenly coated on both bushings using the entire tube. every component removed for install were torqued back to spec during reassembly. I used the NM Engineering install sheet for reference rather than the included one from Alta. The NM sheet had all torque specs and had more detailed steps. With the NM sheet, it specified to only remove the right side of the subframe and just loosening the left side bolts about half an inch. It specified to NOT remove the left side bolts completely. Much preferred. I did notice that there was about a half inch of space side to side from the welded on washers to the bushings which i divided evenly before completely torqing the clamp bolts. I assume there should be a small amount of space required. The splits in the bushing are facing forward as well the way the stocks were.

 

When does this "clunking" noise occur? Or bumps?
Or during turn-in? Constant cornering?
There's obviously an interference or loose component issue that's making the audible noise.

- Erik

 

I may be overthinking it just a bit. not sure, it may not be a clunking sound but there is definately a sound I didn't hear before. I was hearing it on just bumps. once on smooth pavement, high speeds, corning, it was not there. Everything was tightened and torqued twice just to make sure nothing was left undone. everything went back just as it came off. There isn't anything loose underneath. One thing I noticed is that the slits in the bushing face forward and fro what i've seen online, most face backwards. Not sure if that would cause any of the noises i'm hearing?

 

Did you check to see if anything looked like it could be touching? End links near control arms?

I forgot to grease my 22 RSB when I first put it on, the noises were AWFUL! Much better now that I greased everything.

I know my bar was VERY close to the body of the car right near where the bushings mount to the bar, maybe something is rubbing there? I actually had to bent about 2-3cm of the body right there just to make the bar fit.

I might suggest really getting under the car just trying to see if anything is touching/could be touching, tough to analyze though as our cars are so small and things are so tight under there already.

 

Digitys, You might have nailed it. After crawling under the car I noticed the insides of the bushings touching the edge of the under body of the car. I will get under there and shave a bit of the rubber off and see if that helps. I'm wondering if it really matters which way the bushings go on the bar? looking at my wife's stock car, I cannot tell which way the seam of the bushing is facing. Would this really matter?

 

I tried to figure out if there was a front/back side of the bushings that came with it as well, I dont think it matters, espicially after you ratchet that baby down, its VERY snug. I dont think you need to shave the rubber, it was actually very easy for me to simply to take a crowbar and rubber mallet, then just bend back that part of the body a few hairs.

Worked like a charm.

 

Make sure your end links are really tight. They will loosen up and make a clunking sound if you don't have them very tight to start off with.

 

I noticed squeaking sounds after the shop installed my Alta bar. I made them look at it again, check that it was greased, etc. Still squeaky. Took the guy for a ride, he noticed it too. Left it with them for a few hours, they took it out again with someone sitting in the back seat. It turned out it was just the interior trim/back seat rubbing and squealing. That sounded like BS, but after being told that I could totally tell the sound was coming from inside the cabin. Felt like a jerk for implying they screwed up the install.

 

end links are tight. I created a bit of space in between the body and bushings. We'll see if that helps. I made my own RSD which really brings out noise that was once muffled with the seats and used dynamat to absorb the added road noise but it still amplifies the sounds. With the seats in place i'd probably never notice the sounds.

 

My suspension is still stock and I have an annoying low speed clunking sound coming from the rear, seems to be on the driver's side. I was going to try the Alta sway bar and end link upgrade, but sheesh, I can't bear the thought of more noise. I had a '12 MCS loaner from the dealer this week and while I hated the slushbox, it was blissfully quiet.

 

after driving the car more, I don't think it's as bad as I thought. It does seem to be quieting down a bit. maybe the bushings are working in a bit.

 

I suggest getting the Hsport bar they are quiet. And you only need the end links if you are trying to set the preload or corner weight the car. But if you do end up getting end links be warned that heim joint links can be very clunky. I suggest our WMW endlinks as they are quiet too.

 

So i'm a little embarressed to say this... after crawling under the car for the 3rd time, checking for any clearance issues, rechecking torque settings, I started to look at other possibilities of the noise i've been hearing. It ended up being nothing more than my torque wrench rattling, vibrating, hitting the plastic molding in the boot of the car. argh...

 

I just fixed three separate noise problems coming from the rear, the last one was driving me crazy -- it was a loud clunking sound that I only heard at low speeds. Turns out it was the metal exhaust shield edge hitting the lip of the plastic passenger side rear wheel well. I couldn't believe how much noise those two pieces made when they came in contact. I was under the car (not on a lift) and pulling the suspension down and releasing as well as getting behind the car and pushing the suspension down (and up) as much as could -- no noise. Started tapping on stuff and found the source. Maybe your wheel well got pushed around a bit during the install. Worth a check.

I also have a custom RSD, so I'm sensitive to noises, even after dampening heavily with Alpha Damp and Luxury Liner Pro from Second Skin. Can't make up for questionable design on MINI's part.

The other source of clunking turned out to be the rear bumper styrofoam, which has a hard plastic trailing edge. When I pulled down the wiring for the rear fog light, I didn't reseat the styrofoam tightly. That left a little wiggle room and the thing would flap about when some turbulance was stirred up. Also worth a check.