I just noticed that my left rear wheel is leaning in way more than the right rear, like the camber is way off. I used a level on the outside of each wheel, and right leans in a little (expected), but he left rear, based on the bubble in the level is leaning way in. Visually noticeable (don't know why I didn't notice before). Stock suspension, 4,000 miles, no accidents. Car is going in for service on Monday for other stuff, and I'm wondering how they can correct this if the camber is not adjustable. No H-Sport rear camber links yet unfortunately. Can they use shims, etc on the stock setup? Car runs straight, so I hate to mess with alignment, but the camber just ain't right.

 

I believe the only year that the rear is somewhat adjustable is the '05.
If your rear camber is out that much on one wheel then I susoect that something may be broken so be very carefull! If it's a pre-'05 then there is mo way to shim or correct the camber. This is whay I would be concened that you might have a broken upper or lower control arm on that side.
Keep us posted please.

 

There have been a few cases of cracked or broken lower control arms on MINIs. If your wheel camber is "way off" on one wheel, DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR until you have it checked. In fact, I would have it flat-bedded in rather than driving it to the dealer; there should be no charge if you are still under warranty.

 

Please look at this https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...en+control+arm

 

I have an 03 MC and my camber/toe on the rear is different to both wheels. Left cambers in and toe's straight. Right cambers in and toe's in.

 

I have a set of stock 04 S control arms. PM me if you need them.

 

does that mean, the 05' rear control arms are adjustable?

 

ElonCooper,
Did this just happen or was this existing at the time you purchased your MINI and you just noticed it? Check tire wear on both sides to see if there is a difference- if so then this difference has been present for enough time to affect the tires.

Report this to your service dept. They will have to check the alignment to see if it is out of the normal range. If so then they will have to check all suspension parts and likely change the shocks/springs to even out the camber unless they can find something wrong with the rear control arms.

While there can be a little difference in camber from side to side (about 0.1 or 0.2 degrees), it should be pretty close.

For all MINIs from 2002 to 2004, camber cannot be adjusted at all.

Although you mentioned no accidents, Did anyone other than you drive the MINI before all this happened? Any curbs jumped/hit, any potholes hit? These can cause damage to your suspension not just from an accident.

 

past cuprits bending the lower control arms are:

the car wash drive tracks
binding the car to a trailer by lashing to the control arm;
any sideways impact to the wheel

 

Just dropped the car off for service. We'll see what they find on the suspension/alignment issue.

No potholes, curbs, or other means of enjoyment. I had to park the car away from my office building because of roof work last week, so I was walking to my car from a distance (straight behind the car). That's when I could tell the left camber was different than the right. Then I used the level to see if I was crazy or not, and it confirmed a difference. A slight difference would be ok, but current alignment will lead to inside tire wear for sure. I'll see what they find. Everything was tight and looked normal to me, and it rides straight.

 

Oh well, dealer said no problem found. I know that's a good thing. He said they didn't hook up the alignment equipment, but noted the tires looked fine, and no other problems found. And yes, not adjustable as folks noted.

When I mentioned before about using the level, laying against the rubber top to bottom, on the right wheel the bubble was just within the level bars, slightly cambered in. On the left, the bubble was pegged out of balance. That to me was more than just a slight difference in degrees, but I guess I'll just have to watch for tire wear. Maybe my level idea does not apply here, but made sense to me.

 

Elon Cooper,

While it's not an entirely accurate measure, your technique is valid for determining whether the camber is consistent from on side to the other or whether the camber is positive or negative.

This presumes the car is sitting on a (nearly) perfectly flat surface and that the suspension has been allowed to settle from being jacked up etc.

I think you need to give the Service Advisor a call on this one. If you wait until you notice irregular tire wear, it could be worn much more than you might like since the tire wear may accelerate once it begins.

If the dealer didn't "hook up the alignment equipment", they should have. Alignment issues too small to be visibly apparant are capable of causing premature tire wear. That costs you money. Did they say why they didn't put it on the alignment rack? Just because the tire wear looks OK? What if the problem just occurred and the tire hasn't begun to show irregular wear yet? If it's as far out of alignment as it sounds, you would likely have noticed earlier unless the problem is relatively new.

It's worth another attempt. Think of it this way: Once your tire is ruined and the alignment is fixed, your tire is still ruined. To add insult to injury, you knew there was a problem all along. You'll want to see an alignment sheet that indicates it's within spec.

 

the level method is accurate as long as both tires are on a level surface, equally inflated and you set the level to read off of the rim (with spacers) instead of the tire bulges. I use a "Smartlevel" that reads out the degree with respect to vertical plumb. as I recall, one degree is about 1/2" over a 24" level.

 

wow, wat a half-assed job on their part.

Tires can still wear flat even if the camber is off by 1 or 1.5 degrees.
You should take it in again and have them put it on an alignment rack.

Im assuming you don't drive your car spiritedly enough to notice the
difference turning left/right, but if you can eyeball the difference its
probably off by 1.5degress which is a BIG difference in handling.