I went to a shop today to get shocks and struts installed and an alignment. They said they couldn't do the alignment because aligning a Mini required a set of 150 pound weights. That seemed odd to me. So my question is what exactly is the "official" process for setting the alignment on a Mini?

Thanks,

Ray

 

I contacted a local tire shop to do an alignment and I guess it does require a special tool. My local tire shop did have a tool and can do the alignment... Not sure of the process, but if you're looking for the shop... I have an appt to bring it in next week.

http://www.justtires.com/

I don't know if there is one in your area or not, but try searching!

 

There are no special tools that I'm aware of. They may have wanted the weights to "simulate" the suspension loading of driver and passenger.

I've had the car algined at a wheel works (won't go there again!) and Custom Alignement (local performance alignment shop). Neither place used special tools, but Wheel Works didn't do a very good job....

Matt

 

In Grassroots Motorsports magazine there is the alignement specification for better cornering speed for Mini's.

 

There's a BMW/MINI tool to make setting the rear toe easier, but it's not
absolutely necessary. Front toe just needs standard crescent wrenches.
Front camber and caster are not adjustable without aftermarket
camber/caster plates, and rear camber is not adjustable on early MINIs
without adding adjustable rear control arms, and only slightly adjustable on
late MINIs with oem control arms.

 

They'll talk to you, read your tread pattern, and adjust from there. Screw the "factory" settings.

Right now, I'm running -2 camber in front 0 toe don't remember castor.
-1.2 camber rear 0 toe, don't remember caster (but it's not setable either...)

Matt