After reading this post from Erik at Edge Motorworks, I decided to have a look at mine.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=65764
Well, with 95K miles on the car I was experiencing the same symptoms. Mine were shot, so we decided to replace them with the Powerflex bushings. Once he had the ball joints removed, the right side almost fell out, the rubber was that far gone. The drivers side wasn't much better.




The Powerflex Bushings are great! Hardly any added road noise, no added vibration and the car really reacts so much better to steering input.
Thanks to Erik, Tony and Will at Edge Motorworks!
Jim

 

much better huh. I can't believe you were able to wait that long. Did you get the rear bushings in too?

 

Not yet. Maybe next weekend. I want to take my time on it.
Been chasing down a weird clunk in the rear. Turns out my right rear shock went bad. (Koni Yellow) Tire Rack sent me one overnight and I installed after work today. Much better!!
Jim

 

Just built these

 

Greg,

I hate you .

Making your own control arms too?

 

Eventually maybe, but for now I am using the M7 control arms.

 

Very nice!

 

Very nice Greg! Thanks for sharing.
Jim

 

Is this a really involved project?
Better left to Pros?
Subframe to be removed?

Paul

 

In my case, Edge Motorworks has the BMW tool to remove the bushings without dropping the sub-frame.
I think 002 can provide a better answer.
Jim

 

I recently purchase a set of rear bushings in Urethane and was hoping to find an easy install.
Now I hear the bushings must be pressed in and out in the rear or perhaps in front and rear?

I hearing that this is an important mod that is needed in almost every Mini.
Maybe some of you that have done this or have had it done can help explain to a little mor depth what was involved.

Thanks,
Paul

 

Paul,
The fronts require some tools and comfort with suspension work.

The rear has a few bushings, so here is a list and what I think.

Trailing arm inserts
Easy install, cheap, and a noticable difference. Recommend and alignment.

Trailing arm (aftermarket) replacement bushing.
I haven't seen these yet, but i would prefer them over inserts. A little more work, need a press and definitely an alignment.

Rear control arm (link) busings
Make a big difference with adjustable arms. Mid level difficulty factor and would require a press or "rig" if using replacement bushings only. But why replacement bushings when full arms are only a little more money. Definitely alignment required.

I hope that is what your you looking for.

 

had these on my srt4, worked really nice.
no more wheelhop, much better steering feel and the control arm is free to do its thing...good mod to do on a front wheel drive.

 

My only comment about the rear trailing arm bushings is make sure that the new bushings allow the arm to move in as designed arcs. Some do not and make handling worse.

When bushings are pressed in or, they must be pressed out in one direction only - by design - and pressed back in from the same side, obviously in the opposite direction. All borings are tappered so that the bushing fits tight. If you attempt to press bushings out thru the narraow end, you will likely destroy the boring and arm.

 

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. I purchased some Urethane busing inserts for the rear trailing arm from Ireland and they weren't expensive - something like $40 or so - and was wondering what it was going to take to get them in. So they would go around or "insert" into the existing bushings to shore them up I'm guessing.
I didn't find much in the Bentley manual except replacing with the special BMW tool.

I'm hoping Scott from Central Coast Coopers (my suspension Guru) has found a solution for installation. I really would like both the front and rear bushings replaced completely with urethane ones.

Let me know if anyone has tried this lately.

Paul

 

What about the Alta PSRS
http://www.altaminiperformance.com/p...esponse-System

 

I've seen these but I'm afraid that ALTA's suspension stuff is focused on performance only without respect to interior noise. Their Rear Control Arms (heim joints) are a good example - I'm selling mine now - they just make too much noise.

Thes Positive Steering control bushings are SOLID which translates as nothing but noise over every bump, perhaps during every turn.

I'd wait til they've been out there for a while and see what others are "hearing".

Paul

 

Replacing these front lower control arm bushings is a job. The dealer told me they usually do it by lowering the front sub frame. I did mine by carefully slicing off the stock bushings, but it's a b**ch!!! If I had to do it again, I'd make my own bushing puller first. I installed Powerflex bushings which do seem to improve precision. On quiet (smooth) roads there's no appreciable increase in noise. On rough gravel surface paved roads however, there's an increase in noise. Overall, I prefer them to the stock rubber bushings. I also changed my ball joints while in there & installed modified factory front lower control arms for extra neg camber & track width.

 

BBR-GTi sytle!

 

dmh
What BBR-GTI lower arms are you speaking of? Very interested.

 

He's talking about the BBR-GTi "Power Grip" suspension kit... originally consisted of extended lower control arms, front springs & rear spacers. Unfortunately the kit's now been reduced to just front arms, but without any price reduction! This makes it very expensive, esp if shipped to USA, but the concept is a good one & the mod does help. I have an extra set of front control arms & was tempted to modify them but didn't think it was going to be worth the hassle unless someone else wanted them.

 

Thanks for the reply. I kind of remember this kit from a couple of years ago. I'm surprised someone here hasn't copied the idea.

 

Why? Because it's too expensive. In America we achieve the same result by utilizing camber plates and wheel spacers.

 

dmh

Thanks for the reply Don. Yes I know we us camber plates in the US, plus various other things such as offset bushings etc. Just thought someone may make different stronger arms.

 

Try Mini-Madness for arms.