Fixed

 

Do you have any kind of suspension mods? How was the road surface? Were you going perfectly straight? Sometimes an uneven road surface will cause the car to be thrown off balance in hard braking, as does any momentum from a direction change. If the car gets squirrely going straight on a smooth flat surface, then the rear alignment might be off some. If you have the parts, a slight toe-in at the rear will help with braking stability.

 

no suspension mods, dry surface, 17" wheels.

I was just exiting off a down hill bridge although, car was i could say almost straight. I was definitely not doing any turning at the time.

Which suspension mods would help keep the car stable?

 

Type error in topic. Mods can you please change it.

 

Well, a set of adjustable rear control arms would allow the shop to set your rear alignment easily. For the front you could try setting them with a slight toe-in. Under hard braking the stock control arm bushings could distort and the wheels would tend to toe-out, possibly causing the wheels to grab and dart. However, if you get a set of performance control arm bushing, you can then leave the front toe at zero, preserving the sharp steering. This is what I did after having slight toe-in for a while up front. Not to say that it numbed the steering that much.

Also, make sure the shop matches the alignment right to left as best they can, with as straight of thrust angles as they can do. I wouldn't let them set the car up for crowned roads, that can cause some instability under hard braking.


I fixed the thread title.

 

It was almost straight, but you were definitely not turning?

You might have been startled by the car's reaction to being slightly off-balance?

Not saying suspension tuning isn't helpful, just scratching my head over exactly what the attitude of the car was when the brakes were applied hard.

On the other hand, I'd probably find a safe space, and just for safety's sake do one or two pretty hard stops - 50-30 or something. Just to make sure the braking system is balanced. It is not fun to be surprised...

By the way, ever tried an autocross? If not, it's tons of fun and a place where I have made all kind of driving decisions, with all kinds of outcomes (many comical) and not hurt anything. Even better in the rain...

Charlie

 

after reading this thread, doesnt look like any of that will solve the problem :(

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-braking.html

maybe only a handful of mini's have encountered this issue with the car? factory fault?

 

i applaud your effort to do a search. there have been several other threads on the subject. no one has come up w/ a conclusive solution that works for everyone. the problem is fairly common among MINIs that see significant track time. i've never felt like the car was going to swap ends, but it isn't comfortable. good luck.
greg