1st Gen R50 Cooper Clunk from the front right?

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by Thinker, Dec 31, 2012.

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  1. Thinker

    Thinker New Member

    Sep 14, 2009
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    Two new issues with the MINI. Background on the car – 2004 R50, I am the original owner, new coil-over front and rear at the end of September. Anyway, about a week ago, there is a heavy metal clunk started coming from the front right corner of the car. Now with me doing the work changing over the suspension bits, I thought that something worked it’s way loose.

    Car up on jack stands, front left tire off. Front left end link slightly loose.

    Front left end link tightened.

    Clunk remains.

    The clunk comes when the suspension is moving, every time when that corner becomes unloaded. When going over a speed bump, no clunk. There is the clunk after the unload then load, so a clunk-clunk. So, I have checked everything that I can, nothing moves, even when on the jack stands. I am perplexed. Another interesting thing, when the car is in gear, the wheels can freely turn – nearly certain this isn’t supposed to happen.

    So, could it be a bushing gone bad? Control arm bushings, motor mount bushings, transmission mount bushings? Any ideas?
     
  2. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    Jan 5, 2010
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    :cornut: If the 'clunk' is coming from the RIGHT front then you should have checked it out while you were checking and tightening the LEFT side.:Thumbsup:

    Jason
     
  3. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    Jul 31, 2009
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    With weight on the wheels check the center nut on top of the struts. Make sure it's tight.
    Check the front motor mount if there is black oil under it then it needs to be replaced. I have seen these cause a clunking noise.
    It sounds like you have checked the sway bar ends if not make sure there not worn. With the front of the car on jack stands if you kick the firon of the front wheels and it moves back then the control arm bushing is bad.
    Hope this helps good luck
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

    Jun 4, 2009
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    Depending on miles your front control arm bushing could be worn. That being said mine were shot & made no noise.

    MCS02 has a good idea to check the nut on top of the struts.
     
  5. Thinker

    Thinker New Member

    Sep 14, 2009
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    it was the center nut on the strut, the one under the adjustment nob. now that it is all tight, no noise. Thanks everyone!
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    Thanks for filling us in on the solution! :Thumbsup:
     
  7. Qik

    Qik Well-Known Member

    Oct 27, 2015
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    I currently have a clunking from the front right. Brought it to the dealership to get it looked at a while back, they found nothing. Brought it back a short while after for the same noise and they said "everything is tight". Not sure what it could be. One guy said it could be a bent strut, but one would think the dealership would be able to spot that. Maybe.... Any ideas? I notice it more so at low speeds, like 0-15 going through a rough parking lot.
     
  8. nkfry

    nkfry New Member
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    Aug 12, 2013
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    How many miles do you have on your car?

    An internally failed shock could cause a clunk, but so could multiple other items in the front end. I don't see it often, but it could also be a front endlink.
     
  9. myles2go

    myles2go Active Member

    May 7, 2012
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    I had this problem in the rear and found the top nut to be loose. You may also want to check that the coil spring on that shock has no play when the suspension is unloaded. With the car in the air, the coil spring should make contact with the top and bottom spring perch.
     

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