^ shocking news!!!![]()
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Crashton Club Coordinator
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Steve AdministratorStaff Member Articles Moderator
Anyway, I know there's sometimes no way to zero in on a problem without paying for one fix after another until one of them works, but I tend to start with the cheaper options and work my way up. In other words, I probably wouldn't start with new shocks...unless I was ready to replace them anyway.
I would assume a balance issue first but since there are so many bumps/voids and they're all on one side of only one tire I suspect it's an alignment problem.-
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This may be helpful to diagnose the issue as well. How to read Tire Wear
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It's all been back together for about a week, so it's time to post my impressions. It took a bit longer than expected, because after it was assembled the first time, the front camber was about a degree different from side to side. The mechanic thought maybe the IE fixed camber plates were defective, but Way assured him that had never happened before, but that it had to be the car. That left two possibilities - bent frame from accident in October of '06 or bent knuckle. Since we didn't know which it was, we replaced the camber plates with Vorschlag adjustable ones (the IEs are for sale on the sewing site). Numbers look like this:
Front:
Left Camber: -1.38
Right Camber: -1.41
Left Toe: 0.06 toe-in
Right Toe: 0.07 toe-in
Rear
Left Camber: -1.38
Right Camber: -1.46
Left Toe: .33 toe-in
Right Toe: .19 toe-in
After all the hype, I expected the Koni FSDs would smooth out the ride more, but I am not a huge fan of soft ride, so that is not a big deal. On the straight and slightly bumpy, it feels about the same as before. It is when you throw it around a corner that the love kicks in. The car is MUCH more solid - it is as big an improvement as the 19mm rear sway bar was. The increased front camber makes it feel like the tires are no longer deforming (no longer feel like I need to go to 17's). The new bushings (front swaybar & rear upper shock) have gotten rid of a lot of the clunking. And the front end no longer lifts when I accelerate. All in all, I am a happy, but considerably less wealthy, camper.-
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Crashton Club Coordinator
I'd guess balance or alignment or the possibility of both.
How many mines on your MINI? How often do you rotate the tires? -
KC Jr 54 New Member
x2 on needing shocks, especially at 93k.
With that, i do have some "low" mileage sport suspension shock/sturts. That is, if you are not wanting to go full aftermarket with them. -
Crashton Club Coordinator
My shocks have 96K on them. I've been waiting for them to carp out, but so far they have not.:confused5: There is a set of very low mile oem shocks & struts in my garage waiting their turn on my MINI.
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ScottinBend Space CowboySupporting Member
Also check the toe.
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Crashton: Actually, just over 100K. I haven't updated my sig lately.
Chkmini: These are the original shocks.
Scottinbend: For a problem on the rear?
Also, if the problem is only one rear tire, does it follow that all four shocks, assuming they are the culprit are gone? Could I just do rears and then watch the tire wear? -
ScottinBend Space CowboySupporting Member
Yes rear toe.
And best to do all 4 dampers so the handling isn't affected adversely. -
Crashton Club Coordinator
If you are going to do shock 4 is the way to go as Scott said. If it was mine I'd have the alignment checked first & go from there.
Sorry I missed the mileage in your sig. -
Steve AdministratorStaff Member Articles Moderator
I wouldn't start replacing dampers until you rule out the cheaper options (balance, alignment, etc) unless you figure it's time to do that anyway. I'd like to see a pic, still trying to interpret your wording about the tire damage. Have you been feeling any vibration when driving?
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ScottinBend Space CowboySupporting Member
Sounds like he is describing feathering of the tire.
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Some pictures would help quite a bit.
Being this is only on one tire I'd be suspect of the alignment. -
I found the How to Read Tire Wear thing, too. Definitely looks like "cupping", at least of the choices given. They are just spaced out a lot more. Hard to see, but
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I found the How to Read Tire Wear thing, too. Definitely looks like "cupping", at least of the choices given. They are just spaced out a lot more. Hard to see, but
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