Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires Most liked posts in thread: Left rear tire has bumps on inside edge

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  1. Crashton

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    #4 Crashton, Aug 28, 2011
    ^ shocking news!!! :D
     
  2. Steve

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    #16 Steve, Aug 29, 2011
    I know, but I don't like to assume, esp. when there's more than one possible cause and potential fix. I'm sure it's not the tire itself but I keep going back to the word "bumps" in the title...conjuring up thoughts of broken belts, etc.

    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.
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #17 Nathan, Aug 29, 2011
  4. CHKMINI

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    #21 CHKMINI, Aug 30, 2011
    The four wheeler looks like it has an alignment issue....the mower appears to have bad wheel bearings:biggrin5:
     
  5. davavd

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    #58 davavd, Nov 6, 2011
    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.
     
  6. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #2 Crashton, Aug 28, 2011
    I'd guess balance or alignment or the possibility of both.

    How many mines on your MINI? How often do you rotate the tires?
     
  7. CHKMINI

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    #3 CHKMINI, Aug 28, 2011
    Shocks....how many miles on the shocks...that could also be the culprit.
     
  8. KC Jr 54

    KC Jr 54 New Member

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    #5 KC Jr 54, Aug 28, 2011
    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.
     
  9. Crashton

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    #6 Crashton, Aug 28, 2011
    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.
     
  10. CHKMINI

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    #7 CHKMINI, Aug 28, 2011
    At 67K my shocks are trash. Replaced with Koni Yellows
     
  11. ScottinBend

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    #8 ScottinBend, Aug 28, 2011
    Also check the toe.
     
  12. davavd

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    #9 davavd, Aug 28, 2011
    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?
     
  13. ScottinBend

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    #10 ScottinBend, Aug 28, 2011
    Yes rear toe.

    And best to do all 4 dampers so the handling isn't affected adversely.
     
  14. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #11 Crashton, Aug 28, 2011
    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.
     
  15. CHKMINI

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    #12 CHKMINI, Aug 28, 2011
    Just as Scott said...do all four.
     
  16. Steve

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    #13 Steve, Aug 28, 2011
    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?
     
  17. ScottinBend

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    #14 ScottinBend, Aug 29, 2011
    Sounds like he is describing feathering of the tire.
     
  18. Nathan

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    #15 Nathan, Aug 29, 2011
    Some pictures would help quite a bit.

    Being this is only on one tire I'd be suspect of the alignment.
     
  19. davavd

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    #18 davavd, Aug 30, 2011
    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
    [​IMG][/IMG]
     
  20. davavd

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    #19 davavd, Aug 30, 2011
    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

    [​IMG][/IMG]

    [​IMG][/IMG]
     
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