Brakes Wheels 1st Gen Tires Left rear tire has bumps on inside edge

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by davavd, Aug 28, 2011.

  1. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    The four wheeler looks like it has an alignment issue....the mower appears to have bad wheel bearings:biggrin5:
     
  2. beaner

    beaner New Member

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    OP: do you have enough internet/forum information to be totally confused? while these forums can often be sources of good information, they can also be the source of total BS. almost every suspension component has been mentioned as a possible source of your problem. Consult a professional in whose judgement you trust. my best guess has already been mentioned. just a guess, like most others.

    greg
     
  3. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    BUZZ KILLER!!!
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    There is always good & not so good info offered on line. The trick is tell one from the other. IMHO there have been some very good suggestions made in this thread. Your mileage may vary Greg.
     
  5. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Remote analysis without pictures is pretty tough to do.
    I'll get customers who call me on the phone and ask if I can do a metal repair and what it would cost. I'll jokingly ask them to hold it up to the phone so I can see it.

    Boom Bada Boom Boom
     
  6. HRM

    HRM New Member

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    That is cupping. New shocks is probably going to do a lot more than you think. Especially if you upgrade. Replacing my perfectly good 100k shocks with the FSDs was like night and day.

    Good news is the new tires are going to be 100% quieter too. Basically now your car is dribbling your tire. It may have been caused by the front if you rotate them since there are more wear items that may need replacing. My cupped tire was from a bad LCA bushing that ruined everything up front when the original owner just drove the car that way. Tire cupped, bearing needed replacing, rotors got ruined, it just shook the crap out of everything as it dribbled the tire. As always fixing it right is cheaper than being cheap.
     
  7. davavd

    davavd Club Coordinator

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    AND the refrigerator pulls to the right. Going to talk to the pros today. Thanks to all for your input.
     
  8. davavd

    davavd Club Coordinator

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    Tire Kingdom, who has mounted my last two sets of tires, says $1332 for all 4 struts and alignment. Is that reasonable?
     
  9. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I think that is nuts.... :crazy:
     
  10. quikmni

    quikmni Moderator

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    I vote for not reasonable.
    4-wheel alignment should be about $100.
    Strut install is about 2 hour labor (probably less), so about $200.
    So that leaves $1000 for new shocks. That is expensive for OEM type shocks.
    Even Koni FSDs are only $715.
    KONI FSD Shocks - Way Motor Works
     
  11. quikmni

    quikmni Moderator

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    For OEM struts/shocks; penskeparts.com has them for $150 each front and $100 each rear. So about $500 for the set plus tax/shipping.
     
  12. KC Jr 54

    KC Jr 54 New Member

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    The $1332 sounds about normal for a SHOP who base their times off of "book" time. Book time to do the strut/shocks is likely in the 4hr range, and then mark up on parts supplied.

    IMO Thats to much money, especially if you think you would be capable of doing it yourself. Suspension is one of the easiest things to do on the MINI so far..
     
  13. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    I think a chain place like Tire Kingdom is going to gouge you. It may take a bit of research on your part, but I believe that job can be done for a lot less.
     
  14. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    Ok, someone on here ought to know of a MINI friendly shop in SE Louisiana.....may not be watching this thread though. Or just a good shop in the area, doesn't need to be MINI focused obviously.
     
  15. davavd

    davavd Club Coordinator

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    Why would realoem.com have different part numbers for the struts on an 2006 03 build R52S versus the same R53S? I have been told the R52S has JCW struts, but the numbers don't match there either.:confused5:
     
  16. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    The valving in the strut is probably slightly different to compensate for the different overall weight and front/rear balance.
     
  17. Steve

    Steve Administrator
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    Yup, and the spring rates may also be different.
     
  18. davavd

    davavd Club Coordinator

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    If I buy Koni yellows or FSDs from Way Motor Works or Mini Madness, I get the same strut for a R52 as I would for an R53, but if I buy oem, they are different? It makes me wonder if the difference is important enough not to ignore.
     
  19. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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  20. quikmni

    quikmni Moderator

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    The Koni yellows are manually externally adjustable so any difference can be compensated for in the shock adjustment. The Koni FSD adjust automatically to the driving conditions so the shock will make the compensation.
    Thus, the same Koni for the R53 will work for the R52.
     

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