1st Gen R52 Cooper Convertible Odd feel in steering while cornering

Being an 06 with 80K miles I'd start looking at lower control arm bushings. But its only in one corner making it quite unique.

Would you happen to be pushing it a little more in that corner than others?

 

You are about due for front control arm bushings. The OEM ones can get significant wear, enough to cause some slop in the steering. Unfortunately, this is a labor intensive fix.

 

My oem LCA bushings went out with only 28k.

 

If your replacing the LCA bushings you might want to upgrade to something like powerflex. There is a ton of compliance in the OEM bushings.

 

Reasonable is relative, a dealership has high overhead, higher labor and parts rates are to be expected.

Whether or not the leaking hose is critical depends on the extent of the leak or if the hose is damaged. The hoses aren't under pressure or vacuum, so weeping won't affect pump performance, but low fluid levels would. As long as fluid shows on the level indicator attached to the cap it's safe. The fluid can be found at retail auto parts stores and a 1 liter can will last a very long time unless the leak is a full-on drip.

The first fix to try is re-crimping the OE clamps, purchase (or borrow) CV boot clamp pliers for ear type clamps and give them a squeeze. If that doesn't last then replace with standard screw hose clamps. The only reason to replace a hose is for damage.

 

I replaced mine at the top so I know it can be done. More than likely it is a clamp at the bottom. Drive up on ramps and have a look.

To access the hose in the rear up top, remove the header heat shield (optional), remove the reservoir bracket, bend the heat shield upward, and lean the reservoir to one side.


There is a comfort penalty with polyurethane bushings, more so in the cold. If you buy into the poly bushing hype, the bushings offered by Madness are at least a little softer than Power Flex and better suited for the daily driver.

 

They are supposed to last longer but I haven't worn out a set yet so can't say for sure. They are a bit harsher in ride but not to the extent some say, guess it depends on your sensitivity. I like to feel the road so they work fine and the improvement in handling dynamics is worth it for me. Turn in is crisper, takes a set better, comes off a turn better and what made me go to them most, the car is much more stable under extreme braking. But you need to decide for yourself what is right for you. 2 cents

 

So, just curious, did you go for the Powerflex or the Madness?

I am on some warranty replacement OEM rubber bushings at the moment, but they will not last forever, or maybe even long, so I have a decision coming up.

 

Powerlex

 

The first generation control arm end rotates on a variable axis. The arm is not positioned at a strict right angle nor on single plane, and as the elbow moves over the ball joint, the end (inside the bushing) pivots while rotating. It also moves fore and aft at the same time. The OEM bushing dampens fore and aft movement, allows the arm to follow its natural Zen path to self realization, plus dampens high frequency vibrations with amniotic like fluid cushioning within, and provides a measure of anti-lift when healthy. The OEM bushing does not allow anywhere near the extraneous movement many believe.

The design of the poly bushing assumes it is a perfect geometrical world where the control arm turns on its center axis. The second generation design is closer to that ideal and the current crop of poly bushings are more appropriate in that application. Polyurethane by nature is not very forgiving and does not absorb high frequency energy very well, I find that characteristic slightly annoying when I'm on the street where my mind and body have the time to pay attention to details like that. Forcing the control arm to conform to a path of greater resistance makes itself known over expansion joints and other road surface irregularities. The up side for most poly material is longevity, when used with proper lubrication poly control arm bushings can last indefinitely, so instead of replacing a comfy OEM bushing every 30k miles, a poly bushing will only require cleaning and fresh lube.

 

Great post, thanks for explaining that But the Zen path is my favorite part

Mark