Stock Problems/Issues Discussions related to warranty related issues and repairs, or other problems with the OEM parts and software for MINI Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Knocking noise front suspension

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  #1  
Old 05-10-2018 | 09:19 AM
Refinisher's Avatar
Refinisher
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
Knocking noise front suspension

06’ S.. 134k miles..

I have this very noticeable clunk or knock noise in the front suspension/steering that I can’t seem to figure out. It only occurs upon medium to heavy brake there will be a noticeable knock/clunk like something that feels like it vibrates through the floor. When that occurs it also feels like the car makes a subtle move to the right or left... mainly right though. Very rarely I will get the same knock on a sharp turn where pavement is uneven..
I do also notice when heavy accelerating on highway the car sometimes wants to slightly drift or steer mainly right and will come back after letting off.

I bought car with 112k miles.. I had an issue with clutch- then alternator(twice) so I took car off the road and went to town replacing parts. So this list has around 12k-13k miles on it.
Symptoms lean towards LCA bushings which I replaced, lined up correctly. under car appear to have no rips, looseness but that’s on stands maybe with the load of the car it’s different.. I was under yesterday no play in wheels, nothing loose, checked torque of just about everything right down to rack bolts and everything is tight...

*Struts/Springs/Tops/all associated parts
*Sway links
*Ball Joints
*LCA bushings
*Sway bar bushings
*Brake Pads/Rotors/Calipers coated and rebuilt
*M7 Strut bar with the tower reinforcement plates
*Inner and Outer tie rods(less than 5k miles)
*16” wheels new tires
*Stripped, blasted and powder coated subframe, controls arms while out.

Unrelated..

Clutch/Flywheel/Slave/to bearing
oil pan gasket
alternator,
w.pump, t.stat, hoses and coolant tank
ps pump, hoses and res
mounts, coil, plugs, pulley, belt, tensioner

There’s more odds and ends.. just no need to list.

 
  #2  
Old 05-10-2018 | 09:23 AM
Refinisher's Avatar
Refinisher
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
I will add that I live in Northeast Pennsylvania where the road conditions can be compared to the surface of the moon.
 
  #3  
Old 05-10-2018 | 09:46 AM
pnwR53S's Avatar
pnwR53S
6th Gear - NAM Hall of Fame
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,967
Likes: 390
From: soggy pnw
All these and you never mentioned the drive axles and most important CV joints.
 
  #4  
Old 05-10-2018 | 11:16 AM
drea-min's Avatar
drea-min
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 13
From: Makakilo,Hawaii
Originally Posted by Refinisher
06’ S.. 134k miles..

I have this very noticeable clunk or knock noise in the front suspension/steering that I can’t seem to figure out. It only occurs upon medium to heavy brake there will be a noticeable knock/clunk like something that feels like it vibrates through the floor. When that occurs it also feels like the car makes a subtle move to the right or left... mainly right though. Very rarely I will get the same knock on a sharp turn where pavement is uneven..
I do also notice when heavy accelerating on highway the car sometimes wants to slightly drift or steer mainly right and will come back after letting off.

I bought car with 112k miles.. I had an issue with clutch- then alternator(twice) so I took car off the road and went to town replacing parts. So this list has around 12k-13k miles on it.
Symptoms lean towards LCA bushings which I replaced, lined up correctly. under car appear to have no rips, looseness but that’s on stands maybe with the load of the car it’s different.. I was under yesterday no play in wheels, nothing loose, checked torque of just about everything right down to rack bolts and everything is tight...

*Struts/Springs/Tops/all associated parts
*Sway links
*Ball Joints
*LCA bushings
*Sway bar bushings
*Brake Pads/Rotors/Calipers coated and rebuilt
*M7 Strut bar with the tower reinforcement plates
*Inner and Outer tie rods(less than 5k miles)
*16” wheels new tires
*Stripped, blasted and powder coated subframe, controls arms while out.

Unrelated..

Clutch/Flywheel/Slave/to bearing
oil pan gasket
alternator,
w.pump, t.stat, hoses and coolant tank
ps pump, hoses and res
mounts, coil, plugs, pulley, belt, tensioner

There’s more odds and ends.. just no need to list.

I used to have same clunking issue after i changed tho lower control arm bushing it went away....
 
  #5  
Old 05-10-2018 | 01:31 PM
gumbedamit's Avatar
gumbedamit
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 985
Likes: 97
From: Atlanta Georgia
Originally Posted by Refinisher
06’ S.. 134k miles..

I have this very noticeable clunk or knock noise in the front suspension/steering that I can’t seem to figure out. It only occurs upon medium to heavy brake there will be a noticeable knock/clunk like something that feels like it vibrates through the floor. When that occurs it also feels like the car makes a subtle move to the right or left... mainly right though. Very rarely I will get the same knock on a sharp turn where pavement is uneven..
I do also notice when heavy accelerating on highway the car sometimes wants to slightly drift or steer mainly right and will come back after letting off.

I bought car with 112k miles.. I had an issue with clutch- then alternator(twice) so I took car off the road and went to town replacing parts. So this list has around 12k-13k miles on it.
Symptoms lean towards LCA bushings which I replaced, lined up correctly. under car appear to have no rips, looseness but that’s on stands maybe with the load of the car it’s different.. I was under yesterday no play in wheels, nothing loose, checked torque of just about everything right down to rack bolts and everything is tight...

*Struts/Springs/Tops/all associated parts
*Sway links
*Ball Joints
*LCA bushings
*Sway bar bushings
*Brake Pads/Rotors/Calipers coated and rebuilt
*M7 Strut bar with the tower reinforcement plates
*Inner and Outer tie rods(less than 5k miles)
*16” wheels new tires
*Stripped, blasted and powder coated subframe, controls arms while out.

Unrelated..

Clutch/Flywheel/Slave/to bearing
oil pan gasket
alternator,
w.pump, t.stat, hoses and coolant tank
ps pump, hoses and res
mounts, coil, plugs, pulley, belt, tensioner

There’s more odds and ends.. just no need to list.

When you did the LCA bushings,did you change the inner ball joints?
 
  #6  
Old 05-10-2018 | 02:23 PM
Refinisher's Avatar
Refinisher
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
Yes.. I changed inner ball joints as well. I forgot those on the list..
 
  #7  
Old 05-10-2018 | 06:30 PM
jasonp's Avatar
jasonp
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 54
Likes: 9
From: Eagan, MN
Sway bar links. Did you use factory or after market ones. Some after market ones can hit your drive shaft if they are to big.
 
  #8  
Old 05-15-2018 | 09:05 PM
Refinisher's Avatar
Refinisher
Thread Starter
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2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 52
Likes: 2
Sway links are OEM.. no signs of rubbing

I think I’m going to order a new set of LCA bushings..
 
  #9  
Old 08-13-2018 | 09:20 AM
Tom516's Avatar
Tom516
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Harpers Ferry, WV
Did you ever figure out what the issue was?
 
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