MINI2

Paul_T · Apr 11th, 2007, 12:06 AM

I just rang Fulcrum to book the MCS in for a wheel allignment and was told that they cannot do wheel allignments on MINI's as they're machine is not compatible with the MINI and it needs an 'overhang' machine. I asked what an overhang machine was and the receptionist said he did not know, and that it was just what the mechanic told him.

Sound awfully odd to me... anyone else?

Quickbrick · Apr 11th, 2007, 01:34 AM

I have had my MINI aligned at Fulcrum Moorooka a couple of times now - maybe you should call them and see what they have to say about it.

The Artist · Apr 11th, 2007, 02:12 AM

They did one on mine there when I had my Eibachs fitted.

Paul_T · Apr 11th, 2007, 02:46 AM

Yeah, they've done all my cars previously, and did a good job...

I rang them again and said are you sure?? Other mini owners have used you and the guy says yup, we've never even had a mini in here, they don't run up our ramps.

I said that's funny because I took my old classic mini in there and you guys worked on it, my new mini is a lot bigger and won't have any troubles on your ramps.

He then said I must be thinking of someone else as they don't do minis.

swamos · Apr 11th, 2007, 03:49 AM

They did all the wheel alignments on my MINI. And it needed lots of them

I always used the one at Stafford.

Paul_T · Apr 11th, 2007, 04:14 AM

Geez that cracks me up... these numbnuts swear they have never had a MINI in there.

Paul_T · Apr 11th, 2007, 04:16 AM

I've actually met the owner of Fulcrum up a couple times, I might mention it to him next time I see him.

swamos · Apr 11th, 2007, 11:30 AM

Smithy is a nice chap.

What is more, I remember now that one of their managers had one a while back. They also did the suspension work on Ken's Black Betty

Indi_booze · Apr 15th, 2007, 02:53 PM

I had my MINI done at Fulcrums at Stafford a few times now,never had a problem with their machines being able to do the job!!

Paul_T · Apr 15th, 2007, 11:04 PM

Swamos - Smithy is a nice chap isn't he - knows what he is doing too.

I've had all my cars done at Fulcrum stafford - classic MINI's, Mx5's, 200SX, STi's, Skylines - I can't work out why some knob in the workshop would claim they can't do a MINI. It's ridiculous.

That said, I told him they can do it, and I'm going to make a booking - but I've lost confidence now in what I thought was the best suspension mob in town - I may have to drive over to the other side of town to Moorooka and get Fulcrum there to do it - but if I'm going to make the hike, I may as well take it to BMW - I was originally trying to avoid going too far.

My car has 3000k's on the clock and is pulling to the left, and the steering wheel is slightly off centre... Not had any bumps or nudges or anything has just slowly developed this over time.

Paul_T · Apr 16th, 2007, 04:03 AM

Are these things 4 wheel allignable? Or only front? Any good tried and tested numbers to use?

Indi_booze · Apr 16th, 2007, 08:07 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul_T (original)

Are these things 4 wheel allignable? Or only front? Any good tried and tested numbers to use?

You can align all four wheels!!!

Paul_T · Apr 16th, 2007, 08:13 AM

Well there you go - the guys at Fulcrum also told me they were only front wheel alignable.

swamos · Apr 16th, 2007, 11:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Paul_T (original)

Well there you go - the guys at Fulcrum also told me they were only front wheel alignable.

I just don't know what is going on here. The guys at stafford were the ones who first found my wobbly rear wheel when my car was new. ???

The rear wheels can have the toe adjusted by loosening a bolt and moving a plate that controls the toe.

Paul_T · Apr 16th, 2007, 11:30 PM

I don't know either - like I've said i've used these guys time and time again - sounds like they have a new mechanic which probably doesn't belong there.

Ausminimad · Apr 21st, 2007, 05:58 AM

Hi I am new to this forum.

My Mate has a R50 Cooper S and it also *wanders* left!!

You need to have a hand on the wheel all the time or it goes left.

It has been like that from new and has had several wheel alignments, tyre swaps with no change. ($165 for the last alignment at BMW )

I went and saw Ken at Accurate, THE wheel alignment guru in Brisbane yesterday, and all is OK with the alignment, but it still pulls left

After he phoned a couple of guys that race these things, they all say they pull left and it is a factory problem.

Anybody out there got or had this problem and *maybe* found a fix for it

I have heard of owners getting the whole front suspension replaced

Minimad

Quickbrick · Apr 21st, 2007, 09:06 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ausminimad (original)

Hi I am new to this forum.

My Mate has a R50 Cooper S and it also *wanders* left!!

You need to have a hand on the wheel all the time or it goes left.

It has been like that from new and has had several wheel alignments, tyre swaps with no change. ($165 for the last alignment at BMW )

I went and saw Ken at Accurate, THE wheel alignment guru in Brisbane yesterday, and all is OK with the alignment, but it still pulls left

After he phoned a couple of guys that race these things, they all say they pull left and it is a factory problem.

Anybody out there got or had this problem and *maybe* found a fix for it

I have heard of owners getting the whole front suspension replaced

Minimad

I'm sure I heard somewhere that cars in Australia are set-up to pull slightly to the left and cars in LHD countries like the USA have them set to pull slightly to the right. The reason being that if you do fall asleep at the wheel while driving you will not veer into oncoming traffic.

Now that I have written this I'm wondering if I actually dreamt this while veering left in my MINI as I have to admit it does sound a little far fetched....but I'm sure I heard this somewhere.

Having said that, this is not a feature which is "built into the car" but rather is achieved through the wheel alignment.

Paul_T · Apr 21st, 2007, 09:12 AM

Ok, i had the 'wheel allignment' done this morning.. according to Fulcrum - he was only able to adjust the castor at the front - he couldn't find any other adjusments....

This is ridiculous!

Can someone else ring them up and ask about it? I swear they are dudding me.

cristo · Apr 21st, 2007, 01:17 PM

Actually, only toe-in is adjustable in the front. Camber and caster aren't.
They're either fools or misleading you or both.

snoopy · Apr 21st, 2007, 02:15 PM

With very early MINI ie March 2002 and before, the MINI did have a issue with the front suspension, but they replaced it with a newer design, only a few months after productions started. if you really want to know about it search for posts in the early part of 2002.

MINI Au was good about this they changed it over in my mini (and it not pull, or drive off the road like some) and i did not even ask or complain about it.

As for the pull to the left, it is on all cars, they must by design drive to the left, so if a drive falls a sleep or blacks out etc etc the car will not drift into the oncoming traffic. It does vary from car to car, brand to brand, tires effect it, road conditions and surfaces effect it too.

Apr 11th, 2007, 12:06 AM	#1
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	Fulcrum can't do a Wheel Allignment on a MCS? I just rang Fulcrum to book the MCS in for a wheel allignment and was told that they cannot do wheel allignments on MINI's as they're machine is not compatible with the MINI and it needs an 'overhang' machine. I asked what an overhang machine was and the receptionist said he did not know, and that it was just what the mechanic told him. Sound awfully odd to me... anyone else?

Apr 11th, 2007, 01:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Quickbrick MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brisbane Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 344 Offline	I have had my MINI aligned at Fulcrum Moorooka a couple of times now - maybe you should call them and see what they have to say about it. QuickBrick

Apr 11th, 2007, 04:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	I've actually met the owner of Fulcrum up a couple times, I might mention it to him next time I see him. Last edited by Paul_T : Apr 18th, 2007 at 09:15 AM.

Apr 11th, 2007, 11:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
swamos MINI Traitor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 4,985 Offline	Smithy is a nice chap. What is more, I remember now that one of their managers had one a while back. They also did the suspension work on Ken's Black Betty Last edited by swamos : Apr 18th, 2007 at 02:31 PM.

Apr 21st, 2007, 09:06 AM	#17 (permalink)
Quickbrick MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Brisbane Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 344 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Ausminimad (original) Hi I am new to this forum. My Mate has a R50 Cooper S and it also wanders left!! You need to have a hand on the wheel all the time or it goes left. It has been like that from new and has had several wheel alignments, tyre swaps with no change. ($165 for the last alignment at BMW ) I went and saw Ken at Accurate, THE wheel alignment guru in Brisbane yesterday, and all is OK with the alignment, but it still pulls left After he phoned a couple of guys that race these things, they all say they pull left and it is a factory problem. Anybody out there got or had this problem and maybe found a fix for it I have heard of owners getting the whole front suspension replaced Minimad I'm sure I heard somewhere that cars in Australia are set-up to pull slightly to the left and cars in LHD countries like the USA have them set to pull slightly to the right. The reason being that if you do fall asleep at the wheel while driving you will not veer into oncoming traffic. Now that I have written this I'm wondering if I actually dreamt this while veering left in my MINI as I have to admit it does sound a little far fetched....but I'm sure I heard this somewhere. Having said that, this is not a feature which is "built into the car" but rather is achieved through the wheel alignment. QuickBrick

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Apr 11th, 2007, 02:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
The Artist MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Brisbane Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 317 Offline	They did one on mine there when I had my Eibachs fitted.

Apr 11th, 2007, 02:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	Yeah, they've done all my cars previously, and did a good job... I rang them again and said are you sure?? Other mini owners have used you and the guy says yup, we've never even had a mini in here, they don't run up our ramps. I said that's funny because I took my old classic mini in there and you guys worked on it, my new mini is a lot bigger and won't have any troubles on your ramps. He then said I must be thinking of someone else as they don't do minis.

Apr 11th, 2007, 03:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
swamos MINI Traitor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 4,985 Offline	They did all the wheel alignments on my MINI. And it needed lots of them I always used the one at Stafford.

Apr 11th, 2007, 04:14 AM	#6 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	Geez that cracks me up... these numbnuts swear they have never had a MINI in there.

Apr 15th, 2007, 02:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Indi_booze MINI 2 Boozer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brisbane Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 156 Offline	I had my MINI done at Fulcrums at Stafford a few times now,never had a problem with their machines being able to do the job!!

Apr 15th, 2007, 11:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	Swamos - Smithy is a nice chap isn't he - knows what he is doing too. I've had all my cars done at Fulcrum stafford - classic MINI's, Mx5's, 200SX, STi's, Skylines - I can't work out why some knob in the workshop would claim they can't do a MINI. It's ridiculous. That said, I told him they can do it, and I'm going to make a booking - but I've lost confidence now in what I thought was the best suspension mob in town - I may have to drive over to the other side of town to Moorooka and get Fulcrum there to do it - but if I'm going to make the hike, I may as well take it to BMW - I was originally trying to avoid going too far. My car has 3000k's on the clock and is pulling to the left, and the steering wheel is slightly off centre... Not had any bumps or nudges or anything has just slowly developed this over time.

Apr 16th, 2007, 04:03 AM	#11 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	Are these things 4 wheel allignable? Or only front? Any good tried and tested numbers to use?

Apr 16th, 2007, 08:07 AM	#12 (permalink)
Indi_booze MINI 2 Boozer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Brisbane Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 156 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Paul_T (original) Are these things 4 wheel allignable? Or only front? Any good tried and tested numbers to use? You can align all four wheels!!!

Apr 16th, 2007, 08:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	Well there you go - the guys at Fulcrum also told me they were only front wheel alignable.

Apr 16th, 2007, 11:47 AM	#14 (permalink)
swamos MINI Traitor Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Brisbane, Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 4,985 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Paul_T (original) Well there you go - the guys at Fulcrum also told me they were only front wheel alignable. I just don't know what is going on here. The guys at stafford were the ones who first found my wobbly rear wheel when my car was new. ??? The rear wheels can have the toe adjusted by loosening a bolt and moving a plate that controls the toe.

Apr 16th, 2007, 11:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	I don't know either - like I've said i've used these guys time and time again - sounds like they have a new mechanic which probably doesn't belong there.

Apr 21st, 2007, 05:58 AM	#16 (permalink)
Ausminimad MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 5 Offline	Hi I am new to this forum. My Mate has a R50 Cooper S and it also wanders left!! You need to have a hand on the wheel all the time or it goes left. It has been like that from new and has had several wheel alignments, tyre swaps with no change. ($165 for the last alignment at BMW ) I went and saw Ken at Accurate, THE wheel alignment guru in Brisbane yesterday, and all is OK with the alignment, but it still pulls left After he phoned a couple of guys that race these things, they all say they pull left and it is a factory problem. Anybody out there got or had this problem and maybe found a fix for it I have heard of owners getting the whole front suspension replaced Minimad

Apr 21st, 2007, 09:12 AM	#18 (permalink)
Paul_T MCS Chilli Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Australia Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 339 Offline	Ok, i had the 'wheel allignment' done this morning.. according to Fulcrum - he was only able to adjust the castor at the front - he couldn't find any other adjusments.... This is ridiculous! Can someone else ring them up and ask about it? I swear they are dudding me.

Apr 21st, 2007, 01:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
cristo BLIKSEM (my brg/brg mc) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: york, pennsylvania Local Time: 03:05 PM Posts: 2,213 Offline	Actually, only toe-in is adjustable in the front. Camber and caster aren't. They're either fools or misleading you or both.

Apr 21st, 2007, 02:15 PM	#20 (permalink)
snoopy MINI2 Master Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: au Local Time: 06:05 AM Posts: 1,149 Offline	With very early MINI ie March 2002 and before, the MINI did have a issue with the front suspension, but they replaced it with a newer design, only a few months after productions started. if you really want to know about it search for posts in the early part of 2002. MINI Au was good about this they changed it over in my mini (and it not pull, or drive off the road like some) and i did not even ask or complain about it. As for the pull to the left, it is on all cars, they must by design drive to the left, so if a drive falls a sleep or blacks out etc etc the car will not drift into the oncoming traffic. It does vary from car to car, brand to brand, tires effect it, road conditions and surfaces effect it too.

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