[GetAwayFromU]

I recently discovered that my '06 Mini has fallen to the dreaded Strut mount mushrooming and was wondering if anyone was able to get Mini to warranty this? Recently? My dealer (Patrick Mini) said that Mini used to accept this fix under warranty, but stopped so they weren't going to try and I would have to pay for it all out of my own pocket.


From what I can see it seems to happen frequently to 17" run flat owners.

[obehave]

Yes some people have. It depends on your dealer. Any other one close to you you can check with?

If not there's always the pound it out and buy strut plates method.

[M1OY CS]

could someone show me a picture of a mushroomed strut mount please. Ive been wondering what this looks like for so long now!

[PmP]

I would also like to see this...

[Fabio]

what is strut mushrooming??

[k-huevo]

What mushrooms is the strut tower; notice the bulge instead of a flat surface.



Usually it is accompanied by a torn guide support bushing.



At the least the guide support will be deformed if not torn and must be replaced.

The simple fix for the support is to place a piece of wood on the area and strike with a hammer until all is flat again.



Of course the strut must be removed before performing this procedure.

In the U.S. we have an acharic system of choosing the lowest bidder for road building contracts ensuring the poorest materials and workmanship possible.

[MINI Papa]

I know the feeling our 06
PW\B JCW is in the shop now having its towers fixed. We sustained no more damage and don't really know when it happened. It was not covered under warrenty. But the repair isn't too expensive. New alignment also required.

[PmP]

Quote: Originally Posted by k-huevo (original)

In the U.S. we have an acharic system of choosing the lowest bidder for road building contracts ensuring the poorest materials and workmanship possible.

You should come to County Down Northern Ireland mate, then you'd know about bad roads!

[MINI Papa]

Sounds like the roads in south Lousiana we travel to see our son and grandchildren. I plan to use the wifes MCS JCW and let the GP stay home.

[M1OY CS]

just checked mine no damage thank god! Thought there would be considering the roads here!

[Ferroequine]

Quote: Originally Posted by k-huevo (original)

What mushrooms is the strut tower; notice the bulge instead of a flat surface.

Sorry for the apparently dumb question, but what exactly am I looking for here? Or could someone post a picture of what a regular strut mount should look like? My car is at the body shop getting a door resprayed at the moment, so I can't go and take a peek right now.

[k-huevo]

Here is a thread with some comparison pictures and a good look at a damaged guide support MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring - Shock tower mushrooming
On the vehicle I worked on in this thread’s photos, both towers were deformed and both guide support bushings were torn; in the thread above only one side was damaged.

The picture below is a fixed camber plate made by Ireland Engineering. Notice the much thicker steel mount plate which may help prevent strut tower deformation; as a bonus you get curve hugging negative camber up front and longer studs for those with tower braces.

[roland2003]

Hi Guys, not very pretty and no (very important ) radius machined with a CRC cutter around the outer profile,but at least its in the right place ie UNDER the bodywork not a plate clamped on top. Its important for the plate to reach out as far as possible too,so that the load is spread and put into the chassis right in the (strong )corners.
I can feel a new GTT product coming on ..........................
Best Regards Roland GTT

[k-huevo]

At a distance these plates look like they could benefit from filing of the outer edge; a closer look reveals the edge is not sharp as it appears to be. It would still be prudent to round the top outer edge.

The available flat space on the tower top as seen from below mimics the camber plate shape very well. There is some subtle surface angles that are not readily apparent when observed from above. One must keep in mind the Ireland Fixed Camber Plates were designed as a budget minded approach to attaining more negative camber and to that end it serves its purpose well.

Below is a comparison with the two versions of the stock guide support and the Ireland Engineering plates. The older stock version on the right is more prone to bushing tears, the latest stock version in the middle is more robust but still foible, the fixed camber plate on the left has a compliant yet durable bushing. After the bushing has settled in, there is no difference in ride height resulting from the thicker plate.



It would take more reinforcement than just a thicker mounting plate to eliminate the likelihood of tower deformation. A force strong enough to bulge the tower could possibly rupture a seam weld if it had no where else to transfer energy.

[roland2003]

Yes I agree,I think you need to retain a reasonable degree of compliance in the top mount .
Theyse plates look quite wide too.(good)
Best Regards Roland GTT

[MiniNana]

My strut towers were both mushroomed and both strut brace brackets were badly broken and the Dinan brace itself was bowed. Dealer tried to throw it all off on me saying that I obviously hit something with enough force to do the damage. I asked why my rims/tires weren't damaged and the SA said that wouldn't necessarily be the case. It kind of ****es me off that they never even hinted that this could actually be a design flaw. I found that out after I told them to go ahead and do the repair. It cost me about $325 for them to smack the strut towers back down and take my Dinan brace off. Now I have to go get another brace, but believe me, it WON'T be a Dinan. I'm looking at the M7 brace. Looks heavy enough to actually do some good. Just don't let the dealership tell you it's your fault when you discover your struts mushroomed. I didn't even notice it. I had taken my car to a friend who has a performance shop in town and he noticed it. He hadn't heard about the flaw either.

[roland2003]

...Check out the GTT one while your looking. We send upto 5 a week over to you guys at the moment.
We will have GTT anti mushroom plates coming soon that keep stock camber and go under the bodywork. A plate on top even an inch thick is not the answer.
Best Regards Roland GTT

[S33BBY]

I read this a while back on Motoring File. It may be of interest.

[MiniNana]

Got two braces with the brackets ordered as we speak.....a black M7 and a brushed aluminum one. Can't wait!! Don't get a Dinan.....they won't reinforce spit, all they do is look pretty.

[roland2003]

...You can make the plate on top 6 inch thick kryptonite,if you like and it will still do very little. If you dont put a larger & stronger plate underneath the tower , then nothing has changed. For every force there is an equal and opposite force,its this 'equal & opposite force' which pulls the tower downwards from the outer perimeter of the tower causing mushrooming.
Example ... I have a sheet of hardboard (say 2 feet diameter) and bolted on the FAR side near to the centre of it with 3 bolts is a sheet of paper ,If I then push with my knee in the centre of the hardboard and pull the edge of the hardboard (with my hands ) at the same time the board bends right?
Now if we repeat the experiment above but replace the weedy sheet of paper with a 2 inch thick sheet of hardened steel (it can be as big in area as you like,so lets make it 2 feet diameter the same as the hardboard) ......suprise suprise the board bends exactly the same (and as easily) as before.
The only way I can see a thick plate on top to help is through its weight,the inertia of trying to move the heavy plate slows it down ,IMO this would have minimal anti mushroom effect in practice.
Best Regards Roland GTT