Wobbly MINI at high speeds (help is wanted)

[Chilipeppa03]

Hi guys, I have a 2003 Mini Cooper with 48,000 on her. WOW!! Anyway the problem that I am having is sometimes the car fills a little jiggly and wobby at high speeds on the interstate. Its like the wheel is not moving, but more from the motions of the car. Also it seems to do it worse on certain road surfaces. The car was lowered on Alta springs in April 2005, new falken 512 and rota wheels (all good tire pressure), new strutmounts, and 4 wheel alignment done. With all the powersteering issues going on, I was wordering if that is the problem. I don't know!

Help is wanted!!
Thanks

[Chilipeppa03]

Can someone please help me
Post has been up for like 2 days!!

[bimini]

have you checked the suspension and steering for excessive play?

[faster,Tobias!]

Or your wheels may need balancing. Those little bits of lead they attach to the inside of the rim do on occasion fall off, and an unbalanced wheel is not readily noticeable until you are moving at speed and the inbalance becomes accentuated by the number of rotations the wheel is making. Do you notice anything at low speed?

[xtremepsionic]

Yep, check balance on wheels, do an alignment if it hasn't been done for over 12 months, check tire pressure, check the tires to see if there are any damage.

If that doesn't work out, have a mechanic check the suspension/drivetrian components for damage.

[pocketrocketowner]

Quote: Originally Posted by Chilipeppa03

Hi guys, I have a 2003 Mini Cooper with 48,000 on her. WOW!! Anyway the problem that I am having is sometimes the car fills a little jiggly and wobby at high speeds on the interstate. Its like the wheel is not moving, but more from the motions of the car. Also it seems to do it worse on certain road surfaces. The car was lowered on Alta springs in April 2005, new falken 512 and rota wheels (all good tire pressure), new strutmounts, and 4 wheel alignment done. With all the powersteering issues going on, I was wordering if that is the problem. I don't know!

Help is wanted!!
Thanks

You describe a car that has had all suspension checked and has good tires on it as well as proper wheel alignment. I would suggest that a) your lowering it has changed the suspension geometry so that it feels unstable to due increase ride harshness on certain road surfaces, b) Highways do wear out and (particularly heavy truck routes) can get so damaged they are evil to drive on, c) Your mechanic left a few parts loose when changing strut mounts (whatever those are)
Hope this helps

[DIOJCW]

another thing it might be by what you are describing
having lowered the car and if you have put on wider wheels/tyres
it is possible the car could also be tramlining following any bumps and ruts in the road
if that is whats causing it there is nothing you can really do unless you change things back to normal

also having lowered it have you got shorter shocks/struts front and rear to suit the lowering as that could cause a problem aswell.

id love to help personally but being in oz its a bit hard to
hope you get it all sorted

[Chilipeppa03]

Thanks you guys, I really like all the help you have given me. Im thinking it has something to do with the tires. I checked the inside of all the wheels and none of the weights had fallen off. I don't hear any strange wobbly noisies or anything. Could it also be my shock i guess. These are my original shocks too.