Discovering noises from your car often is never reassuring, so discovering noises on your Mini Cooper suspensions when you go over a speed bump can be disturbing. This warning sign may be a sign of a minor issue as well as a warning of a much larger repair to come. Whatever the case, it is essential to check the origin and take the necessary actions to correct the issue, it is with this intention in mind that we wanted to write this document to help you see more clearly. We will first see the possible causes for a crack when the speed bump passes, after that, what can be the reason of a squeaking noise when a speed bump is being passed and finally what to do if you have another noise when a speed bump is passed.
Suspension cracking noise Mini Cooper
Check Mini Cooper suspension
If you notice a suspension noise when you pass a speed bump on your Mini Cooper, and it is characterized by a “clack” or cracking, it is highly plausible that your suspension block is the origin of it. Indeed, it may be the suspension cups, which, when they are old, have the rubber (silentblock) that acts as a buffer and shock absorber for the upper part of the suspension that no longer fulfils its role during small bumps that compress the suspensions. To examine if this is the issue that concerns you, take a dented road and focus on the noise coming from your front axle as you drive over holes. If it is indeed the cups, think of replacing them fairly quickly or you may ruin other parts and have to make more important repairs.
Check the cardan shaft
If you are here because you have looked for for “Mini Cooper suspension noise” and the suspension is not the cause of your problem, it may be that the cardan shaft is responsible. Indeed, when the cardan bellows get out of date and the dirt/dust builds up inside them their working is deteriorated and it is possible to experience a noise when they are in torsion. To examine this, you can try both types of torsion, first vertical with suspension compressions on the speed bump passages, and horizontal when you are going to turn at low speed. If it cracks in these two cases you should consider changing it or them. If you have the feeling that this noise is more like a a loud noise on Mini Cooper, don’t hesitate to visit this article.
Check steering hinges/stabilizer bar
Finally, when you experience a suspension noise when your Mini Cooper passes over a speed bumps, it is imaginable that the hinges or the stabilizer bar are responsible. Just like the gimbals, the steering part is mobilized when you adjust direction. If this is the case, the parts that may have been affected by regular wear and tear or impacts (e. g. sidewalks). The steering hinges, the stabilizer bar hinges. can be the causes of your noises, to examine it, put it under the automobile and apply twists on each of its components to examine that there is no special play on one of them, they are supposed to endure you quite strongly over their entire travel. Please remember to take your vehicle to your mechanic or change them if they are involved.
squeaky noise speed bump Mini Cooper
Check the stabilizer bar
If, alternatively, you have a noise that is more like a squeak when you go over a speed bump with your Mini Cooper, it is plausible that it is the stabilizer bar itself that is involved. Indeed, abnormal/pronounced wear of the latter can cause abnormal friction which can cause this squeaking noise. Bear in mind to examine by going under your automobile the condition of the paint on your bar which will reveal if there is friction. Second plausible explanation, it may be your stabilizer bar silentblocks that are dry and cause noise, in which case take them off from the cradle and grease them, this should solve the issue.
Check engine silentblocks
Finally, last possibility that we can examine together, it is the engine silentblocks, in fact, these silentblocks act as pads/shock absorbers between the engine and the cradle of the car, a pronounced weakness of these will generate a subsidence and therefore a space between the engine and the silentblocks, it may happen that a squeaking noise occurs when you pass a speed bumps or any holes with your Mini Cooper. To swap them go to your technician.
Other speed bump noise Mini Cooper
If, even though all its assumptions, you still can’t find the origin of the noise your Mini Cooper makes when you pass a speed bump, we suggest you to read this article on a loud noise on Mini Cooper or to visit your mechanic in order to carry an in-depth check on your Mini Cooper and identify this issue.