R53 Cooper S Strut Tower Mushrooming...

[Carbon]

Hey guys, last night I removed my Strut mounts because they were badly cracked, only to find that my strut towers have deformed badly!

Both towers were rounded instead of flat!

it looked like this (even worse actually):

When it should look like this:

Anyway, I pulled them back into place with threaded rod, washers, bolts and a few plates. I would like some "strut tower defenders" to keep them from deforming again. Does anybody know where I can get them?

They look like this:

If you have a gen1 mini then I would recommend you make sure your towers are in good shape, else it screws with your handling and tyre wear quite badly.

 

[Willy]

I have the same issue.

If I order a set of E-bay would you be interested if we share shipping?

 

[moranor@axis]

im not sure those will work you need a plate inside the tower to spread the upward force... dont BMW to tower plates for the mini like they do for BMW?

 

[Carbon]

I have the same issue.

If I order a set of E-bay would you be interested if we share shipping?

We could, shipping one set from the US
should cost about R400 through USPS.

im not sure those will work you need a plate inside the tower to spread the upward force... dont BMW to tower plates for the mini like they do for BMW?

A plate at the bottom would help as well, but as long as the plate at the top cant bend, it will prevent it as well. Look at the mushroomed tower and you will see what I mean.
As an added bonus, the top plates are easier to install and it doesn't rise your ride height like the lower ones.

And no, BMW is in denial about this issue.

 

[pre325]

Damn i need to check my car...

 

[moranor@axis]

on the e46 top plates make little difference the plate just lifts up and the tower mushrooms under it...

a 3mm plate is hardly going to make a difference to ride height... if you send me the dimensions of the flat area i can have some plates laser cut for you if you like...

 

[Willy]

Moranor that sounds like a good plan, im in for a set.

 

[Carbon]

on the e46 top plates make little difference the plate just lifts up and the tower mushrooms under it...

a 3mm plate is hardly going to make a difference to ride height... if you send me the dimensions of the flat area i can have some plates laser cut for you if you like...

With the mini, the bolts are almost at the edge of the strut tower, and for the tower to mushroom, the strut mount has to bend. There's definitely not enough sheet metal around the mount that it can move upwards without the mount deforming, unless it tears completely from the chassis. Thus, a top plate solves the issue completely.

With that being said, its going to be an expensive fix with importing and all that. I will take some measurements of the tower, and mount bolts too see what will fit.

Regards
Jacques

 

[Willy]

These, some guys on NAM recon they work better.

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But the top plates does help allot and is fairly simple to install.