Fitment for:

• 2002-2006 Mini Cooper Rear Driver & Passenger Side Suspension Strut Assembly

The hazard of a broken complete strut/shock absorber:
When driving, if the shock absorber assembly of the car wears out, the car may vibrate up and down, bump back and forth, shake left and right, and the front of the car will sway. As a result, the car will deviate to the outside of the curve when the car is making a sharp turn. Trend: When the turning radius of the car is large, the sense of direction is inaccurate, and the car has a tendency to sway; when the car passes on a bad road, the steering wheel can clearly perceive the front suspension vibration significantly increased; when the road is convex,the driver and passengers can feel dull The impact noise; the beating of the wheels when accelerating, resulting in slow acceleration and other problems.

Recommended replacement cycle:
Since the average annual distance of the car is 20,000 kilometers, and the shock absorber needs to be replaced in pairs, the replacement frequency is obtained every 4 years. In fact, the replacement frequency will vary depending on the car condition,
road condition and shock absorber manufacturer.When driving a certain number of kilometers, we should take corresponding measures to ensure our driving safety.

20.000km: Please check your shock absorber
80.000km: Need to replace your shock absorber
100.000km: Please replace your shock absorber as soon as possible

How to check if the shock absorber is damaged:
1. Under normal circumstances, oil leakage in the shock absorber means that there is a problem with your shock absorber. You should repair it at this time to avoid abnormal operation of the shock absorber.
2. Press the bumper firmly, and then release it. If the car jumps 2 or 3 times, it means that the shock absorber is working well.
3. When the car is driving slowly and braking urgently, if the car vibrates violently, it means there is a problem with the shock absorber.
4. The car stops after driving 10km on the road with poor road conditions and touches the outer shell with your hands. If the temperature is not high enough, it means that there is no resistance inside the shock absorber and the shock absorber does not work.
 At this time you should know if it is time to replace the shock absorber.

Description:
Shock Aborber,Boot,Bumper Kit,Spring Seat,Coil Spring,Isolator

Installation Steps:
First step
1. Remove the tire, and place the removed tire on the ground steadily, with the outside side facing up, and put the tire screw on the tool c art
2. Gradually remove the connecting rod screws, brake hose screws, and brake ABS cable. After removing the screws, arrange them and place them on the tool cart (Note: Be careful not to damage the oil pipe and ABS cable)
3. Remove the half shaft nut and remove the automatic system. (Note: Fix the calipers reasonably and do not damage the tubing)
4. Remove the direction lever (note: use a special tool to remove the ball head
5. Remove the vehicle height sensor (note: remove carefully, do not damage)
6. Remove the ball head of the lower control arm
7. Remove the upper connecting bolts, and take out the shock absorber assembly and steering knuckle assembly together. (Note: Two people are required to cooperate to avoid damage to related parts after replacement)
Second step
1. The shock absorber assembly of the original car has been disassembled, and the new shock absorber assembly has been replaced.
2. Take out the new shock absorber assembly and compare it with the old one before installing it.
3. Install the new shock absorber assembly on the steering knuckle assembly
4. Assemble the shock absorber assembly and steering knuckle assembly back to the vehicle together.
Third Step
1. Restore the ABS cable, tubing, and tie rod to their original positions.
2. Restore all the automatic systems, and carefully check the oil pipes and other lines for interference.
3. Assemble the tire to the car (Note: carefully tighten the tire bolts)

Frequently Asked Questions:

1.What shocks and struts do? 
They keep the tires from bouncing which causes loss of road contact and they also keep the vehicle body weight from shifting and rolling which causes a loss of vehicle control and handling. You could say that their main job is to resist both tire and vehicle body motion. When shocks and struts are working well, the vehicle maintains traction on the road and has the optimum stability in every driving condition: stopping, turning, swerving, over bumps and potholes.

2.Can I Drive With a Broken Strut?
A strut is a suspension component that dampens an automobile's movements and prevents it from bouncing on its springs. Struts are often expensive to replace, but driving on a broken strut is not a good idea.

3.Can worn shocks or struts cause my new tires to wear unevenly?
Absolutely: shocks and struts provide damping force to control tire movement. When the tires move excessively, they develop a “cupping” wear pattern that damages the tire.

Other factors such as incorrect air pressure, worn suspension components or improperly aligned steering also causes uneven tire wear.

4.Shall we choose to replace the normal shock absorber or the direct shock absorber assembly?
From the perspective of the difficulty of replacement, it is difficult to replace an independent shock absorber, requires professional equipment and technicians, and has a high risk factor.
From the price point of view, the individual parts of the shock absorber kit are expensive to replace, while the shock absorber assembly contains all the parts of the shock absorber system, which is cheaper than replacing all the parts of the shock absorber.

5.What are the benefits after replacing the shock absorber?
Buffer conveys shock to drivers and passengers in order to improve ride comfort and reduce fatigue.
Extend body life, prevent spring damage and improve braking effect.
Suppressing the rapid vibration of the wheels while driving, preventing the tires from leaving the road surface and improving the driving stability.
Improving driving stability and adjustability, effectively conveying engine deflagration pressure to the ground, so as to save fuel costs.

6.What happens if I do not replace worn out shocks and struts?
Tires will wear out prematurely, the vehicle becomes more difficult to stop, steer and maintain tire contact with the road. The vehicle will be difficult to control and unpleasant to drive. The ability of the driver to make emergency maneuvers and stops is compromised.

7.Why should I buy a complete strut assembly instead of replacing the bare strut only?
The complete strut assembly includes a new spring, strut mount, dust bellows, and bump stop.  It is about 50% faster and much safer to install a complete strut assembly compared to a bare strut.  Generally, a new strut mount, dust bellows, and bumper are needed with the bare strut replacement. So, the complete strut assembly saves time, is cheaper than the bare strut plus purchasing the replacement strut mount kit and is much safer to install.

8.Why should I replace complete strut assembly in PAIR?
It is generally recommended to replace shocks and struts in pairs for the front or rear of the vehicle.This practice ensures that the repair schedule for the left and ride sides are harmonized.