Get the Best Priced Mini Cooper Control Arm

In 1959, a subcompact coupe came out of England that used a transverse-mounted engine and a space-efficient front-wheel-drive layout. Although a small vehicle, it provided a surprising amount of usable space for people and packages. Because it was affordable, stylish, fun to drive and easy to park, the British Mini and sportier Mini Cooper became well known worldwide, including the U.S., where it enjoyed brief popularity with the counter-culture during the 1960s.

After a long break, the Mini Cooper returned to the U.S. in 2002 under the direction of BMW. These new Minis have provided a uniquely sporting blend of classic British mini-car heritage and charm, with precise German engineering and construction.. Available as either a two- or four-door hatchback or a convertible , this small car has an infectious personality thanks to its quick steering and sharp handling. Early 21st-century Coopers weren't especially speedy, but Mini has upgraded the engines over the years, and modern versions offer a compelling compromise of performance and fuel efficiency.

A vehicle's suspension is a complexity of geometry and leverage. The front suspensions in most vehicles manufactured today not only steer the vehicle, but also drive the vehicle. Front-wheel drive designs rely on a control arm to counteract the engine's torque. By placing an engine torque limiter arm between the engine and the vehicle's chassis, the vehicle is able to be easily steered while applying power to the engine. Without this arm, the vehicle would be nearly impossible to steer when a driver applies power to the wheels.

The Mini uses control arms in the front suspension that integrate three joints: two ball joints, and one rear rubber bushing contained in an outer bracket. Many suspension problems can be traced back to worn out control arm ball joints or bushings. The factory original bushing typically last about 60K miles before you might notice a few clunks and/or squeaks while driving. They are used to isolate the different parts from each other and to prevent sound and vibrations coming from the road and tires to travel through the rest of the car. Worn-out front control arm bushing will result in increasing less responsive steering. Shaking of the steering wheel at high speeds is a good indicator that you have either worn control arm bushings and ball joints, or a bent control arm. If you are replacing the wishbone bushings and are upgrading to stiffer shocks and springs, you may want to replace the stock rubber bushings with a set of polyurethane ones. These bushings are more heavy duty than the stock ones and will help in keeping the suspension settings of the car more precise under heavy cornering.

The front control arms on the R55/R56/R57 Mino are very similar to the earlier cars except that the inner ball joints are now incorporated into the control arm instead of a detachable joint bolted to the sub frame. Additionally, the design for the outer ball joints has changed, moving the mounting points onto the control arm.

What is the Mini Cooper Control Arm replacement cost?

PartsGeek prices for the Dorman control arm for the Mini Cooper are $44.33 for the front and $106.33 for the rear.