clunking noise when turning the wheel

[eekthemeek]

Hi can anyone help me im having a problem when im turning the steering wheel i hear a clunking noise. i pulled down the plastic cover that is located under the steering wheel and i noticed that the noise is coming from the two rods that are jointed together (sorry not very good with car part names) and i also hear another clunk that is coming from further inside where there is another plastic peice covering it...
has anyone else had this same problem?
can i just simply lube up the part where the two parts are jointed together so they can twist smoother when turning the steering wheel?
can anyone help?
thanks

[obehave]

Quote: Originally Posted by eekthemeek

Hi can anyone help me im having a problem when im turning the steering wheel i hear a clunking noise. i pulled down the plastic cover that is located under the steering wheel and i noticed that the noise is coming from the two rods that are jointed together (sorry not very good with car part names) and i also hear another clunk that is coming from further inside where there is another plastic peice covering it...
has anyone else had this same problem?
can i just simply lube up the part where the two parts are jointed together so they can twist smoother when turning the steering wheel?
can anyone help?
thanks

Happens during slow turns when the wheel is around 9:00 or 3:00. Right or left hand turn?
If so it's a known issue.
Haven't heard of it in a long time but it was quite common on '02 and '03 cars.

Had it fixed on mine about 1.5 years ago.

[Goonery]

Have you checked all your wheels, you might have had a Denver Boot fitted when you parked somewhere you should'nt

[eekthemeek]

yeah its a '03 and yeah it happens on slow turns .... what can i do to fix it?

[Widgey]

Quote: Originally Posted by eekthemeek

yeah its a '03 and yeah it happens on slow turns .... what can i do to fix it?

Replacement steering column needed. Same thing happened on my '02 MINI about 18 months ago. Column was replaced while car was still under warranty.

[Shorty]

This problem has been discussed many times on here, and I have to agree that
you need a new steering column. I had 3 on my previous car

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

I had exactly the same problem on my Cooper and, after having read about it on Mini", was expecting to have to have a new steering column fitted.

However, it turned out to be so much easier. The mechanic described a universal joint (UJ) in the steering column, just like you have, that was causing the noise. What happened was that when the steering column was originally fitted the joint was under too much pressure and the "knuckles" in the UJ would meet and knock against each other when the steering was in certain positions.

The answer was to undo all of the mountings for the steering column, move the steering column about to take the excessive pressure off the UJ and then do them all up again. The job was done in about 30 minutes and the noise has never come back.

This is certainly worth checking first before getting them to replace the steering column

Tigger.

[minigolf]

This sounds like the clunk I'm getting from my steering wheel at the moment. I've already had one steering column replaced under warranty. Bad news is, I no longer have warranty.

[bubblegoose]

i dont know if its the same over in Oz.. but you could always ask your dealer to put in a Goodwill claim to MINI HQ and see if you get a result.

Always worth a shot if you ask me

Hope you get it sorted!

[hursty]

sorry to drag this thread up
I got a New Mini, its under warranty so i am not that concerned, I just wanted to get a bit of info before i take it in, just in case they try and fob me off

car:53 plate JCW mini cooper s

Its had a new upper steering column and PAS pump fitted under warranty via previous owner

symptoms: when turning the wheel left (whilst the car is at a standstill) its clunks, only have to turn it 90 degrees or so
it don't do it when turning the wheel right