Thanks! Very useful post, especially with the photo. I have had the dreaded clicking noise when parking for months so will try this. I have heard garages use white lithium grease, availiable in aerosol spray cans with a tube applicator from places like Halfords, as it should stay a lot longer than 3 in 1 oil, etc. in the bearing.

 

Finally got round to doing this job at the weekend. Pretty straight forward, the plastic lower column cover clips came apart easily with a flat bladed screwdriver. Sprayed in some 3 in 1 white lithium grease from Halfords into the bearing and all noise & clicks have gone! :smile:

 

I recently bought a 53 plate cooper S, which has developed a kind of knocking/clicking noise when turning the steering wheel at low speed. I did as you suggested - took the column plastics off, greased up the bearing, and had another listen....no change

The noise seems to be coming from further down the column - it is more a knocking than a clicking noise as you describe - has anybody any ideas what this could be? If the lower bearing, which some people have mentioned, was bug*ered would this give these kind of symptons...or am I looking at something a bit more difficult to diagnose and fix

Cheers for your help

 

There is a universal joint at the bottom of the column where it joins the steering rack pinion. It could be this but I have not changed one. Its detailed in the MINI Haynes manual which also states the steering column can not be repaired, if any faults are detected install a new column!
(BMW have replaced many on this forum under warranty). You might get a goodwill payment towards it if low mileage and outside warranty.

 

Ah excellent - thanks for the response mab01uk, I might just have to treat myself to a Haynes manual

I think 19k on a 53 plate should pass on the low mileage front

 

Well my steering column bearing is clunking again so it looks like its time to fit a new column. (March 2002 MINI 40K miles) This is what I have found out so far about this common MINI problem which may be of help to others :-

The clunk or clicking noise when turning the wheel in low speed situations such as parking is caused by a failed bearing and rotary coupler in the upper steering column assembly. The rotary coupler is the part that allows all the wiring coming from the steering wheel (Airbag, stereo controls, cruise control and horn wires) to rotate when the steering is turned and to keep all the cables in place inside the column. Greasing the upper column bearing often gives a temporary fix as in my case for a month or two.
MINI in early 2003 issued a new revised upper steering column / rotary coupler assembly with new part numbers. NOTE: If you have a 2001/2002 MINI both upper and lower steering column assemblies MUST BE REPLACED as the new upper column is not backwards compatible with the old lower steering column assembly (Differences in the splines). Also if you have an Auto the steering column is different from manual models due to the electric shift lock feature. The repair / fitting takes about 2-3 hours garage labour and the current parts prices from BMW are Upper column £163 +vat, Lower column £73 + vat (Total parts £280 approx. inc. vat).
Dismantling and fitting is detailed for DIYers in the MINI Haynes manual.
(The MINI steering column is made by NSK Steering Systems Europe Ltd. of Coventry, West Midlands CV6 6PA.)
For BMW part numbers and exploded diagrams see realoem.com)
Despite the modified parts it seems it is not unknown for later post 2003 columns to start clunking!

 

I'm not sure if this is the same clicking or clunking noise you are all talking about, but mine has always clicked when the indicator is on. I think it's a the turn indicator's reset mechanism.

When my car was delivered, the steering wheel was not straight. I kicked up a fuss about this and many other faults. They "fixed" the problem such that the steering wheel was not straight in the other direction. Second time around, the steering wheel was almost straight, but with the clicking.

I got fed up going back to the dealer and lived with it.

 

Wicked advice. Does TLC cover for total repare?

Hey, Thanks for that post, the advice was great, that is first job on list for this weekend. My Mini has just starting the dreaded click and is winding me up!!

Does the TLC pack cover it to be repared properly??

 

Mabo1Uk has put it in a nutshell, I have 2002 MCS, had rack and column changed in 2006 under warranty, but now get the clunking and MINI have agreed to fit a column under goodwill, have to pay some labout though. how long this one will last, who knows !Not sure if it has been redesigned since the last one. they do not know what the fault is though, even after checking it with MINI, perhaps they should read this site ! If it doesnt fix the clunk, they will look at changing the rack again, till it goes away !

Kimberley - TLC only covers so much of the servicing, faulty parts are under the 3yr warranty or if outside that a goodwill request.

 

I used wd40, left over night then used normal 3-1 oil out of the black and white tin with red top... been over 7mths and car has done 6000miles and still no clucking! I know a few people who have used expensive lubes n greases and none seem to last! yet normal 3in1 seems to last a long time!!

 

My column went quiet again so I have'nt bothered to replace it yet, next time it starts clunking again I will try the normal 3 in 1 oil and see if it lasts longer for me. :smile:

 

nowt to loose trying it! I have noticed if i have had 4 people in the car or a heavy load i get a clunking when turning corners slowly but only last a day then goes! other that that silent bliss

 

great bit of advice and well worth trying out. My sisters Mini One has been doing this since she got it.. It almost sounds like cables or something plastick catching as the wheel is turned. It's not really noticeable under normal driving but is really annoying when manoevering as the wheel is turned more.

I dropped the cowling from under the steering column this afternoon and gave everything a good squirt of lub.. All is quiet now It might come back but there's no notchy feel in the wheel now and it makes parking a much more pleasant experience

 

cheap fix for steering column noise

i experienced this steering column noise on a customers car this week and was quoted $1200 aus for column replacement (parts only) what a ridiculous amount. i pulled the steering column out and found that the bearings were noisy due to them being unsealed and having an unusual amount of aluminium filings in the bearings. these dont take that much load so realistically this is a manufacturing fault. i had decided to pull this column apart and see if i could fix it. got the bearings out and matched them up (part number is nsk bearing 6905 for anyone interested)
and fitted them to the steering column. these bearings had the rubber seals on them so no foreign objects can enter. its was fitted to the car and tested perfectly and the owner couldnt have been happier (bearings cost me $28 aus) alot better than $1200

 

i experienced this steering column noise on a customers car this week and was quoted $1200 aus for column replacement (parts only) what a ridiculous amount. i pulled the steering column out and found that the bearings were noisy due to them being unsealed and having an unusual amount of aluminium filings in the bearings. these dont take that much load so realistically this is a manufacturing fault. i had decided to pull this column apart and see if i could fix it. got the bearings out and matched them up (part number is nsk bearing 6905 for anyone interested)
and fitted them to the steering column. these bearings had the rubber seals on them so no foreign objects can enter. its was fitted to the car and tested perfectly and the owner couldnt have been happier (bearings cost me $28 aus) alot better than $1200

Hi, is it hard to press the bearing out(do I need to press it out)? Or there is some other way how the bearing is held in place?
Cheers

 

Tried this literally just now, and have stumbled at removing the steering column trim.

I've removed the 2 screws, and the rubber ignition barrel part, but I can't remove the trim, probably because I don't want to risk breaking or snapping a part of it.

Has anyone got any tips?

Thanks!

 

Push a stubby wide/ thin flat blade screwdriver (or thin penknife type blade) in between the joint of the 2 halves of the trim........carefully twist the screwdriver opening up a gap and the plastic moulding should unclip apart along its length.

 

steering column

karool its not easy to press the bearings out if you dont have the right tools and some mechanical knowledge
maybe if you pull the column out and take it to a mechanic or engineer to replace the bearings

 

Replaced my column with a new one today, easy job apart from the key cylinder! Found this link which got me sorted out
Procedure to remove ignition lock barrel and get at tumblers

if anybody wants to buy mine to replace the bearing ready to swap them then get in touch!

 

Thanks OP, just treated a lightly clicking/clunking 2002 Cooper to some White Lithium grease and it is now as smooth as...

My own thoughts? In my case the noise seemed to be a light "plasticky" type click or clunk. I think the actual motion that caused the noise was not a big deal, but the plastic trim around the steering column amplified the noise and feel of it.

I applied grease to three areas :
-the plastic do-nut that the metal column passes thru
-this do-nut is inside an alloy piece that rotates, I greased the two points where this is supported
-I also greased the universal joint right behind the plastic do-nut

How I did it:
-The grease I used was pretty standard white lithium grease in aerosol form
-I removed the underpiece of the plastic steering column surround
-I ran a few lengths of kitchen towel around and behind the parts I intended to grease, to stop "overspray"
-I applied a good coating to the three areas above, poking the aerosol straw into any nooks and crannies.
-I took it for a drive to the nearest big quiet carpark and did a few figure-of-eights, parked it up with the steering locked to one side and repeated the greasing, did some more figure of eights and repeated with the steering locked to the other extreme.(this only helps get better angles on the universal joint, not the other bits)
-Wiped off excess grease and refitted the plastic trim.
-While still in deserted car park I loosened the height adjustment lever and drove around awhile, allowing the steering wheel to adjust itself to it's "natural" position before tightening the lever. I have a feeling that the noise may be worse for people who have the wheel at extremes of the range of movement as you will be putting a larger angle on the universal joint

Notes:
-Aerosol white lithium grease is handy because of the straw, but BE CAREFUL- it needs a careful trigger finger. It leaves a kind of foamy coating so if you press the aerosol too hard you will blow little white spurts all over the place (it will look like you had an "incident" while driving).
-If this doesn't last 6months,next time I might use some "tacky" bike chain lube, like Finish Line wet weather lube

 

help clanging, clicking and pulin to one side 2001 cooper 73k

mines clicking and clunking and pulling to one side. its in the garage where i bought it! feel like they have no idea.
Sounds to me its the upper and lower coloum?? or bearings?? i just need to know what i should tell them to explain?? im not very good at explaining when i dont understand myself. anyone wanna help me with a quote on what i should say to explain??? cheers. shaun

 

I had the clicking noise on my 56 plate (just before face lift) MCS at low speed tuning. I removed plastic as described (doesn't quite fall into your hands when the 2 screws are removed as you would want it to, but once you get it over the sterring adjust lever its not too bad. Goes back on easier!) Anyway I would avoid a thin oil like WD40 as this will flush out any good grease that is still in the bearing. I used a 3in1 oil in and around the bearing as described. I found it a pain to get the bottle to be able to tilt in this area so used a bit of spare screen wash tubing and poured oil into that then injected it into the bearing by blowing the other end and turning the steering to work the oil into the bearing.

Thanks because I have got not more noises. Seems to have worked a treat!.... Not sure for how long though!

 

I sprayed some lithium grease in, and appears to have stopped the noise!

 

Just replaced my bearing with one with seals - took 1 hour total but would have been quicker if I had pushed the far end inwards instead of trying to pull it outwards. Simple really

 

I can add a few more photos after doing this today.

I also pulled up the rubber boot at the base of the column and you can see it goes through to the engine bay where the steering rack is. I stuck some spray grease on the CV joint down there as well as in the rack bearing just under the rubber boot on the rack.

As others did, I put grease on the bearing in the cabin under the plastic cover and also on the CV joint cabin side.

 

Creaking and Clicking from Steering Column R53 (and others)

Followed the guidance today and sprayed WD40 in and noise went immediately. Came back as WD 40 dried out. So put Spray 3 in 1 in there and all good. Have spray White Lithium on hand if it comes back.

A bit of force is needed to get the lower plastic cowling off, but be brave! - Prise the top cover away with a wide bladed screwdriver , then you need to pull and then get the steering column adjuster through the hole, YOu need to let the column don and then up and it will eventually get through. Then you have to pull towards you with a bit o force and it comes out.

Getting it back in is a similar struggle but again be brave, the plastics seem to be very durable.

Thanks to everyone who posted and gave me confidence to do this.

Now off to fix the sunroof

 

Just did the same with some wd40 white lithium spray. So much better after this simple fix

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