Steering clonking noise

[rosiedan]

Hi

I have recently come back to minis and brought a 2002 cooper as a second car but am worried about a clonking noise coming from the steering.

It happens from quarter turn to full lock when at slow speeds or stationery.

I cannot feel anything through the wheel.

It sounds like it comes from the front of the car????

I have read a few threads on this but wondered of anyone had any opinions here?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Dan

[MX-5 Lazza]

Take a good hold of the front wheels and give them a good tug/shove, particularly back/forwards. If you can move them and feel a bit of a clunk then your wishbone bushes are probably shot. That's exactly what happened to mine though I didn't actually feel/hear a clonk but it wasn't badly worn on mine.

[DanGT]

There is a fault that comes up a lot on early cars (had it my self). If you take off the covers round the steering colom just beind the steering wheel you will see the system for ajusting the hight of the steering wheel. As you move the wheel the bering at the center (the one the colom gose throw)is put under presser. If you move the hight around you should see how it all moves. Get the possition correct for you then center the bearing housing so that the center of the bering and outer part line up. Then put lots of greas on the bearing. Drive and the noise should go after a short time (the greas has top work it way in. If not there a are two option 1 change the bearing 2 there is a update rack that gets round the problem. Hope this helps (Mine has now been ok for 2 years with no parts changed).

[Happy82]

While not on the mini, we had a similar issue on our Jeep that was resolved by lubricating the ARB bushes so could be a cheap option to eliminate the problem.

[rosiedan]

Thank you Dan

I will try this. Hopefully that is what has happened with mine. Sounds like this is the cheapest option to try first.

I'll let you know.