The joint near my rack and pinion is bad.

Does anyone know if an r53 shares the same lower steering shaft as an r56? Or atleast the same lower joint? There is an r56 in a local u pull it yard with the shaft still intact.

Better yet, does anyone know what size universal joint i need?

it just seems like a waste to swap out the entire shaft for 1 bad joint.

 

Suggest you go to www.RealOem.com and look the part numbers up. If you are close to the facelift, MY 2005, then be sure to have the month the car was built.

 

I dont think they are the same. They look similar but the ID might be different. I shot mine with some free all to buy some time and work it back and forth until it needs to be replaced.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...mc-w-pics.html

 

thanks for the replies guys.

No amount of lube is going to fix this haha. The joints is literally broke, not seized.

I will pull the shaft first chance I get and report my findings. Luckily this isn't my daily mode of transportation.

 

Yes, if its broke, its gone. No free all is going to fix that. haha

Let us know if they match up, from the pics on the site they look close, but MINI likes to change things up generation to generation. Good luck.

 

I'll pull the shaft from the junk yard regardless. The engine is already out of the car, and its right there in the open, and cheap part.

If that doesn't work. I have a very good industrial parts house locally that is very good with bearings and joints. Hoping they can match something up.

Again, please bear with me as I do my research...

 

No they aren't even close so you can't swap R56 to R53.

You need this complete lower shaft. I wouldn't get used as they have all been binding as they get worn.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/lower-...0-r52-r53.html

 

They are not interchangeable from R56 to R53 unfortunately. And in some more bad news the ujoints themselves arent servicable/replaceable. They dont make just the joint according to my research. Just today I changed mine out. If you're still having trouble let me know there's another one at our local self service parts place. I could pick it up and we can sort out getting it shipped to you!

 

@Tedwardo Your offer to help is very generous but this thread is 5 years old.