Have any of you guys had any issues with your lower steering joint? I have a lot of play in my steering wheel and have narrowed it down to the upper part of the lower joint.

Or does anyone have a used one out of a parts car? Should be number one
In this photo

 

I believe that mine is starting to act up. I replaced the steering pump three years ago, the steering rack a month ago and the steering started to be stiff last week, usually more when the car is cold. I drowned it in WD40 just to see if it would go and seems to have worked, so I'll have to replace it. My car has 140,000km (around 87,000 miles)

 

my steering got hard a couple of months ago, i searched and thought it was my steering pump. went to the dealer they told it was. i didn't have them do the work, they wanted 1,450 for it to be replaced. So i replaced it myself for under 800 dollars, after i had changed it steering was still f-ed. so i took it to my mechanic. they told me it was the lower steering shaft. so, now i have placed one on order. I don't know why the dealer would lie to me. there for i'm never going back to them.

 

I have been waiting since April for a Steering spindle U-joint for my 2002 R50 Mini Cooper and I was told again today that Mini Cooper cannot get them and there are none in the US.
They will not put one on the car from another country because the specks do not match in the US requirements and I will just have to wait longer until they can locate a supplier that can manufacture more.
It has been 12 weeks now! I cannot drive my car because MINI cannot supply the part!!
What is going on?
Has anyone had the same experience?
I need help, or at least someone that is going thru the same thing to talk to!
T

 

i also need this part. heard its on back order. damn wheel clicks with nearly every turn now. also have the shakes at 50-65 mph, may or may not be related to the steering shaft, but im sure its not helping it.

 

AstroBlackMetallic,
Thank you for the reply now all we need is for the other people who are experiencing this issue to find the forum and post to get an idea of how many others are suffering at Mini's expense.
02R50Ryder

 

They told me the same thing...back ordered no iDea when they can have one and mine makes the car unsafe to drive

 

Yes my mini is not drivable either, and I have not driven it for over 12 weeks at this point.

As I said in a previous posting, I think it is time to make some noise!

This forum is how it will start.

Good luck and if you hear anything post it in the forum.

02R50Ryder

 

same deal for my R50...been at the dealer for a little over 3 weeks waiting

excellent dealer, so the problem is basically supply...

MINI has apparently told North America to stop calling for status as they know of the shortage and are "working on it".

Luckily my dealer gave me a free loaner in the meantime so I'm just waiting for mine to get the part so we can get back on the road.

Does feel different driving a MINI that can actually steer properly!

I'll keep waiting for now...


Minnesota MINI by jimmy_racoon, on Flickr

 

Sorry the out of stock lower steering shafts is a nationwide problem. I've actually sold several of the used ones I had. Good thing we didn't trash them. I got a couple left if any really needs.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/used-lo...0-r52-r53.html

 

Received my used one yesterday, thanks for having those in stock.

 

Great, I'm glad to get you out of a pinch.

 

Can't anyone come up w/ a beefier steering shaft U-joint? This, & the coming PS pump delete block will definitely rid us of some known issues.