I've got around 70k miles on my MINI
I wanted to check if the wheel bearings seemed loose so I jacked up the front driver's side of the MINI and wiggled the wheel around to see if there was much play.
It seemed pretty good.
Then I gave the wheel a pretty firm twist side to side.
When I do this I get a sort of clunky sound maybe halfway back into the car.
I'm guessing some steering linkage.
Is that normal or do I need to look further into it?

 

Get both front wheels off the ground, unlock your steering wheel (put your key to position 1), and grab each front wheel at 3 and 9 o'clock. Rock it back and forth: if you feel play, have an assistant rock it back and forth and reach behind the wheel and feel the ball joint. The ball joint is behind the wheel, toward the back of the car. it is the attachment point between the knuckle (the cast metal part that holds the wheel and brake disc) and the tie rod (the bar that comes from under the motor which has a rubber boot shaped like a bellows or accordion). Put your hand over the connection between these two parts and if you can feel play, you need to replace your ball joint. This is a safety issue, so get it done. If you rock the wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and feel play, you probably need a new wheel bearing, although the design of the MINI hubs makes it a little harder to fell bearing play.

It's unlikely your culprit, but while you are at it rock the thin bar that goes from the shock absorber to the swaybar to check for play there as well.

 

helix this may be an obvious question however it sounds like you may be able to answer my question very easily.

Is it more common on these cars to have the inner or outer tie rods go bad first if the vehicle has been subjected to some rough roads?

I have a very very small amount of play and have not really chased it very aggressively however am curious about the masses. Thanx

 

The tie rods are actually pretty good on a MINI. They isn't any one typical failure. You're just going to have to get under there and feel around. Good luck

 

Bearings in the steering column?

 

If it’s coming from the steering wheel its most likely the steering shaft. I had that problem and lubing that connection right above the foot well should fix it. It is up towards the steering wheel, but behind the dash I believe.

 

What about lower control arm bushings? If yours are original, they are likely toast by 70K; mine certainly were.