1st Gen R53 Cooper S Guess what this was...

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by Nathan, Apr 8, 2010.

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  1. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
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    Can you guess what this was...

    No cheating Way or Chad...you already know...

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Rally

    Rally New Member
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    Definitely a muffler bearing
     
  3. Motoring Magic

    Motoring Magic New Member
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    ouch

    thats an ugly throw up bearing if I ever saw one
     
  4. imspencerwithanr53

    imspencerwithanr53 New Member

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    looks like a boner kill.
     
  5. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :Thumbsup: Clutch throwout bearing,I think.:cornut: Jason
     
  6. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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    This is what a T/O is suppose to look like.

    [​IMG]
     
  7. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

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    Definitely............I bet it was mucho noisy.
     
  8. nabeshin

    nabeshin New Member

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    Was that outta your car, Nate? Surely it made some kind of warning sound miles before this kind of failure. :crazy:
     
  9. Motoring Magic

    Motoring Magic New Member
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    So I'm guessing that thing siezed to the collar first? Anyone seen this before, while we are on wierd R53 Clutch issues:

    P1010505.jpg

    NO noise, normal pedal feel, just would not disengage. The three sections are nearly identical in width, and car is completely stock, not modded or driven hard, 70k on it when this thing broke.
     
  10. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    It started as an intermittent whistle that many thought was in the exhaust. The pedal felt a little off, almost like there was a rock that was getting crunched. My first thought was the clutch slave cylinder was going south again. I drove it for another two days of mostly highway driving and there was still the intermittent whistle. That turned into a squeal at idle when in neutral. The death knell was when the pedal went to floor and would not come back. I was able to nurse the car home after getting it in first with the engine off then starting it in gear. Good thing it was at like 3am and only a mile or so from home. It went to the shop the very next day on a flatbed.

    The clutch slave cylinder had gone away. After that was replaced the noise was still there so it was torn down to diagnose. That is when the shrapnel you see was found. I hope to get the car back today.
     
  11. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    Has there been any work/word on a beefier replacement?
     
  12. phydeaux

    phydeaux New Member

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    Now I'm a little scared. 86+K miles on my '05... should I have already started salting away a bit here and there to be able to replace my clutch someday soon?
     
  13. Wikedmini

    Wikedmini MINI of the Month - December 2009

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    ouch


    DUDE.., Im at 138k and mines an 06!
     
  14. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Just to clarify things. The clutch was fine. Has a few area of odd wear but would have probably lasted another 45K miles. The bearing went, not the clutch, pressure plate or flywheel.

    Keep in mind that I push things a little more than most and that probably accelerated the decline.
     
  15. Sideways

    Sideways New Member

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    So are you going back to OEM or are you going to upgrade?
     
  16. Robin Casady

    Robin Casady New Member
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    I didn't know they'd gone digital. :smilewinkgrin:
     
  17. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

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    What kind of upgrades are there to the throwout bearing? :confused5:
     
  18. beaner

    beaner New Member

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    The OS Giken thowout bearings are much more stout. They only work with their own clutch and flywheel, however. They are available through MA sponsor, Werkin' MINI.
     
  19. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    :frown5: Looking at it, the failures are very symmetrical. Every 120degrees/crack! I'm not an engineer but there appears to be a lot of evidence of heat damage. Poor alloy/temper of metal? Higher heat than normal, reason unknown? 'Popping the clutch' and 'speed shifting' too much(no Jason,no real Mini driver would ever do that:lol:). I don't know, but one of our more knowledgable will see this and give us an explanation. :Thumbsup: Jason
     
  20. Nitrominis

    Nitrominis Banned

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    The only upgrade to a t/o might be a hydraulic conversion? There is no "beefier" t/o bearing out there for a mini yet? Bearings are bearings.....But if someone claims to have one I would like to use it.
     

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