1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: LCA bushings need changing

  1. Rawhyde

    Rawhyde Active Member

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    #4 Rawhyde, Apr 29, 2015
    It's not too bad. I have a thread on it, but it's not a step by step. Get the Bentley manual and get the car up on 4 stands. While you have it out, change your ball joints, change your transmission fluid, and the O-Ring for the crankshaft position sensor. If you have xenon headlights you need to watch the orientation of the self leveling sensor on the LF control arm.

    Do NOT buy OEM bushings. Get the Powerflex polyurethane bushings. They'll last forever and I've not noticed any increased noise, but I did notice greatly increased steering response.
     
  2. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #3 Minidave, Apr 29, 2015
    Drop the subframe, it makes it oh so much easier and it's only a few extra bolts - plus, you can change the steering u-joint while you have it out - bonus!

    Otherwise, a few enterprising souls have developed tools that allow you to change them in the car - but that won't help you with the u-joint.
     
  3. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    #9 Minidave, Apr 30, 2015
    Maybe try to work some oil into that u-joint to try and get it to move smoothly again before you go to the trouble of removing the whole shaft?
     
  4. Fastlane

    Fastlane Member

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    #2 Fastlane, Apr 29, 2015
  5. Canusrufis

    Canusrufis RMW Powered R53
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    #5 Canusrufis, Apr 30, 2015
  6. Zapski

    Zapski Well-Known Member

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    #6 Zapski, Apr 30, 2015
    Here's another video that's pretty clear of the same method from the first video.

    Warning, sound quality is weird, so turn down your speakers to start.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7kQn82QB7U"]MINI Cooper service on control arm bushing lca easy how to wishbone powerflex power flex - YouTube[/ame]
     
  7. Rocco8788

    Rocco8788 New Member

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    #7 Rocco8788, Apr 30, 2015
    Minidave, can you replace the Ujoint on the steering column. Mini told me that the whole column needed to be replaced because that joint was starting to fail. I have never heard of this part failing in any car I have ever owned. it makes the steering jerky and tight in some spots. Had it to them because I thought it was the power steering but they said this joint was the problem.
     
  8. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #8 Metalman, Apr 30, 2015
    Here's a DIY...

    steering | Spec R53

    The part number is listed as a lower repair item on RealOEM..

    http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=RC33&mospid=48014&btnr=32_1279&hg=32&fg=30