1st Gen R53 Cooper S Today's Job

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by k-huevo, Dec 21, 2010.

Tags:
  1. Alan

    Alan Active Member

    May 6, 2009
    353
    98
    28
    retired
    New Braunfels, Texas
    Ratings:
    +98 / 0 / -0
    Well I'll be. I thought when you pushed on the clutch pedal you were feeling the clutch.

    The R53 has a coiled spring instead. Confirmed by looking under the dash and RealOEM.
     
  2. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
    Supporting Member

    Dec 17, 2009
    1,636
    398
    83
    Glorified spreadsheet jockey.
    Austin, TX
    Ratings:
    +413 / 0 / -0
    You can a bit. There will be feedback from the hydraulic line. I felt that in mine when I had the dusty grime on my TO bearing.

    However, most of the resistance and pedal feel you have is driven by the spring.
     
  3. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

    Jun 12, 2009
    1,315
    154
    63
    Civil Engineer
    Durham, NC
    Ratings:
    +155 / 0 / -0
    It's still a PITA to bleed the clutch. Pedal stays on the floor the first couple times - that spring doesn't do much.
     
  4. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

    May 6, 2009
    683
    159
    0
    Pipe Creek, Texas
    Ratings:
    +159 / 0 / -0
    The other auto-cross mod.

    [​IMG]


    I think the housing is neat with the curved lines and seamless flare into the ring gear. Reminds me of classic space ships and early 20th century industrial machining.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    With the smaller front sway bar and traction from both both wheels, this R56 can carve wicked tight turns; I can feel the onset of torque steer, but it's controllable.
     
  5. david in germany

    david in germany New Member

    Dec 15, 2010
    250
    5
    0
    Ratings:
    +5 / 0 / -0
    Ford parts on a Mini? Straight swap?
     
  6. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
    Supporting Member

    May 4, 2009
    8,767
    2,547
    113
    Bend, OR USA
    Ratings:
    +2,678 / 1 / -0
    Yep......SVT Focus lsd. And for about half the cost of a Quaife.

    I wasn't aware that it was a fit for the R56 tho.....
     
  7. KC Jr 54

    KC Jr 54 New Member

    Jun 3, 2009
    402
    20
    0
    Machine Operator
    Tyler, TX
    Ratings:
    +20 / 0 / -0
    Yeah, I had no idea the Torsen fit the r56. Good to know! Has me thinking about the rest of the gears and internals.
     
  8. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

    May 6, 2009
    683
    159
    0
    Pipe Creek, Texas
    Ratings:
    +159 / 0 / -0
    Not My Job Today

    The symptom was coolant in the oil but no oil in the coolant, discoverd was a crack on the timing chain side of the head.

    [​IMG]


    This is a moderate mileage R53, second owner.
     
  9. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

    May 6, 2009
    683
    159
    0
    Pipe Creek, Texas
    Ratings:
    +159 / 0 / -0
    Today's Job R56 2885 Code

    The 2885 code on an R56 can mean too much or too little boost. Usually it indicates a failed diverter valve, but can also accompany a failed turbo, or leaks in the charge path. If the boost has been upped, but sensors not upgraded as well, then this code will be generated too.

    When all has been deemed healthy on the boost side, the next place to look for a problem is with vacuum. The rubber tubing serving the wastegate is sensitive to oil & solvents, exposure can create swelling and loss of seal. Then there's heat. The rubber can weaken and collapse while under vacuum, preventing timely opening & closing of the wastegate, thereby affecting exhaust pressure. Evidently heat has been enough of an issue with the R56 for the tubes to undergo a part change. In the photo below, the new tubes at the top have thick insulating material wrapped around a short section, the tubes at the bottom are unprotected and have melted areas on its sheath, the hard tubes beneath are melted a little too.

    [​IMG]

    Unfortunately, the photos of the damage I want to display aren't clear. The 2885 problem with this R56 JCW was a collapsed kink in the waste gate hose (fatter of the two). At about the same point where the new insulation is located, there was a small spot, which had become overheated, and the inner walls stuck together. After exhausting all other troubleshooting steps, I pulled the hose, massaged it, reinstalled, and all was good. The old hose & tubing was in poor condition at all ends when removed.
     
  10. GreyLens

    GreyLens New Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    Dec 25, 2009
    259
    71
    0
    Electrical Engineer
    San Antonio, Texas
    Ratings:
    +71 / 0 / -0
    I was one of the other R56 Clutch & Flywheel replacements k-huevo did at around 30K miles. It was discovered when installing an OS Giken LSD. We replaced it with OEM to stay in STX class for autox. The previous bad behavior of the clutch is gone and the new one works great.
     
  11. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

    May 6, 2009
    683
    159
    0
    Pipe Creek, Texas
    Ratings:
    +159 / 0 / -0
    In addition to returning boost to the R56 after replacing the vacuum tubes, idle stability and low rpm performance also improved. Launching with OS clutch kit no longer results in a stall if the revs aren't matched perfectly.
     
  12. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

    May 4, 2009
    1,046
    57
    48
    Engr Manager
    Austin, TX
    Ratings:
    +57 / 0 / -0
    Excellent, I am sure the owner is pleased with the renewed street manners. :Thumbsup:
     
  13. btwdriver

    btwdriver New Member

    May 4, 2009
    275
    7
    0
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    Keith, when putting my mini back together (yes it currently looks like a real car and not a bunch of parts), I discovered that this oil line leaks very badly. When I re-installed it the front of the car was off and I would like to avoid tearing it down that far. Can you sneak the line in if you remove the downpipe, head shields and turbo bracket? It seems as if the lower banjo is behind the downpipe heat shield on the engine block side, so I guess that would have to be removed as well.

    The good news, is the car seemed to run fine for the 2 minutes it was running before I discovered the leak. I guess that is par for the course in a tear down this large...
     
  14. k-huevo

    k-huevo Club Coordinator

    May 6, 2009
    683
    159
    0
    Pipe Creek, Texas
    Ratings:
    +159 / 0 / -0
    I'll take a guess and say you can remove downpipe etc. and snake it up and over, if the radiator support is moved far enough out. It may be easier for you to remove the header with the turbo attached; if you do that it will provide a lot of room, and there'll be no blind spots.
     
  15. btwdriver

    btwdriver New Member

    May 4, 2009
    275
    7
    0
    Ratings:
    +7 / 0 / -0
    Thanks.
     
  16. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
    Supporting Member

    Dec 17, 2009
    1,636
    398
    83
    Glorified spreadsheet jockey.
    Austin, TX
    Ratings:
    +413 / 0 / -0
    Keith, I'm considering replacing my front hub/bearing assemblies on my R56. How difficult is this to do in a driveway without air tools? Any advice for the process to keep me from screwing something up?
     
  17. KC Jr 54

    KC Jr 54 New Member

    Jun 3, 2009
    402
    20
    0
    Machine Operator
    Tyler, TX
    Ratings:
    +20 / 0 / -0
    I know i am not "THE Keith" (not even A Keith), but ill throw out my opinion.

    You dont NEED air tools, but an impact wrench for the axle nut would be useful. Otherwise youll have to pull your center caps out, and with the car on the ground loosen the axle nut.

    -Get a swivel 13mm socket, youll need it for the backside of the hubs.
    -Get new axle nuts.
     
  18. BThayer23

    BThayer23 Well-Known Member

    Jun 12, 2009
    1,315
    154
    63
    Civil Engineer
    Durham, NC
    Ratings:
    +155 / 0 / -0
    Just pulled the axles on my R53. 134 ft-lbs is the torque spec on the axle nut. Get a 1/2" drive breaker bar and slip the handle of your jack over it. Find a friend to stand on the brakes (hard) and throw your weight into it. When each nut loosened, it sounded like the wrench broke. Don't use a ratchet, either, you'll destroy it. You can do it with the car on or off the ground, with or without a wheel, but leave everything else attached.
     
  19. HRM

    HRM New Member

    Mar 16, 2011
    74
    10
    0
    Ratings:
    +10 / 0 / -0
    Aside from a bar to get the castle nut off the axle, universal joints or wobble sockets might prove to be a big plus. I have only done an R53, but really most FWD cars are similar.

    Don't cheap out on the bearing, you can get a good brand for not much more than the cheapest out there..
     
  20. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
    Supporting Member

    Dec 17, 2009
    1,636
    398
    83
    Glorified spreadsheet jockey.
    Austin, TX
    Ratings:
    +413 / 0 / -0
    Sounds like I can do this. I have a 1/2 dr breaker bar. Arguably one of the most useful tools I've ever purchased. :lol: I also have flex and wobble extensions.

    I'm liking the idea of leaving the wheel on while I get it loose then pulling the wheel off to do the remainder of the work. I'm thinking I'll break the lug bolts loose before this as well to save me the headache of kicking them off after I've loosened the axle nut.

    Okay. Well the Hub & Bearing are a once piece assembly everywhere I have looked. Cheapest assembly I found was $135 a piece for Timken. And I've found SKF (best quality with a 3-year 36k warranty) for between $187 to $220 a piece.

    Okay so the torque spec on the main axle nut is 134 ft-lbs for an R56? I appreciate the R53 input but I know there are some noticeable differences in things like torque specs b etween the R56 and R53. Anyone know what the spec is on the 4 hub-bolts?

    Thank You to EVERYONE for the quick responses.
     

Share This Page