19 replies to this topic

[miniJJ]

Model:Austin rover Mayfair
Year:1985
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):

My mini started making a grinding / scraping noise from the front drivers side wheel yesterday when approaching full lock when moving. As my cones are due to be replaced and my car is quite low, I assumed it was the tyre catching the arches or similar.

I was driving to college this morning, when the same noise occured for a couple of seconds, followed by a large bang bucking the car a bit, and then the front end seemed to be bouncing around asif something was rotating out of balance at the front end. I immediatly assumed a snapped fanbelt whipping around or even a tyre blowout getting whipped around inside the arch and inner wing. Thats what it felt like. The car decellerated by itself quite quickly, from 30mph it didn't make it to the kerb on the side of the road.

A freindly chap helped me to push it to the side of the road, the car was out of gear with the handbrake off, and it took the two of us a real effort to get it to move, it felt like it bumpstarting a car but harder. However, after we got it there, I checked under the front of the car, under the bonnet and have so far spotted no external signs of damage. The car started up fine as it was, and I managed to drive it 2 miles home (slowly, in 2nd and 3rd gear) gingerly as it was still making bad noises.

I'm going to get it up on axle stands and check everything over. What do you guys think happened? Gearbox / cv / driveshaft / diff failure? I have another A+ box in the garage if needed.

Thanks

[starletman]

I would say if you managed to start it in neutral and engage a gear to drive home its not the gearbox or the diff.I would look at either a cv joint or possible wheel bearing.

[miniJJ]

Yeah, I was a bit thrown after it was so hard to push to the side of the road, but started and drove home alright. Could a wheel bearing really cause this? I suppose a collapsed wheel bearing would fit the symptoms.

Thanks for that, I'm going to go and check the bearings for play or failure now.

JJ

[miniJJ]

Right, can't say I noticed any play in the wheel bearings, so I took it for a short gentle drive, and it seems ok? =/ However, there is a squeaking / scrapey / grindy noise coming from the front end. I don't want to drive it properly until I have rectified this.

Any ideas? I'm going to go over every nut on the front end checking for anything loose, but I'm stumped as to pinipointing the problem.

[greensilver mini]

have you looked to see if stone is stuck in the brake cailper or something stuck that could make the noise your saying

[miniJJ]

Yeah I have mate, I checked the brakes over as I thought some debris in the calipers could have caused the decelleration and the noise. The discs are straight too, I have cooper S brakes to go on anyway, but there doesn't seem to be a problem with the brakes.

Anyone? thanks

[1380sprint]

Could be a busted spline on the cv?
giving you no drive.....

[Ethel]

Jack it up so you can spin the front wheels, or try to, and see what the opposite one does. Is there much slack before it moves; does it rotate in the same or opposite direction...

[miniJJ]

Off to try that now, thanks Ethel!

[miniJJ]

Just did that, if I spin either wheel, the other wheel does nothing! The drivers side front wheel spins freely and smoothly, and the passenger side has more resistance and feels rough and sounds grindy.

Diff gone? How hard is it to replace, does the engine need removing? Bad news if so

Thanks, JJ

[Ethel]

Stick it in gear, one wheel can spin without moving the other, but only if the crown wheel turns - if it's in gear it would have to turn the engine too.

It does sound likely to be the diff, if one wheel spins easily then it ought to turn when you turn the other one.


The diff is fairly straight forward, but it really does mean lifting the engine - apparently it is possible in the car at a push, but no easier.

[1380sprint]

just an idea, but!
the bearings in that go in the pot joint could be shot?
or the pot its self?
this happend on a friends drag mini years ago,

[miniJJ]

I put it in 1st gear and turned one wheel, the other spins in the opposite direction, but there is a lot of slop before it turns the other wheel. With my hand on the tyre, I can move the outside of the tyre about 1.5 inches before the slack is taken up and the other wheel turns.

Which component is likely to be worn here?

Thanks, JJ

Edited by miniJJ, 17 December 2010 - 03:18 PM.

[Ethel]

It could be a few, see if the wheel moves relative to the pot joint, as 1380 suggests. If the slack if definitely between the pot joints then the diff, or its bearings are the most likely. I'd be inclined to lift the engine to get a proper look, if it's anything in the diff itself.

[miniJJ]

Right, the pot joint moves relative to the driveshaft and wheel, and theres a very noticable delay before the other pot joint moves, suggesting the diff has lots of play? And again, on the other side the pot joint moves relative to the driveshaft and wheel.

Luckily, I have another diff in the garage, which is in great condition, should I need to replace it tomorrow.

Thanks, JJ