11 replies to this topic

[Zulu162]

So guys. Something under the bonnet started squeaking the day previous. Thought it may of been the clutch at first, although speed or revs dont affect the timing or frequency of the noise unless i stop. Going down the dual carriage way when i notice the car veering to the left, hold it on course and and then suddenly something goes BANG! the steering feels funny and unresponsive and the car veers of the road onto the verge. Come to a stop and look under the car. Nothing out of place that I can see. Need to get to work so gingerly nurse it the mile to my mums house and run home from there. On the way back the steering felt okay, but something was making a crunching noise. Brakes didnt seem too affected to be honest, but i think it may of been the pads or wheel bearings?

Any suggestions?

Also if it is the wheel bearings, how do i change them? I cant find how to do it in the Haynes, only reference to them is in the MOT section.

Thanks in advance.

Regards, Duncan

Frankly this couldnt of come at a worse time, wedding in 5 weeks and no money

[TORZIEnJIM]

Deffo bearings! Cheap as chips and easy to do! Look up the mini addicts vid in you tube...

[mini-luke]

What ever you do, do not drive it how it is.

[Zulu162]

Only drove it to get it off the verge :) Bearings, right. Mini addicts vid it is! Thanks chaps!

[Joseph-C]

just to be sure its the bearings grab the wheel at 12 and 6 and push and pull to see if there is any play.
here's the video:

I think getting the hub off is probably going to be the most time consuming part.

[tiger99]

It also is a very good match to the symptoms of a worn or broken cage in the CV joint. I have not had one fail on a Mini, but it did happen on another larger vehicle, and it was not at all nice, in fact it was downright dangerous, because all my strength was needed to hold it almost straight. Fortunately it ended up on the hard shoulder. It was a Talbot Express van, the forces involved in a Mini would be somewhat more manageable!

If you are changing the bearings, you need to take the CV out anyway.

What I think happens is that the six balls in the CV all normally lie in one plane, bisecting the angle between the two shafts, but if the wear on the sides of the ball slots in the cage becomes excessive, they depart from being in one plane too far, and cause a locking effect. There is a click when they jump out of the locked position, which is why Minis click when cornering tightly when the joints are about to fail. If the cage cracks, it may all happen suddenly, and fairly violently.

[bmcecosse]

Wheel bearing - you were lucky - it can seize up completely and leave you stranded in the middle of the road - with an 18 wheeler bearing down on you........ Cancel the wedding - this is much more important!

[Zulu162]

Already been hit by a lorry this month. Ran out of petrol on the same road after getting it MOTd. Pulled over and got hit by a lorry who didnt even stop. Going to have a go pulling the front apart and see whats what. I may just swap the hubs off my 25 and put it on the mayfair. Thanks for all the advice :)

[minidaves]

sounds like a possible diff pin issue

[TORZIEnJIM]

Mine clicks when turning sharp slowly...just in reverse I think... :/

[Zulu162]

minidave, a diff pin issue?

Duncan

[Zulu162]

So guys, jacked the car up. Gave the left wheel a wiggle and it doesn't move atall accept round and round. Spun it and it sounded like the brakes where rubbing, had a look at them and they don't seem too bad. Catching slightly on abit of the disc, but enough? Any other suggestions? Right hand side can't of caused me to veer left? Duncan