53 replies to this topic

[tiger99]

Oh, and as you have a spare gearbox, don't change the diff on its own. Always change the pinion too. It is bad practice to run a well used gear against another well used gear from a different box. It will accelerate wear.

Basically, if they have been running together, they should stay together. Same for any other mechanical parts.

The pinion comes out by removing the speedo drive housing, again without lifting the engine. You do need to jack it because the nearside mount will be removed.

[mini danny]

ok thanks for the comment ill get to new cv joints today and change them tonight and will report back

thanks Danny

[tiger99]

I would just have inspected them first rather than fitting new ones, on the basis of not spending money till I have proof of the problem, like a worn or broken cage in my hands. On the other hand, it is quicker to change the CVs than the diff, so if you value your time as highly as you should (most people don't), it probably does make sense to actually swap them first.

I don't think anyone mentioned it already, but did you try to move the pot joints in and out? I don't mean applying force to release the locking clips, just checking for free movement? You can often feel a failing diff that way. I still suspect the CVs as being most likely.

[mini danny]

thanks and today i.had a quick look grabbed the driveshaft and pulled left right back forth and found a fair bit of play on the cv joint and as i really need the mini for tomorrow ild rather replace.tonight and hope it sorts it :) and yep i really value my time

Danny

Edited by mini danny, 24 May 2012 - 12:06 PM.

[tiger99]

Yes, if you can feel a large amount of play in the driveshaft, the CV is defective and may as well be changed without further investigation. It might be interesting, if you find time, to take it apart and post some pictures showing the wear.

[mini danny]

ya ill defo get some pics up ill but it through the parts wash to romove all the old grease so you can see.better


thanks Danny

Edited by mini danny, 24 May 2012 - 02:17 PM.

[mini danny]

minis ******* changed the cv joints could only select reverse then got it into first went to pull off and bang no drive no gears and gears are grinding slightly

[thebullet]

Sure you fitted those CV joins properly?

[mini danny]

ya mate there fitted fine you can't really fit them wrong lol

[mk3 Cooper S]

The diff sounds like it has now failed,(Broken planets or pin or cage?)

I had exaclity the same as you have detailed but mine lasted a mile between knotchy/pulling steering to no drive!!

Edited by mk3 Cooper S, 25 May 2012 - 09:15 AM.

[mini danny]

ya im absolutely gutted im missing driving the mini already

[mini danny]

well i its been recovered home later i went down ealier and well im now really unsure whats going on the grinding has gone and when i select a gear it goes on fine but when i rev it, it feels like when you have the fornt end jacked up let the front wheel spin in gear so im unsure if the diff and not the inner cv joints :/

[tiger99]

Sadly, you have fixed one problem and there is still another. But it is a Mini, after all.

From what you said about end float, the CVs were well gone. It is my suspicion that when any part of the drive train is failing like that, it imparts shock loading to other bits, which may or may not break. I really hope it is not the diff.

There is one other possibility, which was really common in the early 1960s, and very easily fixed, without lifting the engine, although the oil has to be drained, and radiator and nearside mount out. That is, the final drive pinion coming loose on the gearbox output shaft. It used to be said that it was an engine out, and split from gearbox, job, but that is nonsense, and rally teams used to fix them by the side of the road. The problem is less common now (better locktab?), but shock loading may have provoked it.

[bmcecosse]

I doubt you fitted the CV correctly----did you pull the inner 'pot' joint out so the balls have fallen out? What exactly DID you change - and how did you do it. Now - when you run the engine in gear - does the speedo move??

[mini danny]

i know its not the cv's as i jacked it up put it in first and the inner cv cup doesn't move as all and when in gear i can turn the driveshafts as if in reverse

Danny