26 replies to this topic

[antcole]

Hello folks,

My son mailed me tonight to say that he began hearing a grating metallic sound and then shortly afterwards the front left wheel locked solid and skidded about 5 metres to a halt.

He says the car couldnt be moved but when letting the clutch out it was just hauling up on the one wheel with the right wheel trying to drive.

He was recovered by the RAC and when home, he jacked up the left wheel and said it felt like the brakes were stuck on.... but the pads are free.

Im not home at the moment so im trying to diagnose it without looking at it, and order the necessary parts to arrive asap so i can repair it.

Im thinking it could be seized wheel bearings and possibly fused themselves to the swivel hub.

If thats the case, is it likely that the outer CV joint will need replacement along with a new swivel hub?

Just trying to order up all the necessary and likely parts asap.

Its a 1993 mini city 998cc with 8.4 non vented discs.


Absolutely any experience of this and advice is most welcome.
Thanks in advance folks.

[mike.]

I would say if it is a case of seized or collapsed wheel bearings then some sort of damage or fretting to the outer CV joint shaft would be very likely.

[antcole]

I would say if it is a case of seized or collapsed wheel bearings then some sort of damage or fretting to the outer CV joint shaft would be very likely.

Thanks for the reply mate,
So more often than not, the outer CV joint splined shaft will be furrowed or welded to the bearings then.... its highly likely.
Someone said to him that it could be a seized diff also... but im sure if the right side wheel is free, then its unlikely.... plus he says the left wheel is solid like the brakes are on.
If it was the diff, im sure there would be some slop in the drive shafts, enough to rock the wheel radially... which isnt happening, its completely solid.

Also, could a seized or damaged CV joint knuckle totally lock a wheel to the point of locking solid?

[jaydee]

Also, could a seized or damaged CV joint knuckle totally lock a wheel to the point of locking solid?

Yes if the splines are gone.

[Carlos W]

I don't think a faulty cv joint would cause the wheel to lock up, and you could be able to feel this when turning left and right! Any rumbling from the bearing before the lock up? How do you know the brakes are free on that side?

[jaydee]

Forgot to say that you should be able to push the car if the CVs are gone, if not, its a collapser wheel bearing.

[jaydee]

I don't think a faulty cv joint would cause the wheel to lock up, and you could be able to feel this when turning left and right! Any rumbling from the bearing before the lock up? How do you know the brakes are free on that side?

Yes the wheel will lock up all of a sudden and have no drive, just a whirring noise.
But you can actually push the car..been there done that

[antcole]

I don't think a faulty cv joint would cause the wheel to lock up, and you could be able to feel this when turning left and right! Any rumbling from the bearing before the lock up? How do you know the brakes are free on that side?

Yes there was some screaching scraping noises that he said were like the noise you get when the brake discs are rusty, only did it intermittently until today.
Im overseas at the moment and heading home tomorrow, so i only have what he says to go on.
The brakes are free because he initially thought of a seized caliper, then when he jacked up the wheel he could un-pin and slip the pads out.... eliminating that possibility.
The car cant be pushed or towed, its solid.

So, im thinking -
New swivel hub
Swivel ball joints for the new hub
New bearing set
New outer CV joint and boot kit.

What else would you recommend?

[antcole]

Thanks a million for the replies guys, its 100% appreciated

[Carlos W]

A new bearing for the other side maybe?

[jaydee]

If you cant move the wheel at all its a collapsed bearing, probably it was over-tightened.

[antcole]

A new bearing for the other side maybe?

Yes, youre quite right! Im no betting man but its odds on to be not far behind!!

So, would you agree with me that the diff is a very unlikely suspect?
I want to order the parts tonight really, get nextday delivery and get it back on the road for the weekend all being well.

I arrive in the UK on Friday and hopefully ill be met with a pile of parts (and a crippled mini!) to get stuck into...... its what the weekends are for, fixing yer boys car!!

[antcole]

If you cant move the wheel at all its a collapsed bearing, probably it was over-tightened.

Yeah, i agree.... if its locked the wheel up, then it will have toatally shagged the hub and the outer CV, or even anything that rotates near the bearings.....
This forum is the dogs dusters! Thanks for that.

[Alex_B]

Its really hard diagnosing a fault without seeing it, thus buying parts would be a bit of a risk but I would have thought it was a wheel bearing that has failed in quite a dramatic way,

sounds like he was lucky too, one doesnt care to imagine that happening at 70 or something!

good luck by the way, locked solid sounds like something has friction welded itself to something else

[100ev8]

where is the car ? someone local might be able to help