5 replies to this topic

[Calderwood]

Hi guys,

 

I've had trouble with the upper engine steady bar on my mini pretty much ever since I got it. A couple of months ago I had saved up enough to get all the bushes replaced, and the brackets that hold the upper bar where welded back onto the bulkhead, if anything more securely than factory spec, as one of these had snapped open, and the other wasn't far off.

 

I hoped that would be the end of it, and to be fair there are no actual mechanical problems now (the rocking of the engine used to pull out the wiring and cause the engine to cut out at the lights occasionally before). But I still get a noise, although much quieter, from behind the bulkhead when the engine is placed on and off torque. It happens most in first gear, or when in low revs in higher gears, i.e. when the engine is pulling really low down torque.

 

I just don't understanding what is making this noise. It sounds like metal on metal, likes something is just tapping against the bulkhead behind the pedals, but when I open the bonnet, the engine is completely static, I can't move it by hand at all. Obviously I know my arms don't have the power of the engine, and so it may be moving a little bit (isn't it supposed too?) but the noise is bloody annoying and it sounds like the bulkhead is going to crack or something. Could it be flexing at the lower steady bar mount point perhaps?

 

A similar post on the forum seems to have suggested the exhaust could be to blame, but I have changed exhaust within the time frame of this problem, and there has been no difference, so I don't think its that.

 

So basically,anyone have an idea what this noise is, especially if you have experienced something similar in the past? I've linked it to a video of the noise for illustrative purposes, it can be heard when I lightly pump the throttle a few times in the video (the cars doing 5mph in 1st), its the clicking kind of noise.

 

 

Cheers for any help

Edited by Calderwood, 26 May 2014 - 02:32 PM.

[sonikk4]

Have you checked the engine mounts?? rear subframe mounts?? what sort of subframe mounts have you got fitted?? are they solid, rubber or poly bush.

[stickycreambun]

Rear subframe mounts? I would prob want to check everything really, steering rack tre's lower engine mounts etc. I had a lower mount that the rubber split from the plate on one side so there was a bit of play in it. 

[CityEPete]

Dont forget the pads that sit under the body below the tower bolts, a pad below and a big washer above, if they are old and saggy no matter how firm the engine is mounted or how good the subframe to floor mounts are it will rock back and forth, if they and totally gone you might be able to feel them in the engine bay oozing out instead of holding firm. I have just done mine and the whole car sits higher at the front just going from old but not rotten rubbers to new poly ones.

Edited by CityEPete, 26 May 2014 - 03:09 PM.

[Calderwood]

Will check all the rubber mounts listed, cheers

[Stiggytoo]

.

Edited by Stiggytoo, 27 May 2014 - 12:59 PM.