13 replies to this topic

[89mini30]

I think my diff has gone but I'm not sure, driving back from York today and without warning turning a corner the steering went very very stiff. There was clunking and knocking too plus juddering when accelerating. Managed to get home took front wheels off but couldn't see anything amiss. I did rotate the shafts and felt jerking and little plus I noticed the other side only turning occasionally. Any advice greatly welcomed and I'm certainly not a mechanic!

[MRA]

I think my diff has gone but I'm not sure, driving back from York today and without warning turning a corner the steering went very very stiff. There was clunking and knocking too plus juddering when accelerating. Managed to get home took front wheels off but couldn't see anything amiss. I did rotate the shafts and felt jerking and little plus I noticed the other side only turning occasionally. Any advice greatly welcomed and I'm certainly not a mechanic!

Get it tested but don't drive it, it could cause a very nasty accident !

[89mini30]

I think my diff has gone but I'm not sure, driving back from York today and without warning turning a corner the steering went very very stiff. There was clunking and knocking too plus juddering when accelerating. Managed to get home took front wheels off but couldn't see anything amiss. I did rotate the shafts and felt jerking and little plus I noticed the other side only turning occasionally. Any advice greatly welcomed and I'm certainly not a mechanic!

Get it tested but don't drive it, it could cause a very nasty accident !

yes it was a bit hairy for the last coulpe of miles!

[MRA]

 

 

I think my diff has gone but I'm not sure, driving back from York today and without warning turning a corner the steering went very very stiff. There was clunking and knocking too plus juddering when accelerating. Managed to get home took front wheels off but couldn't see anything amiss. I did rotate the shafts and felt jerking and little plus I noticed the other side only turning occasionally. Any advice greatly welcomed and I'm certainly not a mechanic!

Get it tested but don't drive it, it could cause a very nasty accident !

yes it was a bit hairy for the last coulpe of miles!

 

The worst case scenario is not a nice situation.....  the best case scenario will just be expensive, ie destruction of your gear case.... 

[89mini30]

Oh....... I suppose towing it is out of the question too. Recovery?

[tiger99]

The best scenario to hope for is that it is a CV joint failure. A lot less dismantling and a not too expensive item to replace. Equally dangerous if they fail. I have told the stories of CV failures more than once, one as a spectator and the other driving a white van.

 

If you repeat your wheel turning test and determine whether the shaft stops turning when drive to the wheel is slipping, you will know where you stand. If the shaft does turn steadily, then look at the inner pot joint to see if it always follows the wheel and shaft. Both sides of course, but you already know that.

 

It may take some jacking to do one side at a time, but nothing too tedious.

 

The drive shafts are going to have to come out anyway, unless it turns out to be a CV or pot joint, so once they are out of the way, you can do the test again between the outers of the two pot joints. Engage a gear, engine off of course, and as you know, as one turns forwards the other should turn backwards by the same amount. If not, continue to remove the powerplant. In theory you can take the diff casing off in situ, but would you want to? i have done it once, messy and uncomfortable, and if anything is broken in there you will want the whole box open to extract any debris.

[89mini30]

Thanks for that info, here is an update. I had it trailered to a mini specialist nearby and he was hoping ( for me! ) that a drive shaft had gone. Anyway it turns out the diff was at fault with 2 small gear wheels missing teeth amongst other little things. He is confident that he has found all the stray bits and I should get Annie back on Monday. He did take the motor out as to him this was the easiest way to do it. I would put a couple of pics on but they seem to be too big to post but I think thats my problem as I'm not very tech savvy!

[tiger99]

I am glad to hear that the problem is being fixed, but sad that it turned out to be the expensive option.

But life is like that sometimes.

[89mini30]

Life is always like that for me! Haha, anyway we look at it like this, we bought it at the right price so had a little to spare to personalise it. Looks like that will have to wait a little longer now.

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Edited by 89mini30, 05 June 2017 - 05:07 PM.

[bpirie1000]

May think it is costing you alot at the moment but the heart surgery on going now means a specialist is looking at things now so should resolve any issues down the line...

Hopefully....

Be happy motoring again soon

[Spider]

May think it is costing you alot at the moment but the heart surgery on going now means a specialist is looking at things now so should resolve any issues down the line...

Hopefully....

Be happy motoring again soon

 

Mmmm,,,,, the last post prior to your was some 18 months ago,,,,,

[DeadSquare]

 

May think it is costing you alot at the moment but the heart surgery on going now means a specialist is looking at things now so should resolve any issues down the line...

Hopefully....

Be happy motoring again soon

 

Mmmm,,,,, the last post prior to your was some 18 months ago,,,,,

 

 

When you get old, you will find that 18 months goes by very quickly !

[gazza82]

I know!

 

Only seems like yesterday I had a grin like a Cheshire Cat when I picked up my new car ... 1st March 2017, 17 reg ..

 

I was just thinking it's due it's 2nd annual service soon!!!

Edited by gazza82, 11 December 2018 - 05:33 PM.

[bpirie1000]

Sorry was busy in garage fixing my mini. I trust its been trouble free motoring....