Hello all,
I've had a recent issue that I haven't had in the years I've owned my mini. It's a '78, but converted to a 1300 clone by previous owners. I've been cleaning up their mess ever since, a lot of jerry-rigging was done before I acquired her..very sadly.
More recently, I have been having an issue that feels to me to be serious, but only happens 'sometimes' and I can't seem to nail it down. It only occurs once every other week or so, starting about 2-3 weeks ago.
On these occasions, when I start slowing down (within the 2nd to 1st gear range roughly, speed-wise) with, or without the clutch engaged and without using the brakes, I hear a steady 'clinking / knocking' sound from the lower front-end. I can't feel it in the pedals, body or steering. But It's a notable steady knocking sound only when I'm slowing down towards a stop and it quiets down a little when very lightly applying my brakes. When I press heavy on my brakes the knocking stops completely, but when I let up the brakes still in slower motion, the sound continues.
I've already replaced my front hubs, bearings, rotors, calipers, CV-joints, ball-joints, tie-rod ends etc., all are still very tight and properly torqued, no notable wiggle in the front wheels themselves when off the ground, as well as the tires being balanced...Basically nothing seems 'off' at all in the area of question from what I, myself can evaluate..
My mini has been my daily driver for years now and I've always felt very safe with her after the work I've put in (especially with some wiring issues from previous owners, that needed some sorting out of course), but this new issue is worrying me quite a bit.
Do any experienced Mini aficionados have and ideas what may cause this?
Thank you very much for your time,
-Carson
