12 replies to this topic

[Chew]

Evening,

 

I've got a strange issue; when driving the mini will make a really harsh metallic noise that sounds (possibly) gearbox related. This has been an issue for a while, but previously only happened in 2nd gear when (somewhat) decelerating harshly via the engine and was generally short lived in comparison to what's happening now. The car has been stood for about a year and a half and when I got in, the clutch pedal was still (was able to push it through and now it works). The upper engine steady desperately needs new bushes and I originally thought that may have been the issue (the engine does have a decent amount of play, so I thought it might've been the exhaust coming into contact with the bulkhead or something like that), but I can't replace them as the bolt needs cutting out as it's just spinning.






Any help with this is appreciated as I'm out of ideas and really want the car back on the road asap.

Edited by Chew, 26 April 2026 - 06:53 PM.

[bpirie1000]

Exhaust on driveshaft maybe?

If engine is that loose then it may be rocking back and forth with downpipe on pot joint or similar..

[Rubbershorts]

It looks like you really need to stop that engine rocking before you can diagnose anything. At the beginning of the clip it sounded like metal on metal. I thought maybe the fixing with the bracket for the exhaust manifold, the one attached to the gear box, was grating against the manifold when the engine moved. Then the sound seemed to change. Stop the engine moving first. It's a cheap fix, then take it from there. Daz.

[croc7]

I would start by putting the car on jackstands and inspect all of the underside as well as the engine compartment for witness marks.  Its easier to diagnose visually rather than listening from inside the car.

Edited by croc7, 28 April 2026 - 11:21 PM.

[StefanMini]

Throttle cable touching the cooling fan?

[croc7]

Did you find the cause of your noise??

[croc7]

Did you find the cause of your noise??

[Chew]

Did you find the cause of your noise??

Not yet no, haven't had time to work on the car, but I plan to drill out and change the engine steady bushes and see if that changes anything 

[stuart bowes]

old skool minis on ebay are good for parts if you need cheap bits (no personal affiliation, just used them a lot)

 

https://www.ebay.co....:Bk9SR57F6L68Zw

 

few quid cheaper than minispares and no delivery cost.  not a million miles from you either

 

old ones will probably just fall out to be honest, unlikely to need drilling

Edited by stuart bowes, 01 May 2026 - 02:27 PM.

[GraemeC]

Firstly does it match road speed or engine speed?  That will narrow down the posibilities greatly.

 

Sounds like road speed to me, in which case I'd be looking for anything touching a pot joint, drive shaft, CV joint or brake disk.
As has been said, strong possibility the exhause has moved/is moving and is touching either the driveshaft or a pot joint.

[Chew]

old skool minis on ebay are good for parts if you need cheap bits (no personal affiliation, just used them a lot)

 

https://www.ebay.co....:Bk9SR57F6L68Zw

 

few quid cheaper than minispares and no delivery cost.  not a million miles from you either

 

old ones will probably just fall out to be honest, unlikely to need drilling

I wish they would! they just keep spinning so they're likely stuck in the bushing

[croc7]

Pebble stuck between the brake disc and the dust shield?

[Chew]

Firstly does it match road speed or engine speed?  That will narrow down the posibilities greatly.

 

Sounds like road speed to me, in which case I'd be looking for anything touching a pot joint, drive shaft, CV joint or brake disk.
As has been said, strong possibility the exhause has moved/is moving and is touching either the driveshaft or a pot joint.

Road speed I think (and it's more pronounced the faster the car is going), I can make the sound stop by either accelerating or braking which has confused me a little. I managed to change the upper engine steady with new bushes so there's no play in the engine (at least at the top), but it's still making the same noise.

Edited by Chew, 27 May 2026 - 09:28 AM.