12 replies to this topic

[andywaller]

help me please minidocs

i have a problem with my mini which i think could be the wheel bearing could anyone help me?

the syptoms are a rubbing noise it is difficult to describe but its deffinatelty coming from something rotary, ie spinning. the noise sounds like a bit of a squeal but more just a sort of chuffing noise!

the noise is coming from the N\S\F

the only other thing is that it only happens after a mile or so of driving. i wondered if it could be happening when it gets hot and expands.

the suspension is all standard although i do have 6x13" wheels.

any ideas to what this could be would be greatly appreciated. i am on a budget at the mo so i am gonna have to do the work on my drive so i dont want to go and buy a load of neccisary parts!

[Guess-Works.com]

Play in the wheel bearing will be evident by movement of the wheel, get NSF off the ground and grasp the wheel @ 12 and 6, if you feel movement then its either ball joints of wheel bearings... Get an assistance to press hard on brake pedal and do same again, no movement, then wheel bearings, still movement, ball joints.
If no movement in the first place, not bearings...

Also check the other side for same as sometime noise can be transferred alon ght drive shafts..

If stull no joy when engine warm does it do it all the time ? if so, drive car about the got the car up on axles stands at the front, and let it idle in first gear, get under the car and listen for the noise, you'll probably frin what it is then

[andywaller]

cheers guessworks i forgot to say i had done those cheacks all ready there is no play at all i recently had the ball joints done so there shouldnt be any problems the.

i tried the lettting driving it on axel stands and it doesnt make the noise then just to be annoying i guess. i also tried driving with the origional 12" alloys on and it still did it! i have also had a good look over the suspension and cant see any visable marks due to rubbing.

the only thing that i coul find and i dont know wheather this is normal or not but, i grabed hold of the drive shafts and there was some movement just in and out movement? could the this be due to worn CV or innner pot joints?

[dklawson]

It could still be a wheel bearing (on either side) if there is insufficient grease on them or in the hub. Likewise, it could be a CV going dry. Most times when people talk about CV joint failure the "ticking" noise associated with a dead or dying joint is mentioned. Like wheel bearings, there is grease under the boots and if it's the wrong grease (or not enough grease) the CV and its boots can make a rubbing noise.

If the noise is REALLY bothering you, I'd consider regreasing the wheel bearings. It's less likely to be the CVs as you said it didn't make the noise "driving on jackstands". However, it may not hurt to inspect at least the outer CVs while you're greasing the wheel bearings. Remember that CV joints get the grey/black grease with MolyDisulfide in it... not the regular amber colored grease you may use on wheel bearings. Inner CVs lead a much more sheltered life and the noise is less likely to be from one of them... but never rule them out.

[andywaller]

thanks very much dklawson thats gives me something to go on! the noise is ok with the windows closed and radio on so thats what i will be doing its more of an imbarrasment as it makes my car sound poorly mainatined! i am just more worried that it could be something that could cause long term damage!

i did take the cv boot off and had a look and it appered to be ok, as far as there was grease in it anyway!

i will buy some relevant tools and take the hub off and give everything a good looking over and regrease i will just have to hope that this does the job!

i know what i am doing next weekend thn! wohoo (not)

[Bluemini]

Does it do it when your accelerating, decellerating, cruising or all the time?

[andywaller]

it does it all the time but it doesnt seem to change apart from sometimes when breaking!

[Dan]

If it's just a light scraping noise and it stops under braking you could be dragging a pad. Give the callipers a clean with brake cleaner to get the crud out from behind the pads and around the seals and see if that works before you start stripping it down.

[andywaller]

cheers dan i have also tried this out as it does sound like it could be something like that. i gave the part where the pad sits a good cleaning out with a wire brush on a drill and then lubricated this small edge wit copper slip. also tried loosening the dust sheild to see if it was scrapping but no signs where to be seen.

[vasi]

Any clean patches under your arches?

[andywaller]

na mate i no what your thinkin though those era alloys dont seem to rub at all though.

[vasi]

You knew what I was thinking? I was thinking maybe you'd ran over a squirrel and it was stuck to your tyre, thus making a squeak / thud sound upon each revolution; whilst also making a clean patch under the arches.

Hehehe.

Seriously folks, I drove a vehicle with a similar rotation squeak issue. All joints checked for play suggested nothing. Ran it for a year and couldnt put my finger on it until the NSF wheel bearing collapsed.

Go with DK on checking the bearings out.

[siggy]

DO NOT drive it on axel stands, unless you have the suspension supported and it is running at normal ride height. You can damage driveshaft joints.

A wheel noisy brg will normally increase in volume when you load the brg, ie cournering,

Have you checked the rears?

Siggy