I was out driving around today and I noticed that in that transition period between going onto or off the gas, I'm starting to feel a "hitch" in the steering wheel. I also get it slightly every few seconds when cruising at a steady speed - when neither accelerating or decelerating, just maintaining an even speed, I feel minor, more gentle versions of the tremor in the wheel, but if I rapidly go on or off the gas, the thud/hitch/whatever is much more noticeable. Also, when turning a corner, I lugged the engine in second a bit, and the hitch repeated several times. It's not violent, but it's quite noticeable compared to the smooth pull that I'm used to.

I don't think it's a cylinder missing or anything like that (although it could be I suppose - I don't see uneven-ness in the tach while it happens though) - it feels more like a looseness where the axles connect to the motor or something. Could this be the precursor of a CV joint or other tranny element getting ready to go out? Obviously I don't want to be on the highway blasting along at 70 MPH and have the front end explode... Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

Dunno i noticed something similar during one of my canyon exploits today something similar
It seemed like i lost power for a second.
it happened twice.
I honestly have no idea what it was. and a strange clicking has developed while driving but i cant tell if its there at full throttle considering the noise of the eaton and the exaust.
i mean the milltec is all quiet around town but you open that bad boy up your in for it.....

 

I'm not hearing anything beyond the "thunk" when the hitch happens - it's more a feeling in the steering wheel. Of course, I expect that whatever it is will only get worse, and given that I don't know how many Mini mechanics are in central Ohio, I'd like to get on top of it before I have to end up towing the car... If it's a tranny or CV issue it's probably beyond me I'm afraid.

 

I know a guy in Columbus that knows quit a bit about Mini's. He has two of them. (BTW, it seems all Mini's are connected and break all at the same time because my Mini's brakes went out today :( )

 

I would have to say it sounds like your wheel bearings are on the way out......if it was your cv joints you would be hearing a "thunk" all the time, especially around corners. A good way to check the wheel bearings is to raise the car up by the subfeame so the front suspension is off the ground completely, rotate the tires by hand and feel for anything abnormal, or grab the tire from the top and bottom and shake it to feel for anything loose. Another thought, does it happen after you step on the brakes?? Could be that they are sticking or a rotor is warped.

 

You're description is pretty vague and can indicate several things.

If you believe it to be suspension, jack up the car and check the wheels for looseness. Grab them at 12 & 6 and see if there is any play in the wheel bearings. A CV would make noise on a turn. So, go to a parking lot and drive in a tight circle both L & R. If bad, a CV will make a clicking/knocking noise. Also, check your caliper bolts. Check the engine steady bushings.

Are you sure you're not experiencing a "lean" condition in your carb causing a miss and the engine to momentarily rock? This would occur even at steady speed, where most suspension noises would not.

 

I'll check the wheel bearing play - could be that. I hadn't noticed any worse vibration in a turn - mainly when coming on or off the gas.

Just as an aside - I WAS under the car yesterday looking at something else and I noticed that there was quite a bit of grease/oil on the BACK side of where the axle connects to the driver's side wheel, enough that it was radiating out (the spinning of the wheel is enough to fling it outwards). Is this normal? I don't remember seeing it on the passenger side, but I admit I wasn't looking for that problem - I was looking for the source of a slow oil leak - I'm remembering it no that I'm thinking of this issue.

As for a lean condition - it COULD be, but it really does feel like something more in the wheels than in the cylinders. How would I check that though - color of the deposits on the spark plugs perhaps?

 

my car had a similar problem. I thought that I had some bad bushings so I ordered some new ones for the engine stabilizers. I changed the bottom two and they were fine. When took out the tops, one was worn a little, but the maing problem was in the mount. My back bolt had come loose and was allowing the entire bushing assembly to move around. Replaced the bolt/bushings and no more issues. Hopefully its that simple for you as well. I noticed mine on a mild on/off throttle situation and I felt it in the wheel too.

 

Matt it sounds like a CV joint is going Tango Uniform. Grease as you describe it is far from normal & I've yet to see a wheel bearing on any car throw it's grease out. I have seen CV joints & bad CV boots do it many times. You should call our friend Paul for a diagnosis. He has a wealth of knowledge about these little cars.

Edit... As jeepster has said. Check the dog bone too.

 

I asked Paul to check this thread - I'm hoping it's something I can replace on my own.

I'll see if I can locate the dog bone in my Haynes Big Book of Lies - thanks Jeepster. It sounds like you describe.

Pray for me.

EDIT: Found this thread on my favorite UK-based forum... sounds like it might be engine bushings, but I'm not 100% sure how to properly diagnose the issue.

http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums...=0#entry951778

 

Matt,

It sounds like you might have two problems. I have to agree that you should not have grease coming from the CV joint. That could be just a ruptured CV joint boot. It also could be that the boot is just not seated any more or the clips have come loose. CV joints seem to last a loooooong time (unless they have run dry which can happen if the boot splits), and unless you are feeling a grabbing while turning at full steering lock and hear distinctive clicking, the CV joint itself is probably fine.

The thunk you describe when going on and off the throttle is most likely the bushings on the dog bone (that thing that looks like a dog bone that goes from the clutch side of the engine block to the firewall. Worn bushing on the dog bone allow the engine to move forward and back making the clunk. This is often not much movement, but is sufficient to make a noise and it, in turn makes the thunk.

I think we can solve this one.

Paul

 

I don't feel any grabbing when turning,. but there's definitely some grease around the driver's side... I'll check that out ASAP, hopefully before it gets hopeless.

Can the dog bone be checked with the car stationary (on ramps, etc.) or is the best thing to just yank it of and visually inspect the bushings?

If it is the dog bone bushings, are these the replacement units? They're listed as "POLY ENGINE STABILIZER BAR BUSHS" but theyhave a few other kinds listed as well...

http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/WB4/InvDetail.cfm

Thanks, guys - I'm starting to feel better about this now.

 

If it isn't the CV & it appears that it is not. Don't drive in any carp with a loose or torn boot. That will introduce grit that will kill the joint. Best get at that boot & do a fix. I bet your pony, I mean your dog has a dog bone you can use.

 

I'll check the Haynes book re: the boot to see what it should look like. Thanks!

 

Those bushing sounds correct, but I orderd the set and have been very pleased with the results. My motor is very solid now. If your bushings are really bad, you could physically move the engine front and back by pushing on the valve cover when the car is stationary. The only for sure way is to remove and inspect them. I would just order a set of polys and change out the rubber ones regardless of their condition.

this is the set I ordered
http://www.minimania.com/web/Item/C%.../InvDetail.cfm

 

Matt,

Sometimes even when the bushings are well worn, the engine doesn't appear to move much. And sometimes it is just the bolts that are loose -- check those first. Plus, another way to check is to watch the gear shift at the shift boot. When you jump on and off the throttle does it move up and down a bit? If it does then either the bushings are bad or the bolts are loose or the bolts aren't connected. Try tightening the bolts on the engine end and the bulkhead (firewall) end and see if that eliminates the "clunk." But, do not put too much torque on the bolts on the engine end -- they have been known to snap off, leaving you with a worse problem. If that doesn't fix the clunk, just order the poly bush set and we'll get it installed after the Dragon.

Chuck is correct about not driving around with a torn CV boot in nasty stuff or it can induce dirt into the joint and grind it up faster than one would think possible.

Paul

 

I'll order the set that Jeepster linked to and I'll climb around and see if I can find the bolts. The Haynes book isn't much help - maybe if I look closer in the "removing the engine" section it will point them out a bit more clearly.

Also - for the CV boot, I'm seeing them in the Haynes book but the photos aren't very clear - what should I be looking for, damage-wise? I assume I should be checking the OUTER boots (against the wheels) as well as the INNER booys (the ones closer to the engine) as well?

As always, thanks a zillion for all the sage advice!

 

You have a PM about Mini help.

 

Got it - thanks a million!!!

 

Well, Mini Master Paul came out and took a look at Fiona, and it looks like the motor mounts are indeed FUBARed. I ordered hard synthetic replacements from MiniMania along with a pair of fresh CV Boots (one is indeed torn along the section that clamps to the shaft, and I might as well replace them both while I have the axles off according to Paul). So... I feel better, knowing what the issue is. Looks like I won't be able to take the car up to Cleveland next week like I'd hoped though - maybe I can nurse it up to Quaker Steak for the British Car day instead... now I'm torn.

 

Glad to hear you got the problem figured out! Hope the repairs go well!