You're welcome. An out of round drive shaft is rather uncommon, but like any machined part, it can happen. Happy motoring..

 

+1 to what AZdsrt posted. Shaft was out of round which not only was tearing up the seals, it was probably causing the vibration you were feeling. Hopefully this fixes the problem for you and you'll have many happy miles of motoring ahead of you.

Also, I like how the SA appears to have typed down the problem verbatim as you were speaking to him or her when you brought it in. If you ever have to go back for work on the MINI, you need to be sure to describe the problem using words like doo-hickey and thing-a-ma-bob so we can see those listed on the service order. :-D

 

Hehe. Will do JC.

Thanks for the post. They were great, and as always, very accommodating. The Service Mgr was concerned because it was back twice, in under 2 weeks for the same thing. He kept the car extra time because he wanted to make certain it was fixed. I'm hoping they nailed it, because he's running silky smooth now. (Fingers crossed).

Regards,
David.

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Hello everyone!

So far so good. No sweating or leaks (fingers crossed).

I did notice this rod-like part (looks brand new) going from what I believe may be the transmission to the driver's side tire. It has these rubber boots, and looks very much new. I'm assuming that's the part they replaced.

Time to motor -- on my way to work.

Regards,
David

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That would be the drive axle.

 

David,

Hope the car is running fine - it looks great, even from that pic you took - makes me miss my lightning blue.

I'm curious, did replacing all that stuff fix the "jerk" as well? My only thought if that is still there is that the clutch release point is quite high, so you may be letting off the clutch too slowly/early? No offense, just a thought.

 

Hi Kyoo,

First and foremost, no offense taken. I welcome feedback from more seasoned MINIacts and manual drivers.

I do tend to let off the clutch slow (especially on 1st gear). The rest of the gears I let off faster, but don't pop the clutch peddle in/out in rapid motion, if that's what you mean?

As I've said, last time I drove a stick was during my college days, and the car was a Honda CvCC.

I welcome any advise and feedback with open arms.

Regards,
David.

 

great attitude, thanks. do you think that is the "jerk" you speak of? i've done this a few times, where i absentmindly don't get off the clutch more than i think i did, and its slipping slipping and engages, and get a nice "jerk."

if you stop the car in a parking lot w/ a level surface, and put it in 1st with no gas, and slowly let off the clutch until it starts to roll, that's where the engagement point is - are you aiming for that when you shift? there's a good bit of dead zone at the end of the clutch that does nothing. i'm used to this high engagement point, coming from an evo, but most other cars are a much lower engagement - the 350z is barely off the ground from what I've driven.

If the jerk has been fixed, it must have been related to your other problem.

 

Excellent tip Kyoo.

Thank you so much for this information. I'll have to try this and see where the engage point. I may just do this today before I drive home.

Just so I understand you correctly -- when I find this engage spot, is this is where I need to focus on remaining when shifting? At least in that general area between the floorboard and top?

I also imagine, that's mainly for stop/go situations as I doubt I'll ride the clutch pedal.

Thanks again my friend.

Regards,
David

 

yea - i still always go all the way down, but yeah that's the "aim" i would say. all the way down before you shift, and aim for that when you're lining everything back up. but yea im not sure otherwise

 

Lining everything back up? Not sure what that means. However, I applied your technique in the parking lot at work before my commute home.

1- Car on
2- Depress clutch
3- First gear
4- Release slowly (no gas applied)

The car started rolling forward I'd say about 3-5 inches from the bottom. It started to engage rather quickly. I continued to release the clutch slowly until it started to roll in 1st gear - no gas applied, no bucking at all. Very smooth take off into a slow coasting speed.

As I drove home ...

1- Clutch down
2- First gear
3- Slight gas and slow clutch release
4- Car engages and starts rolling

Speed to 25-30 /rpm @ around 3500, clutch all the way down, shift to 2nd
Speed to 30-40 /rpm @ around 4500, clutch all the way down, shift to 3rd
Speed to 40-45 /rpm @ around 3500, clutch all the way down, shift to 4th
Speed to 45-50 /rpm @ around 3000, clutch all the way down, shift to 5th
Speed 60+ /rpm @ around 4000, clutch all the way down, shift to 6th (all highway driving)

All shifts seemed smooth, as I was looking for that sweet spot on the clutch. Of course as I slowed down, and had to drop in gear I experienced a few bucks, but that's because I still have to get use to the speed the car is at "trying" to rev match and downshifting. I'll hopefully get better with time and practice - I only hope my MINI will be patient with me.

Thanks Kyoo, for that valuable information.

Regards,
David

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Hey guys!!

One more thing. I just saw this guy on YouTube shifting without the clutch. Huh??? Is this a trick video .. How is this possible, and of so it can't be good for our MINIs.

Not sure if this guy has a JCW model because it sure sounds aggressive.


Thoughts on this?

Regards,
David

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It takes quite a while to get good at rev matching, especially while braking (heel and toe). I like to practice by rev matching while downshifting through each gear from 6-2 when coming up on a red light in my daily commute.

Another thing that can cause a jerky start is not riding the clutch long enough, even if you have applied enough throttle. Basically the clutch and flywheel aren't quite at matching speeds when you finish letting up on the clutch pedal, so you get a bit of a forward lurch as the transmission side rapidly comes up to speed.


Edit: I saw your newest post.

Definitely don't try that. It's terrible for the transmission because it puts tons of stress on the synchronizers.

 

Even if you match revs very well, shifting without a clutch puts extra wear on some of the moving bits inside the transmission. It can be a convenient technique to know, because clutches can sometimes fail, but it's usually better to just tow the car instead.

 

Yep, he's rev matching the rpm of the engine to the same rev of the input shaft to the transmission. Not recommended, if not done correctly it will wear out the syncro rings in the transmission.

When I was a kid, my dad had a '58 dodge pickup truck. The transmission didn't have syncro rings, you had to rev match. Took me a while, but I got the hang of it. Even got good at down shifting..

 

I "float " gears all day...in a truck with straight cut gears (when in drive one, at my "other job)....operates in about a 1500 rpm range (idles 500, 1700 rpm highway, 2200 redline) with straight cut gears....
A mini is very different....I do not recommend it. Gear spacing is not even...rpm range is wider...not as robust as a heavy truck tranny meant to haul a 80,000 pound load......
If revmatching is not perfect, the synchros on a mini (not present on a truck...the reason ((mostly)) why you double clutch) will be destroyed...and the tranny be destroyed from grinding...
On most trucks with a 10 speed granny's..gear spacing is even...not so on a mini...so the rev match will vary bit between different gears...as will revmatvhing needed to up and down shift....
To shift up you simply let the rpm drop... But you must rev to downshift...perfectly!! Miss it a fewtimes....and tranny is gone....

 

OMG!! Are we talking about MINI here? I'm confused as sometimes when slowing down, I depress the clutch, drop to the next lowest gear then slowly release the clutch and let the engine slow me down some. Is that downshifting? Seems like the auto tranny units in sport mode do the same thing when slowing down.

Now I'm really confused. :(

Regards,
David

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PS: I'm seriously thinking I should have went the automatic transmission route. :(

Regards,
David

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In a Mini, or any modern car, the synchronizers in the transmission do the work of matching rotational speed inside the gearbox. That gives you two options: downshifting by selecting the gear and letting out the clutch to engine brake, or rev matching for a smooth downshift. If you didn't have synchros and you tried to downshift the way you described, you would encounter some nasty grinding when you tried to place the transmission in a lower gear.

 

Unless you're tracking the car, don't bother down shifting. When slowing down, slip it into neutral and use the brakes. Replacing the brakes is a lot cheaper than replacing the clutch.

 

Just drive!!
The mini likes rpms, much like the older Hondas....
My only suggestion is be careful when you start rolling...try to feather the clutch too much, and you will glaze the flywheel+ clutch.....
So just drive it like you know how....
The internet and u-tube is full of "experts" who post vids and how-to's....often wrong....
Just only use the clutch when you need to, don't ride it, and everything else...the downshift or not debate is as old as stickshift cars......

 

so, is it still buckking/jerking?

 

You mean if you don't use the clutch, right?

It's always best to match RPMs if you can, clutch or no. But if you use the clutch in a modern synchronized car gearbox, the wear you add by letting the trans do the rev-matching for you is pretty darned small.

Under normal driving, you can downshift if you like, or not if you prefer not to. If I am slowing down for a corner, I will downshift to the gear that I think I need to be in to take the corner. If I am coming to a stop, I will either just shift to neutral or I will leave the trans in gear until the RPMs get near idle, and then I'll push the clutch in.

.... Don't over-think this, folks. Shifting without the clutch in our cars can be done, but you really don't want to do it except if it's an emergency. Down-shifting normally, with the clutch, is optional. Rev-matching is optional when using the clutch, but it's a little better to do so.

 

Not like before Kyoo. I'm seriously thinking it's operator error. Clearly I need practice, and yes .... I tend to over think stuff.

I've always wanted a MINI and now that I own one I'm afraid to do anything to hurt it. Guess I tend to baby him too much. I'm making slow progression though. :(

Also, thanks to everyone else for the GREAT responses. I'm learning quite a lot from those who so generously take the time to share their wisdom (relative to this wonderful machine) with less experienced owners like myself.

Regards,
David

 

Good to hear - I was afraid to say it, but I think that yes, it may be operator error. And with the trans not leaking anymore, sounds like the car is in good shape! The clutch will also wear in as time goes, so it may not be as "grabby" later (it wasn't that grabby to begin with though IMO). Just practice shifting, experiment with clutch timing etc. You should get a good feel for it after that. Good luck with the car. If you continue to have trouble with it, I think if you search on the forum there's something about a clutch pedal stop which effectively raises the low point of where the clutch meets the "floor" - that may make it easier for you, or just get used to it.