i was out motoring with a friend today. i was in my '04 and he was in his '05. he was in front of me at a stop sign turning right. he did a pretty nice burnout around the corner, but then stopped because we noticed a loud click coming from the front.
it only happens when your turning. everytime it "clicks" it looks like the wheels just want to pop right off. it happened around a constuction site so im wondering if he hit something or some debris is stuck. no visible damage... im waiting to see what it looks like when its on a lift...

anyone heard of this? couldnt find anything in a search..

 

cv joint..?

 

Lug bolts??

 

same thing happened to me after i did about 8 donuts, i never found what caused it and never did a donut again.

 

you still have that problem?

 

you actually see the wheel move laterally or wobbling???

I noticed my MCS clicking one time I had the window rolled down in a parking garage... things echo more ;-) This was about early Jan 2005. With all the wet weather lately, havent had a chance to 'hear' it lately, but it was still clicking about two weeks ago. I did swap out my wheels, so if it still clicks, then it wasnt the lug bolts. Will see... I had my steering rack replaced in Sept due to a PS fluid leak...

 

Yea, it was the "it looks like the wheels just want to pop right off" that made me think it could be the lugs.



I have also heard this noise on my '03 MCS. I heard it a couple of times and figured my CV joints were in trouble. I was told that it would be unlikely with my mileage from a top knowledge person. I've never heard it since.

 

i havent heard back from him yet. yes, i can actually see the wheel pop. both sides do it, although the left one "pops" a little bit harder it seems.

 

onasled,

i just watched one of your videos on that narrow country road... nice 180
it definitely cheerd me up after today

 

Im guessing CV's or maybe bearings? Those are my tops gueses. Good luck

liljack and matchbox

 

I'm thinking CV joints too. The CV's are expensive, like $600+ for the passenger side I believe.

I know that our stock A-arm bushings are pretty soft, that could be making the CV joint bind under load. Something I'll be looking into.

 

i just heard back from him.. he didnt see anything wrong under the car, and decided to drive it to the dealer. id be a little more hesitant to drive it if it was still popping. anyways, when he got there it wasnt bad anymore, so thats good. the dealership is keeping it for a bit to look at it some more. im interested to find out just what happened...

 

Had clicking or rpping noise on my 03 also, hard exceleration only, wheel shimy too. Dealer replaced right CV. Did Auto X after....started up again. The soft stock A arm bushings got my thinking. Cars in hybernation right now, see what's up when I get back into her this spring, find a fix.

 

I did some autocrossing, sounds like the same idea...happened when i tried doing a donut too. My car now pulls right, steering wheel wobbles, and the right front wheel keeps coming out of alignment...i can get it straightened out and then it gets unaligned soon after

 

Mine does the same but pulls violently left on hard acceleration and cannot stay aligned dammit!

Anyone know what's up with that? Don't mention torque steer please because I KNOW how to recognise that thanks

I'm thinking damagedt CV joints as well...

Henry

 

my '04 does that also. i never thought anything of it though. it reminded me of the '65 mustang i drove, it pulled really hard to the left accelerating and pulled to the right when braking.

jcmini, did you have to pay for new cv joints? or did the warranty cover it?

 

CV was covered under warrenty the first time. Then I took it back for the same problem. It was my fault that they found out I raced ( If Auto X is actually racing ?? ) so they would not cover the second one. It was not replace. I think I'm going to do bearings and bushing to see what happens.

 

Never changed the CV joints on a MINI, but I have done it about a dozen times on various cars. It is not a difficult job if you are mechanically inclined. Just remember pack the grease, when you think you have enough, pack some more. and rememebr, DIRT = BAD!!!

Steve