Hi,

I've decided it's time to fix one of the more annoying problems with my mini, which is the squeaking noise I get from the rear driver side wheel area whenever I turn left. The noise gets louder and faster the faster I take the corner, so I assume it is due to the tyre rubbing on something (probably the shock absorber). I have 10" wheels, but I'm not sure what type they are:

The tyres are Falkens..

I don't seem to get any squeaking when I turn right, and I've found that the tyre on the right hand side does seem to be a bit closer to the shock absorber than the tyre on the left.

Also I've replaced the knuckle joints, so I don't think the problem is there.

Any ideas as to what the cause could be, and how I could go about fixing it?

Cheers,
Harry

do you have spaced rear drum s? ,that should fix it if you dont.
the falkens seem too be a fatter when on the rim ive found.

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PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

At the moment I don't have spaced drums.

The only problem I can see with them is that I think the back bit of the tyre would stick out a little.. and I don't really want to get flares.

so if it's the tyre, where is it rubbing to make it 'squeak'? If it's the tyre, you should be able to see black marks on something, and rub marks on the tyre

check the radius arm bushes - put a bar or big screwdriver between the outer end of the radius arm and the subframe above it and see if you can make the radius arm move up and down.....

Without knowing exactly what the sound is like (rubber on metal, or metal on metal), another thing to look at might be that the drum may be scraping on the drum backplate. It might be wise to lift the back of the car up while you're there and check for movement in the wheel that would suggest bearing problems, or a loose hub retaining nut.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

This might be a bit left field but..

If you are turning left the forces on the car are to the right (look at tyres that are going round a corner) so the wheel would be out at the top and in at the bottom.

If my physics are right then it can't be rubbing at the top when turning left?

My first port of call would be to jack the car up and wiggle things for bearing movements - hub first, swinging arm second.

Other things could be bushes on shock adsorber or shock adsorber itself.

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Regards,

Mike
"He who dies with the most toys wins."

Oh, I dunno...

In my much younger and stoopider days I fitted 165/70R10 tyres to standard 3.5" steel rims without spacer drums, and the tyres would always rub on the shocks on the outside rear side when cornering. So much so I wore the sidewalls almost all the way through....

That wasn't so much of a squeak as a groan, though.. more like a playing-card-in-the-spokes kinda noise

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

My bet - shocks and bushes are worn. Squeak is shock top cover rubbing on lower shock body. OR worst case internals are shot and piston arm is rubbing on body when you turn.

I'd expect tyres to rub most of the time and it should be really obvious from a quick look under the car (inner sidewall as stated above).

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Regards,

Mike
"He who dies with the most toys wins."

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I jacked up the back today and checked everything for movement - it all seems pretty rigid. I couldn't see any marks on the inner sidewall of the tyre, or any evidence that the drum might be scraping on the backplate.. Then I saw that the end of the bolt from one of the rear seat belts was looking quite polished (when I was putting the seatbelts in I even thought to myself "I need to make sure that bolt doesn't touch the tyre", but I guess it didn't occur to me at the time that the tyre would get pushed closer to it when I was turning - ARGH!), and sure enough there was some scraping near the edge of the tyre tread. So I'll probably grind a bit off the bolt and see how it goes after that...

So hopefully that cures my problem.. But for future reference, how much free movement of the wheel and radius arm is too much?

Cheers,
Harry

Well that was a wildcard

Too long a bolt sticking into the wheel well! Never would have caught that one!

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Regards,

Mike
"He who dies with the most toys wins."