Noise from front when turning left or right

[littlemissmel]

Hi,

When turning into a road or parking, at low speed/ from stationary, there is a whining/rubber on rubber noise. This doesn't happen when driving in a straight line or going round a roundabout etc.
The power steering isnt noisy, so we've ruled that out.

So far we have tried the following:

Gear box rebuild
New clutch & Fly Wheel replaced
New Engine Mounts
Mounting struts replaced

We have also put 4 new wheels on to see if the tyres are slipping on the rims due to corrosion, but that hasnt worked either.


I'd appriciate any suggestions on what we can try next, this noise is driving me nuts & costing me a fortune!!!

many thanks

[coldeportes]

I had a similar problem 2 years ago but with the rear right tire. At first I thought it was due to tire wear and not rotating them regularly. Then I replaced the tires but the noise was still there.

It ended up being the bearings that were rusty due to the salt on the roads. The sound was growing louder when turning right because the bearing received more pressure.

Hope this helps. I just subscribed to this forum to answer the thread as I remember it was really frustrating for me too.

[maxb92]

What year is your mini ? I would put money on the PS pump - They are all noisy on first gens! 2001-2004 I think?

[Abraham]

Well
i also facing this problem.
Thanks for sharing.

[littlemissmel]

Maxb92 Mines 2005 /55 plate. The steering is pretty much the only thing we've not had replaced. To add to my woes, Got in the car this evening after all the heavy rain & my drivers seat is SOAKED!! so now i'm probably gonna have to replace some seals. Its always something....

[Stevo1980]

It's the LSD and the lifetime oil BMW use in the transmission box. The fix will cost you about £30 you need 2 bottles of redline mtl which you can get from dealers on eBay and just follow the link below, remember you need to raise the car and make sure it's level to do the change. I did by jacking the car up and placing wooden blocks under each wheel. After years of putting up with that sound I changed the transmission oil last year and have never heard it since, but have noticed a massive difference in the shifting with this oil it's like a new gearbox, lovely smooth much much better, you can thank me after you have done this enjoy.

I can't post the link as I have not made over 15 posts yet, pm me and I will send you a link to the guide.

[littlemissmel]

It wont let me pm you, says you don't accept them :-s

[marque]

Hi ya

I don't know I you have tried his but I have had this on other cars with the drive shaft gattors making a simalar noise we cleaned them and sprayed a rubber lub on them that stopped it

Anyway Here is a link for gear box oil change castrol do an alternative spec oil you can get this from halfords

http://answers.halfords.com/answers/.../questions.htm

Maintenance :: Girl's Guide to Changing Transmission Fluid - North American Motoring

[Stevo1980]

I had exactly the same problem in terms of symptoms, a rubbing sound groaning sound when turning into a street, it's your LSD making the sound it's not harming your car as its lubed but is annoying. I belive it has somthing to do with the stock oil consistence when heated as the sound is not there when you do a full lock turn from cold.

Anyway it's an easy job should take under an hour once you have all your bits, would stick with redline MTL over anything else as many have recommended it and I can back up the claims, order it on EBay.