squeeking noise from the front

[BUMBLE BEE]

right guys ive got a noise comeing from the front it a squeeking noise which i cant seem to pin point . it does get louder and you can hear it for longer going around corners. and also when you accelerate. im unsure what it is at this moment in time im thinkin along the lines of engine mount/bearing. any suggetions

[jackdaw]

First thing to try is the wheel bearings.

Jack the front wheels up and see if there is any play or movement in them when you try rocking the wheel side to side and then again top to bottom.
A small amount of movement is acceptable but if a wheel bearing is worn you should see a fair bit of play.

While the wheels are up in the air try turning them to see if you can hear the squeak. Sometimes the most obvious cause is overlooked.

Another thing you could do before letting the jack down is to grease your front suspension through the 3 grease nipples on each side. Squeaks and grease don't get on so it may work.

Good hunting!

[BUMBLE BEE]

thanks jackdaw only reason i asked onhere is atm i havent got a jack to check for play
. but thanks for the advise on the grease nipples i didnt realise they were there might be worth a shout first

[jackdaw]

If you havent got a jack, what are you gonna do if/when you get a puncture

You should be greasing the suspension and the top & bottom ball joints (the 3 grease nipples) at least once every 6 months and definately just before an MOT !!!
There are also 2 grease nipples at the rear, one just in front of each rear wheel which help keep the rear suspension working, so bung some grease in them as well while youre at it !!! ;D

[coedy]

Proper mental thing Im going to suggest (which you have probably checked)

Its coming from the front, louder when accelerating etc....

Checked the fanbelt? Or the pulley on the alternator? Mine went through a phase of making horrible squeaking noises over the winter. turned out it was the actual pulley on the alt.
Spray of WD40 on it and it went instantly. And before anyone says it, yes, it was actually louder on corners for some unknown reason (and it definitely was the alternator pulley )

[jackdaw]

Good shout coedy !
Didnt think of that one
and again an easy fix with the WD too.

Another way to check without jacking the car up is to find yourself a nice big (& empty!) car park and drive the mini round (quickly!) in circles with full lock on ! If your cv joints are on the way out you should hear a squeaking/clicking noise from the front.

Been corrected by dogsbreath about the cv joints !!!!!

[sbplumb53]

i had the plastic cap wear away on the suspension cone in top arm .that made some noises like that.

[BUMBLE BEE]

i thought of the alt belt / pulley and wd40'd it first lol but hasnt worked i think its going to be a bearing tbh but fingers x i might get away with just greasing it up if i can get hold of a grease gun

[BUMBLE BEE]

Good news and bad its not a bearing its not a tensioner but stil havent found the problem

[jackdaw]

But did you find a grease gun ;D

[BUMBLE BEE]

yes i did mate luckilly enough one of my old work mates in sinclair vw had one he lent me fair play it was ancient but it done the trick. so ruled out bearing,alternator belt/ tensioner/ its a weird one its one you accelerate so when the engine moves to the front then back. i found out it goes when you dont accelerate round corners aswell. si now im thinkin engine mounts or exhaust.

[coedy]

Are all the shocks tightened up nice and tight?

Does it do it when the car is parked? If it does then that may mean its engine mounts/etc as the engine should try and bounce about when reved if your parked as well surely?

Tried shiggling the block back and fore by hand?

[BUMBLE BEE]

fortunatly tim was good enough to have a look for me. this man is a true legend lol. aand he came to the concluetion of subframe bushes and possibly the cones on top of the suspension

so i will be looking for volunteers sometime soon