Help! Constant drone/noise from 20mph onwards! '53 Cooper

[Olly RM]

Hi folks, I've just been for a run out in the Cooper and there is a constant noise from 20 onwards. I'm pretty sure it's from the rear, I did the usual left/right and it's constant with no let up, so not sure it's characteristic of bearings. The discs/pads look ok too. But around 50 mph it's so loud you have to shout to be heard. Apparently this is a new sound, however I'm unsure how long it's been on the go. I rarely go in the car as it's Emma's daily drive. But as today was sunny we went in that. She has been unused since last Sunday so unsure what has happened in that time, but Em is adamant it wasn't doing this last Sunday (following a run of 550 miles to Liverpool and back.)

So off out to inspect it now, but any ideas guys, I'm bricking it as it's near un
-drivable at the moment.

Just to add, driving straight, no pulling, no juddering, no lack of go. Tested the gear box by running her in neutral etc and it was still there. No peddle judder.

So wondering if it's audible wear indicators on breaks but from a glance they look ok.

Please help.

Olly

[DarkMatter]

How old are the tyres? The 7 or 8 year old tyres on the rear of our Mini got quite noisy, a bit like a wheel bearing, despite having a reasonable amount of tread. I had the rear tyres replaced and the noise went away.

[duff]

Pretty sure if it's the gearbox you'll still get the noise in neutral. I'd get it checked ASAP as if the gearbox goes pop and you crack the housing it could get expensive.

[Olly RM]

HI folks, thanks so far for the heads up.

The tyres are new as of 6 months ago so its not them. I have had the clutch done but will pay attention to the box.

On inspection the outside rear drive pad was about half thickness. The inner pad however was 1mm-bare metal. It all seems to have never been fitted correctly. So, I've ordered a full set of discs and pads for all round the car. I am very hopeful that it was purely the pads and that my darling Emma was just not aware of what was going on.

God knows how as the noise was deafening which concerns me. I am just hopeful this sorts it, but more than anything, I am just so pleased that I heard it and investigated as I can now sort it and make it safe for her. Before anyone beats me with their keyboard I work away and I am not here often, after 7 years its all normal, so I have to diagnose issues via description. Sadly that can be, how can I put this, not accurate!

I'll keep you guys posted as to if this sorts things or not.

Cheers again,

Olly

[Olly RM]

Well, after possibly the hardest brake change ever, I have sorted this out. So the rear driver side was down to bare metal on the inner most pad and the calliper was out of line as the outer pad had seized on its runner. It was a nightmare to do, mainly the rotor locating bolt, which had seized solid. I've decimated an impact driver and used a lot of LPG in my blow torch to get it out! It became obvious that the discs were the ones she left the factory with and the rear pads were also the originals. The new disc and pad and a lot of TLC sorted the rear drivers side, so on to the passengers side! This side came apart with equal amounts of swearing/praying/swearing/high temperatures and swearing. Once the disc was off I turned the hub and to my utter despair it was utterly FUBAR'd, on the plus side it explained the horrific noises. The issue was the time, it was 3:40pm yesterday, I needed the part there and then! I called a few Motor Factors and no joy but one gave me a lead and I was happy to find the part. A 20 min drive later I owned a new hub/bearing and it went on far easier than the old one came off.

I decided to just run on and do the fronts. Pleased I did, they were running the original pads and were looking a bit crap, to say the least. So, less stressful than the rears, but still all seized solid, I managed to have the fronts changed by 10pm last night. Very pleased with the results and took her for a shake down run today to break the brakes in. I'm chuffed with the improvement but also the fact I solved the problem. I will be buying in another new hub/bearing for the driver side and I'll do it when I am next here (I'm also going to buy 2 x front ones as no doubt they will be next).

So, once I work out how to shrink Picture file sizes, I'll post a couple of gratuitous pics of Emma's Mini Cooper.

All the best.

Olly

[DarkMatter]

Glad you got it sorted out, well worth the effort to know that the brakes are spot on now.