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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear creaking noise?

I just noticed over the past few days there is a very faint creaking noise which is coming from the rear of the car, my first thoughts were a loose brake shoe but its not a rubbing noise is definately a creak??

Not investigated this further yet but just wondered anyone had any ideas? its a rythmic creak which i can just about hear when coasting to a halt which is why me first thoughts were shoes?, its not audible everytime or at speed..
mgdan2

Dan,

If you have wire wheels, they can make that kind of noise.

Charley
C R Huff

Hey Charley, yes i do have wire wheels, would they make the noise rythmically though? if it is this is it anyhing that need attention or tightening?
mgdan2

Dan,

If the rhythm is in time with the rotating of the wheels it could. I suppose it is caused by loose spokes or irregular tension on them. Spokes can be tightened and tuned, but if they are old and stiff they will probably break. Individual spokes can be purchased. However, tuning the spokes includes making the wheel run true, and in my opinion, that is not an easy thing to accomplish.

If it will do it at a walking speed, walk next to it and see if you can locate the sound. Also, swapping the wheels front to rear or side to side might tell you something.

Charley
C R Huff

If you have some loose spokes then each time the wheel is under stress in that area you may hear it move against he spokes and have such a noise. The rate would vary with the speed, but probably be so faint that at higher speeds you can't hear it.
Bill Young

Not really on topic, but we like posts that begin "I've got a funny noise coming from my rear end."

;-)

Cheers,

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

You haven't got the wife still in the boot have you?
Tarquin

LOL Gryf and Tarquin
mgdan2

My non-mechanic idea - rhythmic suggest possibly wheels/hubs area but depending on your sense of rhythm could it be a rear spring - I could be well off the mark tho'
Nigel Atkins

Id certianly give the U-bolts a good hit with the wrench while your playing with your spoke... the hardware does like to loosen over time... but yeah I think there is merit to your spoke issue
Prop

MGdan

Get a small hammer and lightly tap each rear spoke. They should make a nice pingish noise. If its dull thud or worse loose, then you know you've got a spoke problem and pending visit to the bank. Scrutineers used to do this when I sprinted my midget and amazingly the original wheels lasted 3 seasons before the rears started to let go.

Si
S Ricketts

Dry and seizing u joints can make the same noise, especially common after a period of wet weather, when water gets in and rusts the bearings. You really need to unbolt the shaft to check this, the propshaft may not show any looseness (YET!), but it will soon.

FRM
FR Millmore

DON'T use a small hammer unless you want to chip the paint off every spoke so it can rust. You can hear the difference between a spoke in tension and a broken one with a pencil, plastic biro or even your finger nail.

I've yet to see a scrutineer carry a small hammer around with them!
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

LOL...Daniel, give mgdan some credit, I don't expect he was going to use a sledge on it. I use to use a toffee hammer to check each spoke individually. As for the scutineer, he used to run the wooden handle of a screw driver quickly around the spokes to get a general idea, don't remember his name but it was Goodwood when it was Association of Southern Motor Clubs home circuit circa 83, 84, 85. Happy days..
S Ricketts

heck with the hand sledge... go for a paul bunion axe, that will teach those spokes...Hahaha
Prop

Prop. Chainsaw the mothers and have done with it! LOL.

Dan. I've heard wheel bearings do that rhythmic creaking thing at low speed.

Bernie.
b higginson

This thread was discussed between 09/11/2010 and 20/11/2010

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