Wobbling Wheel!

[RTanguy]

I have just been out driving with my Dad following in the car behind and he said he could see my front drivers side wheel wobbling about as I drove, I couldn't feel it in the car, but I have only had the car for a month so I'm not quite used to all its little wobbles yet! I have been meaning to pump that tyre up a bit as it is a little lower than the others, do you think this could be the problem? Or could it be something more serious worn on the wheel bearings or something else as my Dad said he was sure it was the wheel not the tyre?
Any advice would be appreciated!!

[Alex'n'Ane]

First thing to do is take the wheel off and check its sitting on the hub flat, give the face a quick rub down flat to make sure, then evenly tighten the wheel nuts.

[mike.perry]

jack the wheel up and pull it from side to side and get a lever to lever the wheel up and down. Look for any movement in the top and bottom trunnions and also the track rod end

[simmitc]

Jack the car up so that the affected wheel is clear of the ground and support on an axle stand. Now place something static against the rim of the wheel and then spin the wheel gently. This will show whether there is any wobble. You should be looking for a deformed rim, a generally buckled wheel, loose wheel nuts, poor bearings (you should hear them and feel roughness as the wheel spins) etc. Also check for bulges in the side wall of the tyre - if present then replace the tyre immediately. Also check with the observer that it wasn't simply that the hub cap is not sitting evenly on the wheel!.

If all above show no problem, then check the trunnions (in fact, check them anyway!

Also worth checking that the damper bolts are tight where it is attached to the cross member of the bulkhead, and lastly, check for corrosion of the chassis leg where the eye bolt is mounted.

[RTanguy]

I've jacked the car up, one of the wheel nuts was a hell of a lot looser than the other ones! So perhaps it could have been that? I have noticed as well that when you spin the wheel there is a 'sticky' patch where the wheel can't spin as freely.. is this the brakes stuck?
Sorry about all the questions I'm new to all this!!

[simmitc]

It sounds like a slightly elliptical drum - if the brake was stuck, then I'd expect it to bind all the way round, whereas you are getting it bind in one place (if I have understood correctly). To be honest, virtually every Minor I have ever worked on seems to suffer form this, even with brand new components. It would be worth taking the drum off to make a visual inspection of all components, but probably nothing about which to worry. If you have access to a friendly garage, then an MOT type brake test would soon tell you if there are any issues that need fixing. Seeing that brakes are such an important safety items, that wouldn't be a mad investment anyway.

[RTanguy]

Yeah its just one place, its not so much sticking as a bit heavier in one place. Just wanted to make sure that had nothing to do with my wobble! Ive had the drum off now (had to as I managed to snap a wheel stud ) and everything looks fine .
Thanks!

[bmcecosse]

How on earth did you snap a stud........?

[simmitc]

Very easily, although relatively rarely - 4 in 30 years, and when they go, they just go with a bang.

[bmcecosse]

Don't think I have ever broken a wheel stud - on Mini or Minor (same studs). They are only 3/8" UNF - there's a sensible limit to how tight you should make them !

[RTanguy]

My boyfriend was making sure the wheel nuts were on extra tight.. He's stronger than he thought!

[bmcecosse]

Bad move - risk of distorting the wheel as well as snapping the stud as you have seen. If the other studs were also tightened up too much - they may have been stretched and/or now be on the verge of snapping. I suggest you renew them ALL.