Morris Minor Owners Club

Help. The grinding noise which is severe only occurs when first starting off. Lasts for a few minutes then disappears. Terrible noise that comes from underneath the car. Does anyone know what this could be please ?

does it go off after you change from 1st to second gear

Few 'minutes' - or just a few seconds - as above - until you change gear?

No. I change gears up with the noise continuing. After 5 minutes or so the noise stops. However when it is occurring it is v loud and seems to be driver's side, rear, underneath.It doesn't happen all the time but when it does its as if the bottom of the car is about to drop off - btw AA confirmed all ok w underneath .

Could be a sticking brake cylinder and a worn out brake shoe.

Does it occur in neutral? does it occur in gear but with the clutch down, up, or both?

Place the car on a flat, level, surface. Get the car to the stage where you would be about to drive off, expecting the noise to occur. Chock the front wheels, jack up the rear so that both wheels are clear of the ground. With an assistant listening carefully, start the car, and place in gear. The rear wheels should both spin, and your assistant should be able to pinpoint where the noise originates. when you are sitting in the car, it is notoriously difficult to identify where the noise originates.

Have you checked the oil in the rear axle?
When "first starting off", has the car been parked on a level surface? Or a sloped one?
If sloped, front to back? Or side to side? If side to side which side is higher?