2005 Mini Cooper Wobbling under a load

TARPGORMER

MEMBER
2005 MINI COOPER
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
80,000 MILES

When driving the car, as I accelerate, there is a very distinctive "Wobble" that is felt throughout the vehicle. This intensifies if I am traveling up an incline. I can be traveling at any rate of speed, push in the clutch and the "Wobble" stops. Turns don't seem to change the "Wobble", neither does speed or severity of incline. I can rev the engine and that has no effect. I tested for possible motor mounts being loose(had a buddy release the clutch while holding down the brake as I observed the engine) and I didn't witness any shacking that was out of the ordinary.I can cruise along at 60 mph and as long as the engine isn't under a load, the "Wobble" is barely detectable. What is going on with this darn car?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,727 POSTS

This is characteristic of a worn inner cv joint housing. A worn spot develops where the three rollers run back and forth. Eventually those rollers run far enough to run over the extremely slight ridge at the end of that worn spot, and that causes them to bind. Instead of changing length freely, the half shaft pushes and pulls on the spindle and lower control arm, which is mounted on rubber bushings, and those tug on the steering linkage. Occurring only during acceleration is the clue because that puts pressure on the rollers so they are more reluctant to roll over the ridge at the end of the worn spot.