mk1-forum.net

i have a clicking noise on left hand lock in my mark 1 mini
i realise its the constant velocity joint
but the big question is which side is worn
i read somewhere its the o.s but am not sure dont want to change the wrong one
no play evident in either joints
andy

Normally, if the joint is worn it's the side in the direction you're turning, for example, if you're turning left on full lock, the left hand cv joint is working at a greater angle than the right, due to the ackerman angle, which ensures that the wheel on the outside of the turn goes through a larger radius than that on the inside. In short left lock=left joint, right lock=right joint. This may not be a totally foolproof theory, but it's never failed me yet!

thanks for that
most helpful andy

Guess the bad one, take it apart and check....not significantly difficult.

Cheers, Ian