Help!!!

[amybethcarr]

 
Hi guys, I am sure you are all getting used to me posting mechanical questions on here by now but this is a biggie.....my car is making a horrid grinding noise. It started just in 2nd and 3rd gear whilst I was not accelerating, but now it is all the time pretty much and it's really bad when I am pulling away in 1st.  It sounds like sand has got into a place sand really shouldn't be, times by 100!!! My limited processes of thought on these things tells me it is the gearbox, dur I hear you all say! I have no idea if this is a common thing that is simple, or if I should be scouring the web for an entirely new box.
Any suggestions are welcome! My mechanic struggled with the brake s, which still aren't great so I am wanting to know also if anyone knows of a great mechanic around north Yorkshire or north east?
Oh he's a Polski made in 2000 if that makes any difference
You are all my mechanical angels......I will post photos of the customised inside (the bit I am good at) soon I promise
A

[dajwid]

Is the noise there when you start up the car and it is not in gear?

Does the noise stop when you press the clutch??

[Hazey-n-Marc]

Has anyone checked if there is any oil in the box?

[1973/126]

 or could be the drive shaft couplings, an other common problem, as many of us experienced...

[Hazey-n-Marc]

It isn't your passengers teeth when they're trying to hold on is it?

[midvillesb]

What was the problem with your brakes that your mechanic was struggling with?

The 126 all round drum braking system is incredibly simple and easy to work on, and the parts are cheap as chips if you go to the right places (eg 126fan), so should be a walk in the park for any half decent mechanic - even a total klutz like me managed to re-do the entire system on my last BIS)...

[Hazey-n-Marc]

You would be better with an old school mechanic. The last 15 years they have been trained as fitters, not mechanics.

[popik81]

You would be better with an old school mechanic. The last 15 years they have been trained as fitters, not mechanics.

100% true...

[amybethcarr]

Hey guys....thank you so much as always. Even for the cheeky comments.....to be honest noone will get in the car with me apart from my spaniel who thinks its great he can see through the windscreen without having to move from his seat!!

ok, will try to reply to questions.....

The noise started just when i was in 2nd and 3rd whilst not accellerating......now it is all the timeespecially when i pull away in 1st. i am pretty sure it is not there when i start him up, but will double check this am. The noise used to stop when i press the clutch, but now sometimes it carries on but not as bad.

Noone has checked for oil in the box, that sounds like a good one.....i did the oil in the car bit but not in gearbox.

The breaking system is odd......he has changed the "pistons" i think they were called, and all went fine. he is a very good friend but yes pretty young (29) so not much experience with old cars. I am taking it to a guy in my town who is a great old geezer and fixed my dads triumph and austin healey. the problem with the breaks is that in the wet, without fail, the first time i break it feels like the right break fails and the left anchors on and stops my wheel completely.....getting used to it now though, so jsut do the first break before i head off.

I will mention to the old boy about drive shaft couplings and oil and see where we get to.

you are the bees knees the lot of you

thank you xxx

[Hazey-n-Marc]

It sounds like it could be the thrust bearing. What do the rest of you think?

The brakes might just need a very thorough clean and new springs. Or it could just be because it is only you in the car, that mean there is less weight on the left wheel allowing it to lock easier, this is exacerbated by camber. My BMW does similar if the boot is full and I don't have a passenger, but only on roads with noticeable camber.