5 replies to this topic

[nicksuth]

Just another moan really !!!!!!!!!

After completing the 4 pot calliper/vented discs project this afternoon, I thought I'd just fit that steering column dropper I'd had in the drawer for the last 6 monts, it's bound to be simple = WRONG, what a barsteward!!!!

You would think they would have some form of locking mechanism on the upper rail where the column attaches to the body? No, it's a loose piece of steel plate with 2 x captive nuts welded on (thank the lord for small mercy's!!) that you have to keep centring with a punch while balancing the dropper and column bracket on a 1/2" socket (small, 1/4" drive type) with numerous 1/4" to 3/8" to 1/2" adapetrs and short extension bar, then try and get the thread started (once you've found the bloody hole/captive nut!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Mine was particularly arduous due to the fitment of a Clifford alarm and all the extra connections, in-line fuse holders, anti-hotwire etc. etc. etc.

What I thought would be a 1 hr job ended up taking 4 hrs!!!!!

Anyone else fitted one???

Don't see why the standar dropper can't be used (I did do a quick fit with one I had and it looked okay to me?)

[the.stroker]

what year is your mpi? does it have an air bag? i didnt think air bags and collumn drop brackets were a good mix,could be wrong,it seems the more " easy jobs " on a mini turn out to be the worse lol!

[nicksuth]

It's a 1998 MPi with Air Bag fitted. I wqas originally going to fit the standard dropped which is about 1/2hrs work? I made a few enquiries and was pointed to Wood & Pickett who do a special dropper for the Air Bagged MPi (not cheep for a little lump of alloy, 2 bolts and a slot)

[the.stroker]

thats w+p for you mate,i bet its good quality though??

[nicksuth]

Oh great quality, aircraft spec alloy, anodised, sheridised, galvanised, NC milled to 0.001"

A pice of 1.1/2" Square alloy bar cut to length with slot and two holes all painted black would have been sufficient???

Het, now ther's an idea - £27.00 W&P or £10.00 NS, any takers????

[Dan]

The main reason you can't use the original type is because there would be little strength left in it. If you check you'll notice that the original type has a block as part of the colum that fits inside the clip on the dash rail, while in the MPi it's the other way around. If you use the original dropper on an MPi you end up with one socket inside another and no block stopping the sides of the clamps twisting, with the force you put on the steering wheel the clamp will just flex. If the clamp flexes and the column moves about as you drive you will fairly quickly get the same effect as you do when you drop a column without rotating the rack, the splines on the rack will wear out and the steering will rapidly become dangerous and eventually fail altogether. Also of course if the airbag deploys it puts a lot of force through the column and you want it going off in the right direction.