14 replies to this topic

[Marroon]

My cars a Mini city, 1989

12 inch wheels, front standard disks

When steering on the ground the steering has gone really hard and is even worse when driving, however on ice, the steering is still really light,

I also got my car stuck on top of some snow yesterday and it wa sstuck for a while, would this have caused any damage?

Answer needed really soon please, my car is almost undrivable.

Also when steering around a corner if i let go of the steering wheel it springs back towards the centre,

Hope this makes sense*

cheers, matt

Edited by Marroon, 04 February 2009 - 10:14 AM.

[GraemeC]

Check the tie bars and their mountings are straight and haven't got bent - this does sound like it could be an increase in caster.

Would also be worth checking that the ball joints are healthy and greased, the track rod ends are healthy and the steering rack is full of oil.

[998dave]

Seperated it up a bit:

My cars a Mini city, 1989
12 inch wheels, front standard disks
When steering on the ground the steering has gone really hard and is even worse when driving, however on ice, the steering is still really light,

On ice there's no resistance, always makes the steering light, ignore this for now, the issue is with turning in on grippy surfaces.

I also got my car stuck on top of some snow yesterday and it wa sstuck for a while, would this have caused any damage?
Answer needed really soon please, my car is almost undrivable.

Being stuck shouldn't have, but depends how you got there, as graeme says you may have bent something, so check there's nothing bent or twisted, also tyre pressures can make a difference.

Also when steering around a corner if i let go of the steering wheel it springs back towards the centre,

This is due to the caster, cars are meant to self straighten, did it not do this before?

Dave

[Marroon]

No, not this strong, its like theres someone constantly pushing the steering wheel back to central position when you turn to the left... Nothing looks bent underneath, however driving to college today it felt really on edge, i had to battle with the steering wheel to keep it in a straight line.

[998dave]

I suspect you've bent something, or something has worn quickly, resulting in bizarre handling. As Graeme said a wheel moving and altering caster or camber can easily effect handling the way you've mentioned.

Take it to a garage and ask them to check the tracking for you, also check distance from centre front to rear wheels each side, and consider jacking the front, getting a friend to hold the steering wheel, and try to wobble the wheels left to right.

Dave

[Marroon]

Hmmm, *melonsing* sick of minis (Y)

[998dave]

It's not the car's fault you crashed it!?

[Marroon]

yeah but i didnt crash the front or anything that could affect the steering, and tehres absolutly nothing visually wrong wiht it not even a scratch or crack, winds me up.

+ when it was stuck n teh snow it was mainly the sump and exaust stuck on the snow and the only thing i can think of is "dry steering" in teh snow when it was compacted round the wheels.

[icklemini]

daft question: the carpet or mats arent threading themselves around the bottom of the steering column are they? (then again it would be stiff all the time :s )

Edited by icklemini, 04 February 2009 - 07:34 PM.

[Marroon]

Nope its not that either, going to have to jack it up on friday when i get chance, my mate said it happened to him when he curbed his car, and ive read a post on the internet asking a similar thing, neither people seemed to solve there problems

:/

[cookie4343]

Sounds like your steering rack to me mine had all the same symtoms and then when i took to have an mot the tester jacked it up on the front and could hardly turn the wheels side to side by hand then i changed the rack and track rod ends and its fine jack both your wheels up and see how hard it is to turn side to side by hand.

Edited by cookie4343, 04 February 2009 - 08:26 PM.

[Marroon]

Wil do cheers, but wouldnt this mean it would still be heavyer when driving on ice?

[cookie4343]

Wil do cheers, but wouldnt this mean it would still be heavyer when driving on ice?

No you wont get no grip on ice but when your on tarmac you will.
Mine just didnt feal right when i went round corners i had to really hold it before it come flying back at me just try it or take it to a mot station they should give it a quik look for free.

[Marroon]

Ill just tell dad, he knows all about minis and has helped me restore it, just wanted to get some idea first (Y) cheers

[mozzo1]

It's not the car's fault you crashed it!?

here here