10 replies to this topic

[Aria Aradhea]

Model: Mini Mayfair II
Year: 1990
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):

I've recently changed both of my track rod ends (standard items), but I notice after changing them, the steering wheel is not centered anymore. I adjusted it a little to the left, it goes too much to the left and vice versa. The number of the threads turned for the track rod ends are the same as before, nothing else is touched. Lock-to-lock ratio is the same, so it suggest that the steering rack is centered fine. It's just the steering wheel won't point dead center...

Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks,

Aria

Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?
Nope

[bmcecosse]

You need to check if each track rod end is screwed on the track rods the SAME number of turns, as each other. Once this is sorted - you then need to track the steering, moving both TREs the same number of turns (2 mm toe-OUT) - and then if necessary - re-align the steering wheel by moving it round on the splines.

[Cooperman]

Have you had it re-tracked since changing the TRA's? This is something which should always be done.
Alternatively, remove the steering wheel and re-locate it on the splines in the straight-ahead position.
If the wheel position is different, then the ends are not screwed on EXACTLY in the positions the old ones were. It really should be properly tracked.

Edited by Cooperman, 15 December 2009 - 05:42 PM.

[bmcecosse]

The original position may not have been correct - best to start from scratch. Also - in Indonesia - the TREs available may not be exactly the same length as the ones that are coming off the car!

[Aria Aradhea]

The ends are screwed exactly as they were before, I'm going to see the part number for the TRE I used to make sure of it's length.

It looks to me like I just need to reposition the steering wheel by one tooth, but somehow it won't be in a straight position.

Thanks for the inputs, they're much appreciated. I'll try them and see about the results!

[Boycie]

I changed my steering rack today, I wound the track rods on EXACTLY as they were before, measured perfectly wth the calipers. It's totally out, probably not really driveable... I think there is lots of difference between new/old genuine/non-gen parts!

[Aria Aradhea]

Hmm... the TREs came from Quinton Hazel (sp?), is that genuine or non-genuine part?

[jaydee]

Mate, you always have to redo tracking when swapping TRE's, if the new one are a different lenght, tracking will be moons out, even if they're the same length tracking will be out.

[Aria Aradhea]

Yeah.. haven't got the time to do the tracking properly, and it is now 6pm here... Luckily, the other Mini goes strong so no problem for transportation...

I will properly do the tracking though...

Thank you all for the advice...

[icklemini]

Only reposition the wheel if its been put on in the wrong place to start with. (easy to check).

Then get the front wheels tracked with reference to the rear. (4 wheel alignment)

Job done.

[dklawson]

Working to the "number of turns" to put things back the way they were only works when you are putting back exactly the same parts you removed (regardless of whether you are talking about the rack or the rod ends).

Even if you bought the exact same brand of parts as what you removed, there are manufacturing tolerances AND (in the case of threaded assembled) there is not necessarily a guarantee of where the threads start. What you are really trying to control is the centerline of the joint on the end of the track rod end relative to a point on the rack itself. This comes too late for you now, but what I have done in the past (on non-Mini applications) is to make a wooden fixture (nothing more than a board with a hole in it) that picks up the tapered post on the rod end and allows me to put an accurate paint mark on the rack itself. When I installed the new rod end I lined up the end of the wooden fixture with the paint mark knowing that the center of the new rod end was positioned exactly where the old one had been. Even with this effort, I still took the car in for an alignment once the new parts were fitted.