19 replies to this topic

[MonkeyHugger]

My minis hurt

I bumped the kerb head on at about 5mph earlier today. Now its pulling hard to the left, have to keep the wheel at about 3 o clock to the right to go straight.

Too dark to check much but checked the tie rods and they seem fine, they are also 2 months old.

Anything else to check? I did a search but results are all for people who are slightly pulling either side, mines pulling very bad indeed.

Thankies

[HARBER07]

Maybe bent the steering arm?

[danrock101]

My minis hurt

I bumped the kerb head on at about 5mph earlier today. Now its pulling hard to the left, have to keep the wheel at about 3 o clock to the right to go straight.

Too dark to check much but checked the tie rods and they seem fine, they are also 2 months old.

Anything else to check? I did a search but results are all for people who are slightly pulling either side, mines pulling very bad indeed.

Thankies

I did this it's not pulling as such but my steering wheel isn't lined up right now, it's a mountnety 3 spoke and the bottom middle spoke is at 8 when going straight instead of 6
Sorry I can't help you but maybe it makes you feel a bit better knowing you're not the only one haha

[Kam]

Wait till its light and check again, could be something plainly obvious?

You could change your username to KerbHugger though?

Chin up, could be worse

[MonkeyHugger]

Maybe bent the steering arm?

Ok big words like that scare me

Just forked out £280 for a new clutch and battery

KerbHugger though, I would but that'd make me sound like i crashed in the red light district

[Kam]

Just forked out £280 for a new clutch and battery

I take it the above price is including fitting???

Don't worry, your clutch and battery are fine, its only steering/suspension/braking components at fault here, if you can take some pictures of what you see that'll help.

[mini_mad69]

I'd say tie bars or steering arm.

Have a look in the light, and give everything a good shake. Maybe get someone with a bit more experience to have a look for you?

[MonkeyHugger]

Yeah that included fitting, Mini Moneypit still love him.

Thanks very much, ill get some photos posted up tomorrow and hope sense can be made of them.

[Cooperman]

Another common cause of pulling to one side after a frontal impact on the wheel is a bent tie-bar 'ear' on the sub-frame.
If this is the case, and you'll need to measure the sub-frame accurately frm tie-bar front mounting to the rear of the sub-frame, then you have to remove the tie-bar, heat up the 'ear' with a blow torch, bend it straight (big club hammer does the trick!) and make sure it's as accurate as you can get it, re-paint locally and re-fit the tie-bar.
The best thing to do then is to fit adjustable length tie-bars to takje out any residual inaccuracy.
However, check the steering arm and tie-bar first.

[minisilverbullet]

i did the same in a mx5 a couple of years ago, bent the steering arm and tie bar!

[steble]

yer your not the only one mate exactley the same thing happened to me in my 205 4 o'clock sunday morning. we hit black ice at about 5mph 4 of us in the car none of us saw, we just bumped up a kerb and had a horrid knocking sound and it was violantly jerking the wheel round a lot.

randomly tho all that happened was it knocked a wheel nut out lol

[me madjoe 90]

yer your not the only one mate exactley the same thing happened to me in my 205 4 o'clock sunday morning. we hit black ice at about 5mph 4 of us in the car none of us saw, we just bumped up a kerb and had a horrid knocking sound and it was violantly jerking the wheel round a lot.

randomly tho all that happened was it knocked a wheel nut out lol

If knocked a wheel nut out id seriously concider cheaking the rim as it will most likely be harshly buckled and if you havent already cheak tire pressure as will have lost abit

[steble]

na wheel aint buckled tyre pressure i've done no buldge pretty lucky really, am a bit concerne the wheel nut came out though i'm going to take the wheel off and check the threads when i get chance.

[me madjoe 90]

na wheel aint buckled tyre pressure i've done no buldge pretty lucky really, am a bit concerne the wheel nut came out though i'm going to take the wheel off and check the threads when i get chance.

it should be ok to polish guy at my work drives his car and theres only one bolt on each wheel holding it on the spigot and he spins them all the time (nutter) but yer shouldent worrie about it but best to fix it any way

[MonkeyHugger]

Holy late reply!

Thanks for all the ideas I took some pictures but dont think theyll be any help, tie bar seems fine, the wheel doesnt feel loose if i give it a good shake. The only thing I noticed is that guard behind the brake disc is loose.