12 replies to this topic

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Whilst I was changing my rack to a quick rack I took the opportunity to change the steering column bushes (top and bottom), using the standard white ones from mini spares. My steering is now very stiff, to a point where it doesn't centralise when driving. I thought they felt stiff when I put them in and the column was out of the car. I greased the bushes with standard grease. Do they normally need time to wear in? It seems quite unsafe at the moment.

Edited by HUBBA.HUBBA, 16 January 2011 - 12:11 PM.

[reffle]

The quick rack will make steering much stiffer as you're lowering the required steering wheel movement required to rotate the wheels, this means you have to put more effort in to rotate the wheels.

[mikey72]

It should still self-centre though.

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

I really think it's coming from the bushes. They were really stiff when fitting them, when the column was outside the car! And it does not self central. Any Ideas?

[bmcecosse]

Take the bushes back out!

[AlexF2003]

Was it a new rack from a good supplier?

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Hi bmcecosse, Take them out and then what?

Edited by HUBBA.HUBBA, 16 January 2011 - 06:08 PM.

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Was it a new rack from a good supplier?

Yes it was from Mini Spares. It's the bushes that's the problem though. As I said earlier, they were really stiff when fitting them to the column out of the car, I couldn't turn the shaft holding the spindle at the top, had to use the steering wheel.

[1984mini25]

The last mini I replaced the steering bushes on had stiff/tight steering. Although it was to begin with (12x6 wheels and small steering wheel) just the steering column rattled around with the shakes before.

Providing the rack you-bolts were lose when the column was re-fitted, they should just loosen up as they bed themselves in.

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

The last mini I replaced the steering bushes on had stiff/tight steering. Although it was to begin with (12x6 wheels and small steering wheel) just the steering column rattled around with the shakes before.

Providing the rack you-bolts were lose when the column was re-fitted, they should just loosen up as they bed themselves in.

Yep,the you bolts were left loose when the column was fitted. I think the only way might be to take the bushes slightly sand them down on the outside, refit and check. It just seems a bit odd. I didn't push them in too far so they wedge on the rim or anything like that.

Why can't things be simple? They're only basic bushes for @*~# sake!

[jamesmpi]

It could be a tolerance issue that means the bushes are slightly tighter than they should be. You have to remember that parts like that are made by companies using more modern equipment etc then would have been used originally and with the advances in material technology it's not surprising that in some cases new parts might not fit correctly 100% of the time to one persons mini, whereas they will no trouble at all on another.

I have no experience with steering column bushes my self so I don't know if they do certain types based upon the age of your car but I have brought parts in the past which people who have minis that are a similiar to mine have had no problems fitting whereas I have had to file them down or cut a bit etc to get the correct fitment.

Trial and error is often the best policy. Try removing them and rubbing them down and then refit them until they feel better

[Kerrin]

Changed my column bushes last night, yes they are tight, but are bedding in slowly, and it feels safer to not have the column wobbling about.

Did you grease the column/bushes, it may help if not

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Changed my column bushes last night, yes they are tight, but are bedding in slowly, and it feels safer to not have the column wobbling about.

Did you grease the column/bushes, it may help if not

Filed them down a bit and now OK. Cheers.