3 replies to this topic

[kingbenvolio]

Austin Morris
1981

Hello all,
I need to change the steering rack on my 81, basically, the father in law removed it, but has buggered off to make me put it back in! Its still on axel stands, with the subframe dropped a little, just any guidance on how to do it would be marvellous, as im a little baffled and overwhelmed with all the work atm!
Cheers
Benv

Edited by kingbenvolio, 06 June 2011 - 10:20 AM.

[Boycie]

To be fair, he's done most of the hard work!!!

Get your replacement rack and make sure you have the two 'U' bolts with their washers, nuts and nylon strips that go between the U bolts and rack body. Also make sure you have the foam insulator that goes between the rack pinion and bodyshell (that pokes through the hole in the floor).

With all that, bolt the rack into place by centring it to the toeboard of the car (check out the Haynes manual to get it correctly aligned).
Then fit your steering column, do up the small pinch-bolt (VERY important) and fully tighten the rack 'u' bolts. Fit the track rod ends to the new rack and bolt them to the hubs.
That is basically the steering rack fitted. Now you need to raise and affix the subframe (I'd change the mounts unless they're perfect) and then start to work your way through all the bits father in law undid to lower the subframe! I'm thinking- clutch cylinder, engine support bar, exhaust, gear change etc.
Good luck and don't be afraid to get stuck in. Pictures will help!

[minidream94]

Ive also got to do mine on my 85 mayfair but obviously the engines still in situe not looking forward to doing that

[Brian422]

Ive also got to do mine on my 85 mayfair but obviously the engines still in situe not looking forward to doing that

I've just replaced the steering rack in my 1980 MIni Clubman Estate and found the job less than straightforward.
I'm unsure as to whether the difficulty I encountered just applies to clubmans or to minis in general.

The inner wings of my clubman has cutouts that accommodate the subframe towers. I followed the advice given in the Haynes Manual, and advice on various forums and removed anything connecting the subframe/engine to the body, but there was no mention of the fact that as the subframe tilts, the top of the subframe tower sections rest against inner wing cutouts and, in my case, did not allow the 3 inch drop widely quoted as that required to remove the rack.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, the old tear drop mounts broke and the subframe dropped onto wooden blocks I used to support the subframe.

I would suggest that it would be wise to prepare for a combination of subframe tilt and lowering, preferably under control.

Might be an idea to replace subframe mounts at the same time.

Best of luck.

Hope this helps.