10 replies to this topic

[MiniMike87]

Right, this is faily hard to explain, im trying to figure out whats wrong with my steering column whilst the engines out in case i need to change it, basicly you can pull the steering wheel towards you and the whole inner column is moving in and out of the floor , theres no movement left, right or up and down could this be bushes missing or something because the little clamp and the bottom of the column moves up with it as well.
hope that makes sense...

[MiniMike87]

Bump

[monster_mini]

hi, just giving my opinion as you haven't had any replies yet

things i would check to see if tight,

-the 4 nuts in the floor holding the steering wrack to the floor,
-the pinch bolt at the bottom of the column(just before it goes through the floor.

and i just going have a general wiggle of the rack and see if it moves

regarding the steering column bushes, if i remember rightly, if you remove the cowling(plastic thing on steering column covering everything up) you should be able to see both bushes??(if someone could clarify me on this)

what year is the car ?

thanks

Nick

[MiniMike87]

hi, just giving my opinion as you haven't had any replies yet smile.gif

things i would check to see if tight,

-the 4 nuts in the floor holding the steering wrack to the floor,
-the pinch bolt at the bottom of the column(just before it goes through the floor.

and i just going have a general wiggle of the rack and see if it moves smile.gif

regarding the steering column bushes, if i remember rightly, if you remove the cowling(plastic thing on steering column covering everything up) you should be able to see both bushes??(if someone could clarify me on this)

what year is the car smile.gif ?

thanks

Nick

hey, thanks for the reply, i checked all the bolts and there all as tight as can be, the pinch bolt at the bottom of the column is moving up with it as well.. its a 1987 mini mayfair
cheers
Mike

[Dan]

Sounds like your rack is worn out if the pinion can move in and out of its housing. If that's the case then the car is too dangerous to drive. The pinion is supposed to be preloaded. Have someone watch to see if the rack moves when you push and pull the column, if the rack stays still or just barely moves but the pinion that the column is bolted to is moving a lot further your car is going nowhere until fixed.

[MiniMike87]

Sounds like your rack is worn out if the pinion can move in and out of its housing. If that's the case then the car is too dangerous to drive. The pinion is supposed to be preloaded. Have someone watch to see if the rack moves when you push and pull the column, if the rack stays still or just barely moves but the pinion that the column is bolted to is moving a lot further your car is going nowhere until fixed.

thats what i was least hoping for for it to move that badly i thought it had to be something like that, well its off the road at the moment anyway as im putting a 1275 in.. is the rack hard to change if it comes to that?
cheers

[monster_mini]

if you've got the engine out , do it now! depending on if your subframe is still on or not, its easy check the haynes manual for the full description of how to do it

but basically,

drop the back of the subframe down abit(or off to make it really easy, undo the track rod ends, the steering rack U bolts, and it's basically off if you can change an engine, you can change a steering rack

goodluck

[MiniMike87]

if you've got the engine out , do it now! depending on if your subframe is still on or not, its easy check the haynes manual for the full description of how to do it

but basically,

drop the back of the subframe down abit(or off to make it really easy, undo the track rod ends, the steering rack U bolts, and it's basically off if you can change an engine, you can change a steering rack

goodluck

Right, thanks for all the help, I've dropped the subframe before to change the subfram mounts so I presume it's similar to that, when I buy a new steering rack is there anything else I will need to go with it bushes, rubbers or anything or do they come ready to bolt on?
Cheers

[monster_mini]

depends where you get it from i guess i got a minispares reconditioned one just make sure you buy a new (can't remember the exact name for it) but its a little circular bit of sponge that goes between the rack and floor(where it connects to the column) they're only like 50p and while you're at it, unless they're already new, i'd change the track rod ends but thats completely up to you

that's it though i believe

[Dan]

You will need new Nylon packing strips for the rack U-bolts. These tiny things are essential to stop the rack slipping about and somehow seem to be able to vanish completely from a car even though they are threaded onto the bolts.

[MiniMike87]

haha right cheers guys, big help!