15 replies to this topic

[ste3po]

I have a 1991 rover Mini City E. I have been working through some problems with it and has been great, with some new carpets ready to go in!

However I was driving it over the weekend, when I left the steering wheel was perfectly straight, but mid way through noticed it was anything but. It now seems to point to the right about a quater turn (when the wheels are straight).

I was wondering what could have caused this so suddenly? It was only a good 15 minute drive. I dont mind taking the steering wheel off and aligning it, but obviously could be tracking and alignment may need to be sorted.

Any ideas on what may have caused it, or something to check? Please let me know, thanks!

[jpw1275]

is your steering wheel loose? check the big nut.... happened to me before now.... the nut was still on but i didnt relise that when moving the wheel lifted up enough to move without relising

cheers james

[sonikk4]

Have a look at the pinch nut on the bottom of the steering column. This may be loose and possibly the splines have jumped on the steering rack (doubtful though)

 

Did you happen to hit any potholes at all. Possible bent tie bar?? 

[ste3po]

I will check these out, though I did look to see if the wheel was loose yesterday and din't seem to be, will check that again though.

There were unfortunatly several potholes, so this is a possibility. I am new to minis, (unfortunatly it isn't infront of me at the moment to check these all staright away) but can I easily check to see the tie bar?

Thanks!

[sonikk4]

Yes if the tie bar is bent at all you will see it. You can hold a 12" rule against it and this will show up any bend in it. It may not be blatantly obvious.

[wile e coyote]

Hopefully goes without saying but...... don't drive it (or at least if you do be very very careful) until you've checked it out..... you can drive (uncomfortably and with odd handling) on a bent tie bar but a potential stripped steering column or knackered rack could have some decidedly unfunny consequences.......

[62S]

Check that the steering rack is bolted up to the body to the correct torque setting. It doesn't take much movement to put the steering wheel off true.

[ste3po]

Okay, so the tie bar on the drivers side front, is bent ever so slightly, only really nori able with a straight edge against it. Though after looking again it seems that the steering wheel is more half a turn off when the wheels are centered.

As said pretty new to minis, so in terms of steering rack to the body bolting, how can I check it is at the right torque?

Any other things to check?

Also the car was handling fine... Obviously steering wheel not in the right position but went lock to lock fine...

[sonikk4]

I would change the tie bar if it's bent. Worth getting the uprated ones. And change both.

With regards to the rack to body it's not as straight forward as checking to see the U clamps are tight. There is under each of the clamps one of these
http://www.minispare...|Back to search
If these are damaged or missing they can cause problems. Without taking the rack off they are very difficult to see. Still check the U clamps to see they are tightened correctly.

Going back to my first post about the steering column to steering rack pinch bolt it has been known for the splines to have been previously damaged and issues occurring there. It is reasonably straight forward to take the column off.

Is the steering wheel an original one or aftermarket that has been previously fitted?? It could be as simple as that.

[ste3po]

Thanks for your help so far sonikk4! I think the steering wheel fitted is an after market steering wheel, almost 100% on that, What problem could this raise?

I'm hoping it's a small problem seeing as I need the car by this Friday...

I shall look into the steering rack pinch bolt some more, but did have a quick look at this and seemed fine.

[sonikk4]

With regards to the steering wheel its possible it was never fitted correctly so worth having a look at.

[ste3po]

Okay will check that out too... just a case of removing it and seeing how it was fitted, or is there a more concise tell tale sign for it being fitted wrong (apart from it not pointing the same way as the wheels anymore...)

Thanks!

[sonikk4]

No not really, i think this is going to be one of these cases where you will need to go through everything methodically. Start at the steering wheel and then check from there downwards to the rack. Then go onto the steering arms off the rack looking for anything obvious.

 

Once the bent tie bars are replaced and you cannot find anything else get the tracking checked and the steering wheel centered.

 

We can keep saying check this and check that but you need to start from somewhere and then go through everything. keep reporting back if you find something or nothing

[ste3po]

No problem sounds  good, will check back with anything that doesn't seem right... and if something fixes the problem.

Tahnks!

[letsoffroad]

Hello, i had a similar thing with my 1985 city E. The steering wheel wasn't straight when i got the car, so i bought a socket to do the job. A little later, and after miles of use, i noticed that it was slightly off centre again. After checking the car over i noticed that one of the front subframe mountings was broken, so i decided to change them all. On doing this job i found that three of the mountings (although looking ok) were actually broken, so the subframe was actually held in with one mounting, the tower bolts, and the weight of the car!!.. 

After changing all four mountings, the steering wheel was then half a turn out, as the subframe was then re-aligned with the steering gear. If you have dropped the min into a pothole, it could be that you have broken a mounting and the subframe has moved.