9 replies to this topic

[okinawamini]

Hello everyone,

 

My 1995 Rover Mini has increasingly loose steering, and I'm concerned about the safety of driving it. I've read some other posts on this forum and found that Minis driven on bumpy roads sometimes have loosened U-bolts or splines, which sounds like something that I could fix on my own.

 

My main problem is that I am having trouble finding a manual that can show me what exactly this U-bolt or spline is, and how I tighten it. I'm not sure that the advice given to other Mini owners on this forum for this problem would be the same for the Rover Mini or what. Is there a Rover Mini owner out there who could show me pictures or walk me through what I'm looking for, or recommend a good repairs manual? I live in Japan, so getting a manual is going to take a while (shipping things can take anywhere from two weeks to two months) and I'd like to get back behind the wheel as soon as possible.

 

Thank you for your time!

[Carlos W]

Can you explain what you mean by loose steering?

If the splines at the bottom of the steering column are worn it can be very dangerous and tightening the bolt where the column meets the floor may not fix the issue

[Carlos W]

Now I'm on my computer and not my phone I can expand a bit!

 

If the splines are jumping then there is likely to be wear on the steering column and I'd recommend not driving the car until it's fixed, you could lose steering altogether!

 

It is advised that the pinch bolt at the bottom of the steering column is checked for tightness at every service, unfortunately this is often forgotten about.

 

Of course if these aren't the symptoms, I may be going off in completely the wrong direction, so a bit more information would be great!

[Tamworthbay]

You need to remove the steering column completely and check the condition of the splines on both the column and the rack. Failure in this area will result in a potentially serious accident.

[okinawamini]

Thank you for the initial thoughts! I'm beginning to think I should schedule a full steering check with my mechanic rather than attack this myself. I purchased this car used and it has been plagued with problems - previous owner was not a friend to minis.

Specifically, the steering started out with the wheel drifting to the right while going straight. Then it began switching the side the wheel would be turned toward while straight. During a 20 minute drive with stops yesterday, the wheel began to turn loosely between about 10 and 2 o'clock (on the wheel, not in the day) without actually turning. At times while turning the wheel to try to turn, it feels like the car jerks a little in the loose patch of turning, before any real steering is happening. Is this what is meant by jumping? I started to feel a little out of control and I haven't driven it since.

[okinawamini]

Sorry, one last bit of info. The steering is still extremely tight when in reverse, perhaps because I've generally already turned hard into a parking space?

[Alex_B]

I would say that sounds like the column splines are ruined, the pinch bolt is at the bottom of the steering column possibly under the carpet, undo this bolt and the mounts holding the column to the dash rail, inspect in the ends of the column and the part which it connects to on the floor (steering rack joint) its normally the column that fails so thats just a case of getting a replacement part and fitting it properly.

Fitting it properly consists of loosening the steering rack 'u bolts', (found under the carpet, 4 nuts two on each side) that allows the steering rack to rotate, fit the column to the spline and mount the column tight, make sure the rack and the column are aligned and then tighten the pinch bolt and the rack 'u bolts'.

Its normally the fitting of a steering rack drop bracket that ruins these splines, often its fitted without loosening the rack and then the column is rotating differently to the rack and it ends up wearing the splines down :)  

[okinawamini]

Thank you, everyone, for your specificity. I feel like I'm more able to make a good decision in the short term and to prepare for a long-term ability to fix. I appreciate your time! I've sent the car for a full steering check and I plan to get the tools and some in-person guidance to be able to check the bolts and the splines in the future. I'm hoping that once I get the underlying problem checked and fixed I don't have to worry about worn pieces and can work on the car at home.

Again, thank you!

[olly33]

Its not the actual rack that is loose is it?
I had this years ago, just purchased the car, and as driving down the motorway when the wheel was turned to say 3 o'clock it Initially would not steer in the direction I wanted without turning even more to 6 o'clock.
Basically to turn I was having to double the amount of turn on the wheel to go in the direction I wanted.It turned out to be the 4 u bolts holding the rack were loose under the carpet and sorted the problem out.

[tiger99]

Beware of trusting a mechanic who is not fully competent and experienced with Minis. Many do not understand the issue with teh rack, and the splines, even when they are very good with modern cars.

 

If the splines have been loose, you will need at least a new inner steering column, pinch bolt and locknut, and will need to realign the rack when fitting it, which is a simple procedure.