12 replies to this topic

[Fossy313]

hi guys,

 

hows best to sort my front wheel alignment out after i have put the new rack in, do i just take it off the last old measurements from the old rack i.e mark where the track rod ends thread go on, or is it a case of taking it to a garage or is there any tips from old timers that can help me out?

[Carlos W]

The easiest way will be to get a garage to do it, and as you don't know it was spot on before the rack change it's probably best to get it set by a garage!

[coopdog]

The easiest way will be to get a garage to do it, and as you don't know it was spot on before the rack change it's probably best to get it set by a garage!

+1

[tiger99]

The cheapest will be a good tyre dealer, and some of them have first class alignment equipment these days. It may not be all that expensive to get it measured all round, i.e. castor, camber and toe at the front, camber and toe at the rear, and the printout will also show "thrust angle" which is a measure of crabbing, and probably king pin inclination and a few other things too.

 

Once you have that, you can then think about whether any item needs correction, but at the very least get them to set the toe. They will not know how to set camber and rear toe,  unless they are a genuine Mini specialist, but you can do that yourself, with assistance from the forum if needed.

 

Please be sure that ALL parts that may be worn or due for replacement are fixed before having a geometry check, as worn bushes, bearings or ball joints make the check a waste of money, as it will need to be done again when they are fixed.

[Jordie]

To get it somewhere near, you can centre the old rack using a pin/rod, theres a hole in the NSF floor toeboard. then count turns/measure the track rod ends on each side as you remove.

 

Fit new rack, centre using hole in NSF floor toeboard, fit track rod ends counting same amount of turns/measurement as removed. Fit steering column with steering wheel set straight ahead. Remove the pin from centering hole, check amount of turns (at the steering wheel) in either direction and set wheels straight again. Hopefully everything is still straight at this point.

 

Then take to a place to get alignment set. At least this way the alignment will be somewhere near and safe to drive or at least be able to drive it with confidence.

 

Jordie

 

PS. Theres a bung/bolt that covers the hole in the rack. Sometimes a plastic bung, sometimes an allen headed bolt.

 

[Fossy313]

Cheers guys, looks like I will do what jordie says then pop it along to a garage to get it done properly!

[dklawson]

As above, center the rack and make sure the wheels are pointed 'close' to straight ahead and that the steering wheel is centered when the pin is in the rack.  Reposition the steering wheel if necessary, then remove the pin.

 

If the wheels are nowhere close to pointed straight ahead, there is a simple quick alignment you can do so you can drive to the shop for a proper/better alignment.

• Find two push-pins like you would use to place items on a cork board.
• Roll the car onto a level area with its steering wheel centered and wheels pointing "straight ahead".
• Push one pin into the tread on the rear side of each front tire.  Press the pins in at a disttance off the ground that can be seen when looking from side to side underneath the car (high but slightly below the sills).
• Have a friend hold a tape measure against the pin on the far wheel while you read the tape measure and write down the distance between the two pins.
• Roll the car forward slowly without turning the wheels.
• Stop when the pins are at about the same position above the ground but at the front of the wheels.
• Repeat the measurement with the tape measure.
• Subtract the two measured values.  You are looking for about 1/16" [1.5mm] difference between the back and front measurements. 
• If I remember correctly, the Mini is supposed to have toe-out, not toe-in so you want the pins to be about 1/16" further apart at the front of the wheels than at the back. 
• Adjust the rod ends on the rack to make minor changes to the toe, then repeat the measurements at the back and front of the tires.  You will be rolling the car back and forth a few times until the adjustments give you the correct value. 
• Tighten the jam nuts, remove the pins, and drive to the shop for a complete high-tech alignment.

[miniweights]

This works for me  I made a couple of simple frames to get the tracking set until the car is taken to get it set properly

 

 

 

[Fossy313]

neat little toy you have there!, i have booked the mini in to get them aligned

[Fossy313]

could i just not make the same with two tape measures and a block of wood, i take it all im looking at is the measurement at the front of the wheel(doing the fronts) to be 1.5 mm mm more at the front than at the back?

[dklawson]

Go back and read my previous post.  You don't even need a block of wood.  You need two stick-pins, a tape measure, and some wrenches.

[Fossy313]

Yep sounds good mate I read and understood now

In my own words of your understanding... One pin in either wheel, does it matter which part inner outer? Tape measure distance between pins, till car forwards so pins are pointing in front take measurement take away two measurements and adjust till 1.5mm toe out

[Fossy313]

*push car forwards .... And as for subtracting you should be subtracting the back measurement from the front...