21 replies to this topic

[Captain Mainwaring]

Talk about doom, gloom and scaremongering!!
We're advising this chap to change parts of his car and probably scaring the life out of him based on what??

OP - no doubt the click your wife heard was the steering lock activating. She thinks the wheels didn't turn and she thinks she turned the wheel one revolution, but the steering lock would activate much sooner than that and therefore the wheels wouldn't turn much in reality.

The pinch bolt you could see moving - did it only move/rotate round the column a similar amount to the amount of turning back and forth you did at the wheel? If so that is normal - there will be some play in the steering lock allowing a little back and forth movement of the steering wheel. That bolt passes through the column that the steering wheel is attached to - it's a single piece of solid bar from top to bottom of the column.

The twisted cowling needs investigating - it is possible it has moved or broken off its mounts, or more likely that in trying to turn the steering against the steering lock has forced the outer column (that the steering lock is attached to) to rotate.
Could you post a picture of the clamp that holds the column where it passes under the dash rail? That will allow the others to put to bed their fears of whether you have a lowering bracket or not.

 

 

 

Ahhh? Try losing steering on the motorway at 70mph.

Whether or not the pinchbolt came loose or he had the steering lock fail on - i'd say it was pretty serious.

[GraemeC]

Where is there evidence of either in what he's posted?

 

If he has any doubt over the car he needs to get someone who knows about them to take a look. But as usual this forum has jumped staight to the 'it'll kill you' conclusion based on very hazy descriptions of symptoms.

[Dan]

Given that jmm365 was unaware the car had a steering lock, as well over 95% of cars built since the early '70s do, or how to release it. Along with the slightly vague nature of the description of the problem, I'm going to suggest he is largely unfamiliar with cars and there is very little reason to suspect there is anything wrong with the car at all. No offence is meant by that incidentally. The column does twist a little bit if you really try hard to steer it with wide tyres on tarmac and the lock engaged, it just does. It if doesn't stay twisted there's nothing wrong. With the lock disengaged do the wheels turn properly, even if they are heavy when at a standstill? Have you ever felt even in the slightest amount while driving that the road wheels weren't turning as much as they should as you steer? Column splines don't all wear away instantly, it takes around 500 - 1000 miles at a guess and gets progressively more dramatic during that time. Is the pinch bolt tight? Is there any free play between the steering wheel and road wheels at all? Can you please post some photos of where you think problems lie?

[Stiggytoo]

Yes, mostly correct, but no, it will almost never require a new rack, as the rack pinion is very hard, and the inner column is plain mild steel. It will however certainly require a new inner column and pinch bolt, and the rack U bolts MUST be loosened to allow the rack to align correctly when fitting the new column. Failing to do this, or using incompetently designed or installed steering column drop brackets, is number 1 killer in the Mini, followed by over-tight ball joints.

 

The steering column assembly is completely safe if properly maintained, i.e. ALWAYS ALIGN THE RACK following any maintenance of the column, ALWAYS check the pinch bolt torque (undo and preferably use a NEW Nylok nut afterwards at EVERY service (6000 miles), and NEVER use a badly designed drop bracket, or one with an adjustment slot which may allow it to move in use.

 

Failures in this area ALWAYS are as a result of mantenance having been carried out by complete incompetents at some stage. The instructions about aligning the column are not rocket science, and anyone who should be allowed to put a spanner near a car should be able to understand clearly why the column and rack pinion need to be exactly in line, and what will self-evidently happen after a while if they are not. There is no excuse whatsoever for any garage getting it wrong, whether they are a Mini specialist or not, and if they allow dangerous incompetents to work on cars, they are liable in law for the consequences. So, not being able to know what previous owners, and some garages, may have already done wrong, on purchasing a Mini I would suggest that one of the first checks should always be to undo the column and check the splines. It may save lives.

 

This one really will need a new inner column, before ever being driven on the road.

Yep, I meant to say column 

[Captain Mainwaring]

I just got home to the horrible news that our mini is broken! My partner was parking the mini and tried to turn the wheels in towards the curb. She said the steering wheel turned (with considerably force i suspect) before she heard a click or crack. She then realised that the wheels had not actually turned and the key no longer turns in the ignition. I had a look myself and noticed that the steering column, or at least the plastic shield/surround, has twisted and is no longer straight. Also, there is a bolt at the bottom of the column where it passes through the bulkhead, I noticed that this turns slightly as I tried to turn the steering wheel....Any ideas as to what's broken? And what the fix involves? Thanks

 

 

Well if the pinch bolt didn't fail, then the steering lock applied itself with the engine running. I'm sure the steering lock jamming on at any speed can't be the best for safety.

 

Bearing in mind the OP has a more basic mechanical knowledge of the car, is it not better that he does get a little frightened and investigates the problem properly - forum policy and all that - no one ever got hurt for being too careful.

[Dan]

Oh absolutely, better safe than sorry but some responses do seem a bit melodramatic. He didn't say the engine was running, he did say he lives on a hill though. Rolling the car into place maybe?

Was the key in the ignition? This is very important. If the lock engaged with the key in you must buy a new steering lock assembly and do not drive the car until it's fitted. At all. If the lock engages while driving the results will be just as bad as if the column shears. If however the key wasn't in the lock there's no need to panic BUT if you are in the slightest bit concerned or anything is not quite working properly take the car to a competent garage for inspection at the earliest opportunity.

Edited by Dan, 06 May 2014 - 07:41 PM.

[Captain Mainwaring]

Oh absolutely, better safe than sorry but some responses do seem a bit melodramatic. He didn't say the engine was running, he did say he lives on a hill though. Rolling the car into place maybe?

Was the key in the ignition? This is very important. If the lock engaged with the key in you must buy a new steering lock assembly and do not drive the car until it's fitted. At all. If the lock engages while driving the results will be just as bad as if the column shears. If however the key wasn't in the lock there's no need to panic BUT if you are in the slightest bit concerned or anything is not quite working properly take the car to a competent garage for inspection at the earliest opportunity.

 

No agreed he didn'y say the engine was running but i think a good guess is that it was by virtue of the fact that the GF was parking it - if it wasn't and the GF was in fact pushing the thing while grousing on the steering wheel....well yes, I suppose he could have mentioned it in the first place.

 

As for melodramtic, when you've got an OP who doesn't have a mechanical bent (definitely doesn't if he didn't mention they were trying to mortgage the steering wheel round with the key out) then I think sometimes it's a good idea to frighten the living 5h1t out of someone