6 replies to this topic

[Daniel_moody25]

Hi guys really worried about my steering. Today I was driving it and when you have to put more effort into steering ie when not moving or when moving slowly there was a knocking noise but my mini make loads of noises so ignored it until I noticed that after having to put more effort into steering the steering wheel now wasn't centre when driving straight and it went back to being straight when I turned to opposite direction. Once I had got to the place which I was going I was going to have a go at tightening up the bolt that holds the steering column onto the rack splines when I noticed a lot of metal filings on the floor under the column so I drove it home very carefully (luckily not to far). Clearly something has been wearing down but would it more likely be the column or the rack splines or both. And also obviously I'm not going to drive it til it's sorted cause I don't want to loose all steering.

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks Dan

[Spider]

Sounds very much like the U bolts that hold the rack in place have come loose, that would be the knock that you heard and the non-centring of the steering wheel after turning you experienced, I'd say. The filings could be from the spines in the column wearing as a result of this too, but I'd certainly remove the column and invesigate.

[Daniel_moody25]

Well I've had a bit of a gander but it got dark and now the wheel just moves without even turning the wheels so pretty sure it's the column, I managed to get the bolt out the bottom of the column but couldn't pull the column out then realised I need to take the bracket the holds the outside of the column off the get the rest out so that will be the job for tomorrow as I need the car friday

[Carlos W]

Well I've had a bit of a gander but it got dark and now the wheel just moves without even turning the wheels so pretty sure it's the column, I managed to get the bolt out the bottom of the column but couldn't pull the column out then realised I need to take the bracket the holds the outside of the column off the get the rest out so that will be the job for tomorrow as I need the car friday

 

If the splines which join the column to the rack are damaged (which I suspect they are) don't drive the car.

 

You'll need a new column inner.

[Daniel_moody25]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking as well, and yeah I'm not stupid enough to drive it I love my car and don't want to ******* it by driving it.
I'm going to buy a column inner from my local mini guy tomorrow hopefully if not then off to somerford

[Carlos W]

I'm sure checking the tightness of the pinch bolt was an item listed in the servicing 

[Daniel_moody25]

It was when I went to go an tighten it today thinking it was the problem that I found all the metal filings