4 replies to this topic

[idlethumbs]

Hi guys
I've only had my mini a few months and never been in another one.
My steering wheel sits off centre to the left when I'm driving which hurts your right wrist after a bit, but I thought normal quirkiness of a mini. But went to nec classic car show today and the other minis were all central. The column seemed to be angled up from the floor to the right so it sat centrally.
I also looked at a new rack and the splines for the rack again angle right a little.
Mine seems to be very straight hence off centre.
I've got a '93 spi cooper if that helps.
Any ideas??

[Carlos W]

Firstly, check the splines on the rack and column.

 

If they're all fine, you can undo the bolt which retains the steering wheel with the road wheels perfectly straight and re-align it

[idlethumbs]

Sorry I don't mean the steering wheel is off centre as in turned.
I mean the actual position of the wheel sits to the left so when you sit straight in the seat the wheel isn't directly in front of you.

[Carlos W]

Is there a mount at the lower dash rail?

[Ethel]

As you've noted the driving position in Minis is offset so your feet are closer to the centre of the car than your backside - there's no gearbox tunnel, but there are wheel arches. The steering column is angled to match. It's also a solid rod, so it's important it's properly aligned with with the rack, or dangerous wear of the splined coupling will occur.

 

I'm not 100% clear what you're describing. The steering wheel should be at a slight angle so, if you held it with both arms and hands the same you'd be looking slightly towards the passenger side, not straight ahead - to me that would be offset to the right, in a righthand drive Min. If the wheel itself isn't buckled, then the column would have to be misaligned, either the parcel shelf mounting bracket to far towards the centre, or the rack too far towards the driver's side wheel arch.