4 replies to this topic

[Tornado99]

My '88 restored mini has had excess play in steering since getting car last summer.
Shortly after first having it out for long drives, the column jumped teeth on the steering box spindle. Tightening up the bolt helped, later took it apart to inspect. Bolt had gouges and was slightly bent. Fitted a fresh  7/16" grade 8 shouldered bolt found at local hardware store and things improved a lot. This bolt has a shoulder/shank section about 2x the original bolt, such that the shank covers the notched area in the spindle shaft perfectly....while original had less than half that notch covered by the shank, rest by threaded section...not ideal at all.  Still had a bit of slop between spindle and column. On advice of a local mini specialist, I removed and replaced the inner column with new. The intention was to give fresh splines on column side a chance.
This solved the play completely, saving a major cost to have rack replaced. Found the old column missing an upper plastic sleeve. I added a new one also a new lower. Haynes mentions a fiber bushing to coat with oil before fitting to column. No sign of one present and hadn't ordered one. What is its purpose?

Edited by Tornado99, 31 January 2021 - 01:34 AM.

[Spherix]

Later minisnhad the felt bush replaced with another plastic one: http://minispares.co...ns/NAM8563.aspx

 

See for felt in case you fancy that instead: http://minispares.co...|Back to search

[Tornado99]

Must say the car now feels completely solid with zero slop in steering. It even made the whole column solid, not moving side to side or up and down, since there is now an upper plastic bush present. Even seems to have cured a few rattles in the column at various rpms.
I do notice thw wheel feels quite stiff to turn and tends to stay where you turn the wheel while driving along, not returning to center upon release. I put this down to fresh bushings and needs some breaking in. Not a problem driving around.

Edited by Tornado99, 05 February 2021 - 01:55 AM.

[FDW]

I had to do the same repair on my car a couple months ago, the column splines and clamp bolt were utterly decimated. Definitely made a ton of difference and you'll find after some miles the bushings will wear in as you said, and it'll become a lot lighter and how it should be. Feels good to have the Mini steering we all dreamt of 

[Tornado99]

I had to do the same repair on my car a couple months ago, the column splines and clamp bolt were utterly decimated. Definitely made a ton of difference and you'll find after some miles the bushings will wear in as you said, and it'll become a lot lighter and how it should be. Feels good to have the Mini steering we all dreamt of

I seriously question the stock pinch clamp bolt being used. It is a funky length and shanked section does not cross more than half the notch in the rack stub, leaving only threaded section for rest of notch. The bolt I sourced at local hardware shop was 2x length of shank section, fully crossing notch. Slightly longer overall than stock, but a few washers and or trimming the end can take care of any concerns. Plus it was also grade 8, so able to take a decent nip up. I put some blue locktite on the nut for added caution.

Edited by Tornado99, 06 February 2021 - 08:33 PM.