Hi all
Newbie here. Excuse lack of technical terms.
Just un-SORN'd 45 yr old 850 mini for my son to start learning on. In the days when it needed MOTs, a recurring advisory was "loose n/s steering rack". Whenever I asked what this meant and what needed doing about it the response from 3 different garages was consistently:
"Oh, don't worry about it, it's not important, not a safety issue and unlikely to threaten MOT certification for many years" (low annual mileage).
None of them seemed at all keen to take my money to fix the problem, even non-urgently, which is unusual for garages!
When driving over rough surfaces (cobbles, rumble strips, our aggregate-surfaced drive) , it rattles like a good-un, from n/s under engine area, which I'm told is due to this "loose rack". It sounds and feels truly awful; metal-on-metal rattle. No rattle on normal roads (the bits between the potholes).
Steering functions fine (it would have failed MOTs otherwise). There is an obvious looseness of the n/s steering rod (the rod that connects the bottom of the steering column to the wheel) at the end nearest the steering column (furthest from the wheel end). I can't see the loose bit as it is under an intact rubber gaiter. The looseness here is about 5-10mm. If I grab hold of the rod and rock it up and down as hard as I can, it moves at the inner rubber gaiter end about 5-10mm and reproduces the rattle I hear when going over uneven ground.
Having consulted Haynes, minispares and a youtube video or 2, I'm pretty sure it is the rubber bush (original). I understand these have a fairly limited life and are replaced by nylon versions which are longer-lasting. The other end of the n/s steering rod seems fine, as do both ends of the O/S rod. Tie rod bushes, drive shafts and wheel bearings all seem free of any play, which makes them unlikley causes of rattle. I'm loathed to replace the whole rack (which is the widely accepted rememedy for any and all steering noises) as there is only 1 bit that is worn, and complete replacement is well beyond me.
One of the youtube vids (from "Italian Rust") shows the steering rod bush being replaced without having to remove the whole rack (which is beyond my limited expertise), but it needs some special gadget, like a modified U-clamp. He called it a "tie rod removal tool", even though he used it on the steering rod, not the tie rod. It can apparently be used to unscrew the union in which the bush sits, i.e. the bit which is loose on my mini. The video didn't actually show the use of the tool, just where to position it and the end result.
So, is this something I can sensibly tackle myself, if I invest in this special tool (approx £10)?
To me, that sounds like quite a job, but looking at it, each individual step is do-able by an amateur DIY-er like me, I think!
Has anyone ever done this (replace bush) wothout removing whole rack?
If this is "tiger country" for a relative novice, especially if it might risk safety, I will try and pursuade a local garage to do it.
Any advice / tips gratefully received.
Goat