G'day,
Hit a bit of a hurdle when replacing the gaitors on my steering rack and found they're both full of oil. I had thought the rack was OK as I didn't see any obvious oil leaks on the outside but one of the gaitors has some small cracks in it (on the top) so I decided to replace them before I put the subframe etc back into the car.
Minnie is a 1963 850 and I'm guessing the rack has never been out before.
I've attached some pics of the rack - markings are CAM Gears Ltd, a number 2942 stamped into it and a date stamp I reckon which is 3D63.

I've read on here that parts for these racks are either hard to get or unavailable but not sure if I've understood that correctly so asking here.
Even if parts are available, the racks seem a bit too complex perhaps for me to tackle and would like some advice as to who I might be able to send mine to to get reconditioned. Given metro VIC is in lockdown, I'm thinking a regional VIC or interstate shop would be the go.
If anyone reading this is interested in working on mine, I'd be happy to pay them for their work.

On the other hand, should I just get a new one - something like this perhaps but I thought the MK1's and MK11's were different?:
https://minisport.com.au/mini-moke-stee ... australian

I also see that Karcraft list part number AYA6001 on their pricelist but not sure they are still in stock.

Thanks Rocky

I've been doing a bit of homework on steering racks and am I right in saying that the gaitors are supposed to have oil in them?
I can't find any seals or similar that would stop the oil from running out of the rack and it a common comment I've read is that the gaitors are to keep dust etc out of the system and hold the oil in.
I can't find any slack or movement in either end the rack and I checked that some time ago when the rack was still in the car. The oil still looked ok.
I understand that the rack takes about 200ml of oil - SAE140?

Maybe my rack is fine. I hope so. The car has done about 40,000 miles.

Cheers, Rocky

I believe that the racks should have oil in them rather than grease as they tend to cut a tract through grease and consequently have little or no lubrication.

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Roads need more corners
A Deluxe(CG13DE), 2 Clubbies(998 and 1275) and 2 Morris 1100Ss

Thanks Fuzzy. I've read that some put grease in them but I'll be using oil.

Is it normal for the gaitors to have quite a bit of oil in them?

Rocky

Tbh I don't know, the gator is there to keep something in or out so I'd say it's not too surprising.

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Roads need more corners
A Deluxe(CG13DE), 2 Clubbies(998 and 1275) and 2 Morris 1100Ss

Not sure about the quantity but SAE140 is about right. Buy new boots and you're good to go.

Guys there’s a lot more people with a lot more knowledge than me but for what it’s worth here tis. The oil to use in a rack is hypoid oil. Aka gearbox or diff oil. Yes there’s such a thing as steering box grease but it’s not suitable for rack and pinion steering. You do not fill it up. I don’t know if there’s an exact amount for a mini but it’s not much because the oil moves from one side to the other when the wheels are turned from lock to lock. Think about an egg cup full (scientific measurement for the day lol). The rack itself looks after itself if it’s clean inside it with no torn boots to let crud in and the oil will move around freely inside it.

Also, if you are fitting an aftermarket column lowering block don’t forget to loosen the rack bolts and move the rack around so that the rack shaft (pinion) is the same angle as the steering column. Otherwise it’ll chew splines like anything
Neil

Thanks Fuzzy, diecast and Neil.
I managed to get hold of some NOS boots that had been sitting in a cupboard all these years and they seem to be much better quality than the new ones I bought recently.
I'm not lowering the column at the moment but will bear that in mind if I do later on.

Thanks very much for your help.

Racks take about 200ml. Put the boots on, put it in the vice vertically, passenger end up with a funnel in the boot. I heated it up so it was easier to pour.

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Fit the LH boot. Have rack centred.
Put it in a vice with the RH end up.
Pout in 200ml of 85/140 gear oil.
Fit the RH boot.

Karcraft and others sell new Chinese made racks, they fit but are not an AYA6001 actually.

Contact Matt Read in Brisbane for exchange AYA6001 racks.
His details are in the Mini repairs forum here.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks Simon and Doc for tips on refilling. I decided to clean up the rack and paint it while it's out so will be a day or 2 before it's ready to go back in.

I appreciate everyone's help with this and I now know how the rack works oil wise. That's another thing about Mini's I've learnt.

Thanks guys.

Rocky

There is a semi-liquid grease you can get that's used in 4wd swivel hubs, its kinda like a runny grease and may be suitable for the steering rack
https://www.sparesbox.com.au/part/penri ... gJUsPD_BwE

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1972 Mk3 Mini 1000, 1150cc supercharged.
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=95872

Thanks hpal - I'll check it out.

Update on where I'm up to with my rack. I cleaned it up and painted it and have refilled it with oil. However, I have a few issues with the boots leaking and not staying put on one end. The large ends that go onto the rack are ok but the small ends on the tie rods are not. I've used the original metal clamps that were on the rack.

Here's what I did with the oil refill:
1/. Fitted LH boot and I was concerned about the small end of the boot getting damaged when I slid it over the threads on the tie rod so I applied a bit of rubber grease on the thread to help it slide over. Maybe this is what's causing the problem??
2/. Suspended rack with RH side up, slowly put 200ml of 85-140 oil in it. Had a few air bubbles and towards the end of the oil, it bubbled up a bit and overflowed a bit. I found that if I turned the rack from side to side (like moving the steering wheel from lock to lock) that helped the oil go in.
3/. Fitted RH boot. Put rubber grease as with the LH one.
4/. Laid the rack horizontal (not in the car yet) and wound the steering from lock to lock to make sure all ok. When I do this, the boot on the LH end slides up and down the tie rod instead of staying put. I've got the metal clamp done up as tight as it will go. RH end seems ok.

I'm thinking that I've lubricated things too much with the rubber grease and I should try to wipe this out somehow. Maybe if I suspend the rack vertically again, I can slip a cotton bud into the boot and clean it up a bit. I've read a post on the UK forum by a member here that they've used a bit of Permatex No 3 to help seal the boots.

I was also thinking of getting some new small radiator clamp brackets that may help get the fitting tighter but I've also read that over tightening can cause issues as well.

What do you blokes suggest I do?

Thanks, Rocky

I glue the large end of the boot on with permatex anaerobic gasket maker or Loctite 515.
I use the supplied cable ties on both ends, cinched up with 2 pr of pliers.
I found the original screw clamps can cut the boots at full lock.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.