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Steering Problem
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=51175		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  minidrifter [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Steering Problem
Howdy all,
just noticing that when i let the wheel go it turns to the left, so much so that it can turn easy left hand corners on its own :shock:
ive also found that its getting harder and harder to turn right.
One more thing, when i've been driving in the wet, turning right, the tyres lose traction so easily, ie, i go straight instead of turning, whereas left, no problem whatsoever.

I've checked the tyre pressures, everythings ok, had a quick look under the car, nothing looks to be bent or out of place.

Cheers,
Robbie
Author:  sports850 [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Get it to a decent front end specialist ASAP Robbie and get them to have a look . Steering is one of the things you just can't take chances with .
Author:  awdmoke [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:07 pm ]
Post subject: 
Make sure you don't have a brake grabbing
Author:  minidrifter [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
i took it to some steering guys roughly 1-2 months ago, they replaced a tie rod because it was bent, and gave it a wheel alignment and away we went. When everythings cold, and i put the brakes on, it snaps left, once it warms up it settles down to normal, but that would just be adjusting brakes, not realted to the steering problem wouldnt it?
Author:  Harley [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
And check all the brakes, not just the fronts.

Wouldn't hurt to see if the car is leaning over to one side either.
Author:  Ziegech [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
before you go give everything a good tugg underneath to make sure nothings loose as a steering arm might be gone or a bolt on the hub. Its not likely but its better safe then sorry,

DONT DO IT WHEN YOUR UNDER THE CAR
Author:  minidrifter [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
From what i can see she's sitting pretty much level.

Just went out, nothing seems to be loose, everything seems to be ok.
Author:  jess [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
I find cherry pulls to the left a bit while braking now, have been told to check that I dont have a weeping wheel cylinder (not sure if this is at all useful to you :oops: :roll:)
Author:  sports850 [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Robbie , when it's sitting on the driveway (not driving) start with the wheels facing forward , count how many turns to go to full lock to the left , then back to the middle then to the right . Also look at full lock each direction from the outside and see if it is turning all the way . You say it's getting harder to turn right , do you mean the steering wheel is physically harder to turn or the car itself doesn't turn too well to the right ? Have you changed anything recently ? Are the U bolts that hold the rack in tight ?
Author:  TheMiniMan [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
sounds like a badly worn lower inner control arm bush or a non-existant tie bar bush or something similar

just my thoughts on the description of what`s happening

also sounds like you may have some brake issues as well ,,, so i`d have it all looked at ASAP,,, if you`re not very mechanically minded/experienced then quite often you won`t know what you`re looking/feeling for

get it looked at,,, sounds sooper dooper dangerous to me
Author:  sports850 [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:56 pm ]
Post subject: 
minidrifter wrote:
but that would just be adjusting brakes, not realted to the steering problem wouldnt it?


Not neccesarily , if the left brake is dragging (as awdmoke suggested) it would be pulling the car to the left , also your comment about the right wheel spinning in the wet could be following that same idea . The diff transfers the majority of the power to the wheel with the least resistence so if one is tight it will put the power to the other one making it spin more in the wet . After a drive can you feel any heat difference between the front wheels or brakes (might be hot enough to feel through the wheel or you might have to touch the brake drum itself , just don't burn yourself) ? Is the left one hotter than the right ?
Author:  Fiji [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
its all that drifting to the right... she dun't wanna go right no more.
i'd check everything. i 've been in that situation be4 ... dunno what i did, (actually nothing) matty fixed it for me :D

fiji
Author:  sgc [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Steering Problem
minidrifter wrote:
just noticing that when i let the wheel go it turns to the left


Sounds like my car before I fitted adjustable lower arms. My subframe is out of square, so the caster geometry was all wrong -- with the hydro pumped up to legal height, the car would pull hard left under acceleration, then dive hard to the right under braking. I'm talking half-turn steering corrections to drive in a straight line.. scary stuff.

I've now got about 5-6 degrees difference in caster between left and right sides, and it tracks straight as a die under acceleration and braking.

Get thee to a good wheel alignment place, and get them to measure & then correct your front caster and toe. Chances are you've bent either a caster arm, or the subframe ear to which it connects, or your bushes are stuffed in either the lower control arm or the caster arm, causing the geometry to change too much under braking.

Note, if the car is not tracking straight without touching the brakes, then it's almost certainly a geometry problem, not a leaky wheel cylinder. There's a remote chance your brakes are binding on one side without pedal application, but they'd have to be totally stuffed for this to be the case.
Author:  tinymorris1969 [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
sounds like it could be a camber adjustment robbie. if its hard to turn right but easy to turn left u probably have to much positive camber on the left or to much negative on the left which would probably explain why ur tyres were out so badly last time. take it to st george steering and suspension in padstow, i took tiny there to get aligned and the hieght reset and they did a really good job.
Author:  Morris 1100 [ Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
I would take the car to Allan Ross at Springwood, He runs Allans Wheel Alignments. He is a Mini nut.
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