Hey guys,

About a six weeks ago I had my front brakes changed over from a honda 9" set to a Cooper S 8.4" set by my mini mechanic.

Pretty much immediately I felt like the handling was a little different. I figured it might just be due to the slight change in wheel offset, camber, alignment etc.

General symptoms:
1. There now seems to be a few degrees of slop in the steering. While stationary or driving slowly in a straight line I can move the steering probably an inch to the left or right without shifting the wheel direction.
2. When I drive out of corners the steering doesn't naturally straighten up as it used to. It's a strange feeling like you have to steer out of the corner.

I did have a front wheel fall off (low speed) while on the weekend. I don't think it's any better/worse as a result and symptom (1) would seem to suggest its in the steering.

Any advice?

Dwight.

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dwightgunning.com

I'd be checking other things aren't loose too. If good parts were used there should be no new play in the steering.

Not straightening up out of corners is usually a wheel alignment thing.

Out of interest does it stop as good with the mini brakes?

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Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.

Check condition of ball joints and see if the steering arm has come loose from the front hub.

On the brake swap...

The peddle is pretty much the same height and it stops almost as well. Call it 90%.

I felt there was a little bit of fade coming down from Mt Glorious but I'd never worked the Honda's that hard so it's difficult to compare... then the wheel fell off.

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The ball joints on the steering arms seem fine on both sides with the car on the ground. I guess I should jack it up and check it without any weight on it.

It's going back into the mechanic next week - I just need to get the car down from Brisbane to Gold Coast. Due to the wheel loss I only have 3 wheel nuts on 3 corners so I'm already a bit paranoid.

Dwight.

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dwightgunning.com

Where is the car in Brisbane? there might be an ausminier near you with some spare nuts you could beg/buy/steal or borrow

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Bluey has this, but its even worse its more like 2inchs either direction. Turns out it is her steering rack, which needs reco'ing, or a new one put in. I have tested everything else for movement, and its not them. So its only the rack that was left. Never had the patience nor time to fix it, so just had to put up with it for the time being.

cheers lockie.

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

please don't drive the car until it's sorted out - driving around with only 3 wheel nuts and dodgy steering is going to kill you, or someone else

borrow your mum's car or something

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

4" play in steering wheel.
no time to fix it?
should be a priority mate, or dont drive it.

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tim
68 Deluxe 1293, HIF44, megajolt/EDIS4, daihatsu alternator..

'a mini is for life, not just for christmas!'

I think I can change the plans and get the wheel nuts on before I drive it again...

Driving my mum's car to the mechanic to have my other car fixed is going to confuse a lot of people.

BTW - I'm in Newfarm.

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dwightgunning.com

The car is off the road. I'm not driving it like that. I have my other mini I'm driving atm.

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Bluey-1973 Clubby - 1330, high lift, big cam, 7 port madness in progress..

Gumby-1978 Minivan, British Racing Green - 1310, high lift, mild cam, enlarged porting and chamber shape with big valve head, supercharged build in ever slow progress!

Hi Dwight, what wheels do you have on? I am at Stafford and may have some wheel nuts you can borrow (will have to have a look) and I can drop them to you at New Farm after work one night

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Dwight,,, if you give me a ring 0407135656 i may be able to help you out... i`m in Brisbane & it`s probably best to have the whole front end looked at before you drive it far at all,,, I have wheel nuts to suit various types of wheels inc mags

What i worry about is 3 things,,, --->
one-- your safety
two-- what your "Usual" mech has or hasn`t done to cause the wheel to fall off
three-- what other stuff has or hasn`t been done & may cause other problems

seems to me that the job wasn`t done correctly in the first place,,, & i`m not trying to bag out any particular mechanic,,, (i have know idea who his mech is) But,,, & i`m not trying to steal you from him/her--->

i`m happy to put your car up in the air & have a good hard check around the whole thing for you & for no cost

what`ever we find, if it`s a simple thing, i will fix it for you for nothing,.,, if there is parts needed & time to spend then we can sort it from there

& i can do all that while you`re here so you can see what`s going on

safety first mate,,, no point crashing because of neglect

& i can`t stand hearing stuff like this

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

awww Matt that's a lovely offer

I love it when ausmini people help each other out

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