Just need some opinions on whether there is anything wrong with the following two pics -

Taken on camera phone, so excuse crappy quality.

Also, what would cause the engine/subframe to move (Left side lifts mainly) when applying pressure turning the wheel in either direction while the car is stationary ?

The bulge around the pinion on the first is the foam that goes in between the rack and body. It is being pushed through the hole in the floor.



This second pic is the end of the steering column.

The first photo is the felt seal poking through the hole, its fitted when new but rarely gets replaced when the rack is changed. - no need to worry about it, its ok like that.
The second photo is of the spline/clamp on the end of the steering shaft, looks in good condition to me.

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Have a Nice Day.
If already having a nice day please disregard.

The only thing I could envisage is what ever is poking through the hole in could stop the Steering Column center locating correctly on the spline On the Spline from the steering rack you have a carved out section where the bolt locks onto from the steering column and locks them together

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

Yup, theyre a bit blurry

I had a similar problem with an LS I owned a few years ago and the cause of it was that the welds holding the top plate (where the subframe is bolted to the body) onto the tower had given way. It was resolved by removing the subframe and welding the plate all the way around instead of the 4 original spot welds.

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1964 998 Cooper , 1968 Morris 1100

Max, because it's a Rover, it could be that the subframe rubber mounts are cracked or broken..
2 under floor, 2 on towers, 2 at front.

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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.

Eh?

i'm confused.

Isn't that carved out bit normal on later (clubby >) rack pinions? I know both of mine have it, and the little hole in the centre.

All looks pretty normal to me Maxi, I'd be looking at what Dr mini says about the bushes. Does it move with light load on the rack? It might be possible that the subby has been fitted and the nuts and bolts not tight enough.

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Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.

I think you will find that just about any-all of the rubber mounted front subframed cars will move the entire engine/subframe assy when sitting sationary turning the steering wheel left to right... not the best thing in the world for confidence & consistancy in the handling dept at all, but hey,,, the pohms said it would be better for less road noise , so,,, well,,, yeah right... great cars those late English "things"

sorry but i think they`re just YUK!!! & have changed all my customers ones over to solid mount,,, Problem solvered

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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.

Yep, its gonna move.
this just proves that theres more flex in your subframe mounts than there is flex/distortion/movement/whatever you want to call it , in your sidewalls.

normal.

Thanks for the feedback!

Road noise is of no concern for me, I will look into solid mounts. None of my previous Minis did this, so I was a tad worried.

Thanks again!