Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone could help with undoing the steering column bracket bolt. I think its a 'sheer' bolt and cannot see how to undo it. Any suggestions welcome. Try to host these pics.

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http://www.cardomain.com/id/skimini82

Get a hacksaw & cut a slot in it for a screwdriver

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Too many cars, and too little time.

vice grips work ok too

Very sharp centre punch and drive it around till loose then vice grips , still painful to do though , awdmokes idea is good as well , combination of both perhaps ?

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Buy a Dremel or cheap copy thereof. Very handy tool to have, and then use AWD's advice but use the Dremel to cut the slot with a cutting disk - much easier than trying to get a hacksaw in there. I had to do something similar and it worked a treat.

yeah, they`re generally not very tight, but the initial part is difficult cause it`s meant to be "Tamper proof"

The other side of the bolt that you`re showing has a slot that it locks into the braket with so that other end won`t turn.

I use a small sharp chissel & just start cracking away at it in anti-cockwise direction, once a little loose then vice grips or multigrips, replace with std (Hight tensile) bolt & Bobs your aunty.

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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.

Remember that when u lower ur colum u shoud loosen the U bolts on the rack as well to allow the rack to rotate slightly so that the spline on the rack and colum are still well meshed.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/Hanras

I used Mr 4" Anglegrinder on the Clubby one, so I could steer it off the trailer!!

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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.

Hey guys,

Progress so far is not too good. I have made a decent slot for the screwdriver but still too tight. I have even tried a small one sideways. With no luck. I am thinking it might be easier if i was to undoo the clamp from the steering rack and the bracket from the parcel shelf and work on the whole thing outside the car.

This is the beginning of a steering rack replacement. Just thought it would be a good chance to drop the steering column as well.

Another question. I will be putting new tie rod ends on the new steering rack. Is there any tips on how to do this? in the manual it says to count the number of turns when you take the old ones off but if i am not replacing them i would have thought that there must be some general guidelines.

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http://www.cardomain.com/id/skimini82

Sideways?? don't do that...most screwdriver blades taper so you are trying to turn a nice parallel sided slot with a wedge

Tie rods aren't very complicated things at all...count the turns like the book says or measure from the front of the lock nut to a known point like the start of the rubber gaiter on each side.

Because you can only turn them full turns at time (to mate up with the steering arm on the hub) that should be close enough to return them to the right place.

I don't tighten the locknut until I have I seated the taper and done the tie rod nut up.

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"Show me the Mini!"