check the bolts that hold the "collarbone" on the top of the steering upright - I had the same on my blue S, and I think it went away after I took those bolts out and loctited them in

I can't remember what the proper name is, it looks like a collarbone and connects the steering tie rod end to the upright... you know the bit I mean...

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Steering arms I think...

I had a look and they're pretty tight, now I got grease on my white uniform as well, drat.......

I'm stuffed as to what it is....

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

your arms are the same length right?

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Well it is pulling to the side I wear my watch on.......Maybe it is weighing that side of the wheel down, and when I'm accelerating I have my left hand on the gearstick so it then goes straight....hmmmmmm...

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

thinking about it... it's most likely to be the right hand side that has the problem, as under acceleration or cruising, the right hand wheel will be forced backwards, which will turn it out, pulling you straight, under deceleration, it'll turn in, turning you to the left. But maybe not... my problem was with the left I'm sure....

I remember when I had that problem and I got an alignment, I was hanging around while he was doing it and he showed me that when he pulled on the steering arm one way, it'd toe in, and the other way it'd toe out. I don't mean turning the arm, I mean just grabbing with his hand and pulling on it...

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did I tell you that I won a trophy?

I'll give it a look. Thanks for the help.

Mick

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I'd say the hydros a tad low and could be masking a blown bag

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"Show me the Mini!"

I was just playing some more then, the hydros are fine with 300 psi in each side. I checked the knucles at the end of the rack and the ball joints as well. All seems ok there. I did however notice that there is a little play in the steering rack in up and down movement, ie the end bushes on the rack housing. Could this be my culprit...i guess it must be....

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Nope, not that, there's less than a poofteenth of F-all in movement. It just felt like more when I played with it. Off to suspension dude I will go. $$$

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

place your bets..

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What about your driveshaft universals?
Have driven an S in the past that did almost exactly as you describe and the problem turned out to be a stuffed uni joint. . .

Do you mean the inners or outers? I repuilt the the inners about 6 months ago when i took the engine out, and I regreased the outers as well. The boots aren't torn, (I had a look around yesterday), and they're not clicking on hard lock. I suppose I can look to see if there's any resistance when turning.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Tie Rod (from the bottom arm to the front of the subframe). Check the rubber/polly bush at the subframe end, and check the welds on the subframe for the bracket the rod attaches to.

I was referring to the inners - on the car I drove, they were extremely badly worn and were effectively cocking the driveshaft on an angle, dragging the car all over the road (in different directions depending on whether you were accelerating or decelerating). But, if there were new 6 months ago, I wouldn't have thought they'd be the problem. . .maybe the problem is further in - a dodgy diff bearing or something?

Just a random thought , how's your left rear brake , not sticking at all ? Under power the front wheels might pull it back straight but tend to pull to the left when freewheeling .

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