Ok, Some of you know, i have a small (!!) pile of steering racks in my yard....
The one in the lil yellow terror is rooted....

How can i tell which ones in the pile are Ok ? (without fitting and checking...)
Ie i just want to pick it up, give it a quick check and go from there....

Also, what is the average fitting time ?

I can drop the subframe a couplf of inches - no hassle, but can i then just loosen the U bolts, drop the steering column off and drop the rack out through one of the wheel arches ? (Assembly is the reverse of disassembly ??)

Thankee !!

J

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hey james,
wouldnt know how to tell which ones are good sorry, but im in the same predicament as you, got a sloppy steering wheel, not sure whats wrong. Can you get them recoed?? i saw some down the local mini spares (pirates) for $195 exchange.

Hope i can get the rack out without taking my motor out, think i can do as you said, drop the frame a little and unbolt it and slide it out. Maybe a job for summer holidays.

brad.

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1974 Moke - 998cc
76 Clubman B16a2 Vtec AWD Turbo 12.9@105mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9PW49e1hYs

I'm hoping to do mine this weekend.. !!

The Wheel isnt sloppy, but the wheels are... ie jack the front up and wiggle the wheels.. almost 3/4" side to side.. (No up/down..)

hitting bumps at the side of the road is "exciting" as is driving in the rain !!

J

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can u just change the ball joints on the ends of the rack??

not bearing movement is it?

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1974 Moke - 998cc
76 Clubman B16a2 Vtec AWD Turbo 12.9@105mph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9PW49e1hYs

This is all I did

http://community.webshots.com/album/117738459JkCtax

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

Hey Kaz, so you can move the steering wheel back and forth and there dosen't seem to be any slack? If the steering wheel can move a few centimetres before the wheels move it can be a worn rack.

It could also be the Tie Rod ends (they unscrew from each end of the rack) or possibly the nylon bushes at each end of the rack.

either way, you need to get it fixed quick....are your tyres starting to feather??

If it is the rack, pay the dollars for a reco unit....and be careful putting it all back together (see the thread on Steering Column, splines and Pinch Bolt!!)

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"Show me the Mini!"

3 things happen to the Oz racks:
1. The 2 `Belleville' spring washers crack up from fatigue, then fail to hold the pad against the rack.
2. Pinion bearings wear, particularly if rack ran out of lube a while back.
3. The bush in the LH end wears out. Later replacements were a hex-shaped lurethane bush which is better.

I don't know how available parts are for Oz racks now. Karcraft said hard to get...
they sell new UK racks.
Last lot of bits I got were from Minis R Us, but they have since done a runner..

[Note- replacement (loose) bearing balls can be had at most bearing places, the rack bush was made by Nolathane, and I'm sure either the Padstow or Brookvale pirates would have the Belleville washers.]

Having said this, my rack is original, 34 years old and still OK.. I do keep it full of oil though!

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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.

Long day today.....
Rack was out in about 30 mins.. easy-peasy....

Found a lot of "slop" (up and down) in the passenger side, so i found a rack in the "pile" that had a nice bush, and swapped my internals into that... very nice, good action...
Played shims for about 1 hour... THAT was fun.......

Spent the next three hours trying to get the bastard back in there .... its still not bolted in..
those ferking U bolts are so close to being impossible its not funny !!

Anyway, should have it finished by lunchtime tomorrow.. then onto the oil coler re-location, some minor changes to the wheels / suspension, move the exhaust a few MM to one side and I'll be ready for next weekend !!

We should have these runs more often.. it forces me to do maintenance !!

Cheers all
J

PS any tips on getting the rack back in easily ?? - I've loosened the subframe and dropped it using a jack....... about 1 inch so far.....

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No real hints except you can get some wire to giggle it in the correct direction (i used wire tires) and a screw driver handy to wedge when in place. They are a rite Sod to do I agree.

One other tip....Do not tighten up the Up dolts untill the steering Column is atached and tightened up (including the spline) then do up the U bolts. The other stuff you should be fine with.

I was picking up some wheels and I asked if the owner wanted a hand in changing his rack...Nup she'll be rite Mate...Coolies
two Days I have been told it took him..I Offered

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

- Get two thick, long cable ties.
- Wrap em round the rack where the U bolts go and push the ends through the holes in the floor.
- Now go inside the car and do up the cable ties and pull them tight, so the rack is in position against the floor.
- Fit the column pinch bolt and do it up tight
- Now cut the cable tie off on the driver's side.
- Fit the drivers side U bolt and tighten it up a bit, but not all the way. It is easier to fit the U bolt with the pinch bolt holding the rack in place.
- Cut the passenger's side cable tie and fit the passenger's side U bolt. As the driver's side U bolt is now holding most of the weight, it will make it easier to fit.
- Tighten both of the U bolts.
- Refit tie rod ends, subframe mounts etc as usual.

Makes the whole process a lot easier, as you are not juggling the weight of the rack and the fiddly U bolts at the same time.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

And don't forget the 2 little curved plates between body and the rack, on Clubbies.. when did these come in- anyone know?

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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.

Yep I can see that, I'd give it a Go.....Bets are it will be easier and You will be ready for Lunch Yer rite..Time for a Drive

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

bnicho - WOW !!

I'll be straight onto that in the morning !

Gafmo - After the rack is in, its time to open tha bonnet and "play" ....

I got a run coming up and as the smallest Turbo, I have to make it work a bit harder to Keep up !

Nahh, seriously, I'm relocating the oil cooler and supplementary radiator to make room for the cold-air intake and possible future intercooler......

J

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Huh?
I've stripped the rack out of two 76 Clubbys and I don't remember either one having anything different there... Maybe it was a 78ish thing.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

Yep they were in our `78. Not seen them before..

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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.