That's right, well remembered Mike. I think he had disturbed the column for some other reason now I think about it.

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'98 Mpi Sportspack + 7 port alloy head

Well ive already replaced my colum with a exchange item a few yrs ago. So i would assume that it should be ok, the other thing could be the spline on the rack itself.

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

The splines on the column is a fairly soft metal that strips easily. The rack splines are a much harder material.

I've pulled nearly everything else apart on car during "the fix up" Is it worth doing the extra and overhauling the steering rack?

I've never driven the car so don't know how it handles but have put new bushes in the steering column. Originally hadn't planned pulling the engine out but seeing it is out getting a total rebuild should I look at the rack while it's out or let sleeping dogs lie?

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

careful of sleeping dogs they can turn on you when you least expect it and bite you on the arse .....
so yeah while the car is apart do it anyway as it really is a pain with all in situ.....
hanra from memory when i did mini i pulled it out the drivers side came out easy tried to go the other way and would not budge .... or was it the other way round ?
makka

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Anonymous moderation means the agro that is built up towards the mods isn't aimed at an individual (fewer "Makk" attacks). Less stress for mods means less moderator "retirements".

David
The short answer is yes - while everything is out pull off the rack. As for reconditioning it, I am not sure. There is lots of comment on here in over the last few years that says brand new racks are not that expensive and comparable to having a rack repaired or reco'ed.

If the last rack lasted forty years then a new one should give 30 years of service, given that the quality of everything has gone off in recent times.

I've heard bad press about some of the new racks coming out of UK now, dunno where they are being made.
Personally, I'd rather reco my own rack rather than fit a potential dodgy.

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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.

I take on board everyones comments and lean towards the Doc's thinking. If it's easy enough to do I'd rather put in the time and effort myself and know it's done.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

And it's much cheaper too. Provided you do your own.

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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.

I just went and had a quick sus of how much freeplay ive got. Ive filmed the steering wheel play, and also tried to film the small amount of movement in the front wheels.

Just out of interest, is anyone able to turn there wheels to the left or right while the car is stationary? I realise that having such a small steering wheel (12in) will give less leverage, but i cannot turn the wheels to the left or right at all while the car is stationary on the the concrete floor. Maybe its just the sticky Dunlop DO1J's?


Steering wheel freeplay:

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/H ... eeplay.flv


Front wheel movement:

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i91/H ... vement.flv

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

on my mk1, with 10x7sits a bitch to turn on cioncrete / bitcumein whilst its not mooving...

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-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

I can turn mine lock to lock no prob, it's running 165/70-10 A008s at 30psi. Steering wheel is 13.5".

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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.

Thats an awful lot of freeplay

Something serious going on there, not even my worst basher minis have had that much slack

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Cheap, Fast, Reliable. Choose two.

Hanra

the videos are good but to give a concise answer to your problem needs a bit of correlation between the two. Is the wheel movement generated by the amount of play in the steering wheel and is it the same for both wheels simultaneously? What sort of pressure are you applying to the steering wheel? If the movement is just with finger pressure, I would have to agree with the Dr. and that is a broken wave washer. Do you still have the same play when nearly on full lock? If so, most likely the wave washers and if not, I would be inspecting the rack and the steering rack bush. I replaced the nylon one in the moke a couple of years back and at the time was unable to source a new one from any of the mini suppliers but a pommie guy at Pedders said that over in UK they had used one from a Ford Escort. Just needed a slight adjustment but fitted a treat. At least a lot easier to fit than the felt bush.

Ill have to get back to you on the freeplay on full lock. I cant actually get the wheels to turn when its sitting stationary in the shed.... Sticky dunlops and to smaller steering wheel.


The small amount that the wheels move by is just from me turning within the limit of the freeplay. Im not sure if both wheels move exactly the same amount. I was only lookin at the drivers wheel....

The amount of pressure applied was stuff all, but there is a little bit of effort required, its not just flappin in the breeze...

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