Hey all, well after a trying few weeks I've finally worked out my Torque Steering problem.....

On the way home from the train station - driving at 60Kpm, when BANG the Right hand front dropped about 6 inches and the front end started skidding !!!

Guess the torque steer was because of a loose ball-joint..........

Anyway, the wonder-wife came out with my toolbox and we were back in motion within 20 mins......

Just thought I'd let you all know - DONT TRUST THE LOCK-TABS... mine were locked at 3 points and still came loose........Just lucky it went tonight and not on Sunday when Kev and I were "playing"

Cheers
J

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The balljoint cap is supposed to be 70lb/ft or so torque... do 'em up, hard!

I was once in a Morris 1100 at 60mph when one let go- scary stuff..

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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.

hmmm.. i dont mine up with a pair of multigrips and i think i only knocked one or 2 of the tabs down

my wheel is still there.. lol

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GTi Turbo'd mini, abused daily

a little lock tite helps that too....i've only been fortunate to have 1 of my rear wheel oveertake me at the top of the toowoomba range.....what the???

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go stop...go..stop..go. stop..go...stop...Damn malls are crowded

Better to do it at the top than half way down LOL. that range has taken its toll.

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"He's always been a dickhead, He always is a dickhead, He will always be a dickhead. So stop complaining when he acts like one."

I almost had similar problems - one of the steering arm bolts simply snapped off. I had been wondering why it was torque steering. Luckily I had the car in at the shop getting the brakes done and he pointed it out to me. Didn't loose a wheel that time thank god. Also had the problem once where two wheel studs snapped off on the front wheel. I was cruising through a car park at the time so I was lucky!

Last time I talked to Chris he had just noticed his ball joint was loose, so I'll make sure he's fixed it before I get in the car with him

Anto.

Yes, the other day when i was fitting the fresh air duct i took off the wheel. When i was putting it back on and had done up the lug nuts with the wheel off the ground i did a quick check for any wheel bearing movement and found a fair amount of travel. Turned out not to be the bearing but the lower ball joint nut/dome part had undone itself about 1mm. I replaced them one year ago and i shimmed them properly and put the lock tabs down on at least 3 sides- obviously didnt tighten them enough. Now i have tightened them with anto's trusty big socket that just happened to fit (flywheel bolt size from memory) and made sure all sides of the lock tab are down!!

Flywheel socket???? sounds more like a hub nut. Split pins work gooded for me
EDIT..... And if the wheel bearing has had that much movement in it undetected for a while, I'd be replacing the bearings real quick

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"He's always been a dickhead, He always is a dickhead, He will always be a dickhead. So stop complaining when he acts like one."

please read arcticles properly. not the hub nut, the lower suspension ball joint, and no you cannot fit a split pin to it... almost impossible

Maybe its the crankshaft pulley socket that Chris means. I have one of each and I sure as hell can never remember which one is which. The flywheel one is 1 5/16" and is also used for the CV nut on disc brakes. For the moment Chris still has drum brakes and the CV nut on them is a different size once again (a Mini owners tool kit can get very expensive!)

Anto.

Flywheel nut, and balljoints = 1-1/2" A/F. Balljoints need a deep socket or a 1/2" drive socket welded on top of a std one, to clear the pin.

Crank pulley, cam nut, driveshaft nut (discs) = 1-5/16" A/F.

Driveshaft nut (drum brake and 997/998 Cooper) = 1-1/8" A/F....

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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.

What about this...... since getting car, I noticed a sudden verr one way or the other when going over bumps in road, esp when going around corners. Originally thought it was the worn tyres the car came with. After 4 new shoes all round, same problem. Also I lined the sterring wheel up to be 'symmetrical' when going straight, but after one of these veers/understeers, the wheel would be out of line by what appeared to be 20°, but more like 10°. Another 'moment' and the wheel was back in line. Checked all ball joints etc and all was well. What the f*&^ was going on? All the time while driving, I was waiting for the car to go straight ahead when I wanted to go around a corner! However, after being advised to check the steering rack nuts I was able to tighten all 4 about 1.5 turns each. Result - no more funnies when going round a corner. So, if strange things are happening, check the steering rack is not coming loose!