I was wondering what the consensus was around the quality of new steering racks (it is for my '65 Deluxe). There are a lot of other parts that are easily replaced, but I really dont want to go the motion of pulling out a steering rack if the quality doesn't live up to expectations.
In the same breath, if the cost of refurbing my old one is going to be more than the cost of a new one and the quality is okay, then I will probably go down that path.

Cheers,
James

I have bought a few new racks and they are all crap. Get an original Aussie rack with the markings CAM6001 on it and get it rebuilt by the good Dr.Mini. Kev will put thick oil in it rather than grease and it will last a million years longer than a new one.

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Dave K.
1979 Moke Californian + 1981 'Coke' Moke

Give John at Mini King a call. He has reconditioned ones that are like new with the old school quality.

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WD40'll fix it!
If it don't, use a big hammer!

The best Mini steering rack is the Australian made rack that was fitted from 1965 to 1978. It is based on the Morris 1100 rack so it was a heavier duty rack compared to the UK rack.
A rebuilt Australian is better than a new rack.

This is the CAM6001 rack miniDave mentioned above. It should be what is in your car now (if original).
Most all parts are now unavailable for the earlier Oz ones, and the UK racks also.

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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.

The only problem with Oz racks is that they are all Mk I - and come with an extra 3 feet (not quite a metre) of extra in teh turning circle...

Cheers, Ian

+1 for John at Mini King (support a business that's run by a long-standing BMC enthusiast with incredible knowledge and always with the customer's interest at heart)!

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Hi, thanks for the replies.
The one that is in the car is the CAM6001 rack. Externally it appears to be in okay condition, but internally I have no idea. If new parts are available to repair this type, I may pull it down and have a better look. That being said, I'll check with Mini King to see what a reco one is worth.

Thanks again,
James.

Thought I would just add I bought a new rack from minispares for my moke 3 years ago which is my daily during the summer months. No problems at all with it so far..touch wood!

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1965 Riley Elf
1974 Ex Army Moke
1997 Rover Cooper
2002 JCW Cooper
2003 JCW Cooper S

Hey Doc, I know you gave me the numbers on the rebuildable racks, but I promptly forgot them.

I finally looked at the two on the shelf, one has camgears and what looks like RJ1221/12 (or similar) next to it. The other has camgears, nothing next to it, but 180 degrees around the housing from there it has 18342.

Are these the UK ones (most likely here) with no parts available?

Out of interest, the factory specified 1/3rd pint of HYPOID SAE 130 oil in the rack.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

I put 200mL of Castrol 85/140LSX in them. It's the nearest I can get to original without trawling through `non-existent online' industrial lube catalogs.
It is rated by Castrol for heavy duty steering boxes.

They went from oil to to grease in later racks (for less leaks?) but it gave inferior lubrication. Bearings & parts inside then rusted.
It was just lithium chassis grease though, not the semi-fluid `rack grease' that was popular in the 80s.

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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.

Yo

Could be either UK made racks or early Cam Gears Australia racks. Same as we got in 850s etc up to 1965 approx.
Either way there is sfa parts available for them now in Oz apart from rack boots, and pinion bearings (are same as in later racks).
Pinion bearings got scarce recently, but I think Karcraft has now sourced some again.

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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.

Thanks again for all the replies.
I gave John a call and he helped me out with a new steering rack.

Thanks again,
James.