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"Show me the Mini!"

Picking up this thread again, I have a similar but different issue. The steering feels a little "sloppy". The steering wheel tends to remain off centre when driving in a straight line, mostly about 15 degrees clockwise. But if I go around a left corner, it sits 10 degrees anticlockwise. It tracks straight ahead regardless. No difficulties with oversteer. When in a straight line and moving the steering wheel even a little, the car responds seemingly as it should.

I feel that there is a degree of understeer, but a mini friend says that's the classic mini - it's been 20 years since i owned a real mini (Bini last ten years). The wheel shaking test noted above by mini mad Matt reveals no play.

Any ideas?

AUSMINI ELECTRONIC RUBBER STAMP
sounds very dangerous to me
i`d get a mini specialist to check it all over
so much stuff to look at & if you miss one (seemingly) silly thing
could mean disaster & pain
please get an experienced mini mechanic onto it???
AUSMINI ELECTRONIC RUBBER STAMP

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"Show me the Mini!"

9YaTaH - as well as usual tie rod ends etc, check that the 'U' bolt clamps holding the steering rack to body are properly torqued.

I had a problem with vague steering and understeer/oversteer couple of years back and a moving steering rack was the root cause. Once tightened up it was completely transformed for the better.

Of course...can be many odd little dangerous defects and that's why Rule #1 applies here...

AUSMINI ELECTRONIC RUBBER STAMP
sounds very dangerous to me
i`d get a mini specialist to check it all over
so much stuff to look at & if you miss one (seemingly) silly thing
could mean disaster & pain
please get an experienced mini mechanic onto it???
AUSMINI ELECTRONIC RUBBER STAMP

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"Show me the Mini!"

Thanks carbon. The u bolts were the problem and an easy fix. It's nice to have that classic steering feel back. Back on rails.

I've also had a sloppy steering wheel recently. I went through and checked all the nuts and bolts were tight on the steering rack and the clamp on the bottom of the steering column. I'm no expert on what it should feel like when it is in good condition so I had Morris1100 have a look on the weekend.

The inner steering column on my car was able to move up towards the driver and back down, which meant that the clamp at the bottom of the steering column wasn't clamping enough. It had closed right up and wasn't holding tightly onto the rack splines.


If your steering wheel / inner steering column is able to move in the direction below, don't drive your car, this is not normal and should be fixed. The splines on the rack and column won't be held together properly and is a big problem. The steering column should be nice and tight.

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Yes, one of the normal known Mini issues with an old rack and column. Check the splines on the rack pinion gear and the column inner for wear. MKO (and maybe others) has NOS column inners and pinion.

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

Great to hear you got this sorted. In my case it completely transformed the handing, and as you say it was back to the precise handling which makes a mini such a pleasure to drive on winding roads.

and importantly, the correct pinch bolt in good condition, and the correct fitment of the pinch bolt..

BUT really...the following is so important for anyone not absolutely up to speed in this regard

AUSMINI ELECTRONIC RUBBER STAMP
sounds very dangerous to me
i`d get a mini specialist to check it all over
so much stuff to look at & if you miss one (seemingly) silly thing
could mean disaster & pain
please get an experienced mini mechanic onto it???
AUSMINI ELECTRONIC RUBBER STAMP

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

9YataH, I think we get your point.

Tiresome ain't it?...but its not the people with knowledge here who I want to get the point

Its fine to say do this this and this and hey presto when you know exactly what to do and have skills...

But are you happy to tell someone with dodgy steering (one of the Achilles heels of the Mini design) and limited mechanical knowledge to go away and try this or that without seeing the car, its condition or inspecting the items themselves?? Time-bomb

Sure I banged on a bit in this thread...but for very good reason, the last thing I want to see is a new Mini person (or any Mini person) delay or avoid getting crucial road worthy related stuff done because they think the combined "expertise" on an internet forum has all the answers...

In the real world, people have a duty of care to provide safe solutions and/or repairs...and criminal, other penalties hanging over their heads...who is responsible for the wrong advice on an internet forum?

I could have attacked people who continued to offer hints or ideas to a person with obvious limited knowledge and an unsafe car after I had suggested to the person that they should quickly see a specialist...but that just masks the problem and makes me just look like a goose.

The words I repeat against this subject every now and then are from a Mini specialist with a vast amount of knowledge and experience (Matt)...that's good enough for me!

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"Show me the Mini!"

After the umteenth time it is.

I don't think you or any other person is ever going to get sued for information given in a forum.


Even the smartest, most knowledgeable expert knew sweet bugger all about their field once.
These same people still make the odd mistake.
So if a person is on a forum asking questions, demonstrates a willingness to listen and learn, they're probably going to do a pretty good job of whatever it is they want to fix.
I will even argue the point that an enthusiastic amature with experience will often have better skills/knowledge in certain fields than the jaded expert who sees it as a living.

OK

I've said my piece, if you don't get it, and the implications I'm alluding to...then I certainly aint gunna continue the discussion

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"Show me the Mini!"

The point that Mick is [subtly] making-
Folks we both know on this forum have hit roadside furniture in Minis and very nearly got killed because of steering column spline wear. Near enough is not good enough.

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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.