Got the crap scared out of me today. Pulled up at lights waiting to make a sharp 90 degree right hand turn. When the lights went green I gave the mini a bit of a boot full as I turned. This ripped the steering wheel out of my hand, putting it on full lock and spearing me into the center medium strip which I missed by centimetres. Just managed to get a grip and reefed it back into line! Won’t be trying that trick again

Do you have a little sports steering wheel

Yep, sure has

I'd recommend a bigger sport's steering wheel!!!

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1963 Morris 850 Smoke Grey
1963 Morris 850 Shadow Blue
1965 Morris Mini Smooth Van
1966 Morris Mini Van
1969 Morris Mini Deluxe Resto
5/72 Clubman Gt

Or driving gloves!

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Nick

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=86675

Or less wide and/or less offset outwards on your front wheels, increases scrub radius and therefore the influence bumps and differing traction has over the steering, contributes to torque steer effects.

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Roads need more corners
A Deluxe(CG13DE), 2 Clubbies(998 and 1275) and 2 Morris 1100Ss

I am interested to know:
Why didn't the steering attempt to self-centre, which is what I thought a road-going suspension setup normally did, if you let go of the wheel?

It's not a tiny sports wheel, but certainly nothing near the size of the original

Wheels are old ROH style, with not much outwards offset, doesn't need the flares for them to fit under. Tyres are Yokos 165/70

It is an unusual intersection in that it is a two lane 90 degree RH turn with the inner lane (the one I was in) not having much lead up to make the turn so need to be on about 3/4 lock almost from start to make it I reckon. I think because I gave it a bootful on this lock, the torque steer just grabbed it and pulled it round to full lock. I turn this corner everyday and don't have a problem, just that I got a bit over excited and to be completely honest, the right foot pushed quite a lot harder than usual. It all happened very quickly, but I won't be doing it again.

New steering rack with old arms? Geometry change with a tighter circle?

Could have just been you 'powered on' a Grippy/uneven piece of road and had a relaxed grip - just happened to dig in. Do you drive straight or bent arm?

Maybe it's just learning what your setup will do in certain conditions, it sounds like you have a quite a pokey little engine you have. I remember the first few times I torque steered off the line as a new driver I was literally going from one side of the road to the other. But learnt how to control it and where those limits were - that's why they are so fun to drive right

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1966 Mini Deluxe - “Gabby” 34 years under restoration and counting...
1970 MGBGT
1959 MGA

You could always try these

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"Show me the Mini!"

That would fix it, but where can I get them?

Steering rack is the only thing I haven’t replaced, but I think you’re right in that I didn’t have a tight grip, and the new engine build has bags of low down torque. So maybe just a combination of things I guess, but it sure did scare the hell out of me when I came so close to mounting the centre island and slamming into the traffic light pole. It must have looked weird to the other traffic waiting at the lights!

If you are unsure, is there somewhere open and without obstacles where you could test the handling under various conditions?

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