Ive gotta steering rack tht feels like its knackered.. and i can grab the from wheels and move them about 2"s any idea how i can pull the rack out, to fix it, or how i can fix it in the car?
has anyone done this or knows anything about this?




cheers

-Cam

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IS NOW BACK ONLINE AFTER SOMETIME..... SORRY TO ALL, FOR NOT REPLYING TO PM'S!!

If your Tie Rod Ends are OK then sounds like you need to get a re-manufactured steering rack (real soon)......

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"Show me the Mini!"

It will need to come out of the car to be looked at/fixed (nice job not!). You've probably already done this but check your tie rod ends for play in case they're knackered. The U clamps can also come loose allowing the rack to move so it would be worth checking those too . I had a rack come loose on me once and it gave the impression of free play in the rack (and very vague steering).

If none of the easy fixes work then you'll need to drop the subframe a little and take the rack out (much easier to type than to do!!)

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1965 Morris Mini 'Woody' Traveller

ahhhh what a bastard!

Yeah my rod ends were the first thing ive checked... its getting wors.. snowballing.... over the space of a coupla hundred mils :S


cheers guys, any other hints/ tips?

ive been told that theres only one brass bush that wears in the rach, is this so, anyone eles out there with this trouble?

cheers

-Cam

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IS NOW BACK ONLINE AFTER SOMETIME..... SORRY TO ALL, FOR NOT REPLYING TO PM'S!!

Steering Rack = $250 plus labour....

Hospital Bills when steering fails??? lets not go there.....

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"Show me the Mini!"

I was in and around my steering rack the other day fitting some new tie rod ends. Are you supposed to be able to 'pull' the steering arm out of what feels to be a socket? I can grab a hold of it and pull it and it moves....it feels like it's on a spring because it wants to go back in.

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But he's thriving and striving and hugging the turns.

I had the same prob about 10 months ago.
Ask CLUBMAN on here... he felt what it was like.
It used to steer for me most times!
It got absolutely crap bad in a couple of days of driving so i put it in the shed till i could save up and afford to get it fixed.
New steering arm or something and bushes; $450 or thereabouts it cost me all up.
Ok shite... now im thinking about how much money ive spent on Little willy - ahh . Lets not go there

Mmm... disc brakes

Try pulling back the rubber gators at the other end of the rod end attached to the steering rack. There are ball and socket links in there that can undo themselves if not secured properly.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I rebuilt both my racks a while back..
Bits that go bad in `em-
1. Two Belleville (conical) spring washers that apply pressure to the thrust pad, to keep the rack in mesh with the pinion. They fatigue from old age. Dunno who has spares now.
2. Felt bush at LH end of rack. They wear out. Nolathane makes a hex shaped poly bush to replace it.
3. Pinion bearings. Can be replaced if you can find newies now. Often they are still OK unless the rack has run dry.
4. Boots, they split when old. New ones are available from Karcraft etc.

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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 dropped into Mini Auto Spares at Seven Hills today. He's got reco'd steering racks for $220 exchange. He had three on the shelf in the shop upstairs.

Doc....aren't there nylon bushings at each end to support the tie rods???

anyway....maybe you should add "Please don't try this at home" in your best Tim the Toolman voice

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"Show me the Mini!"

BTW, best lube for a Mini rack is 90/140 gear oil. So sez the guys who made them at Cam Gears in Sydney- I worked with 'em at Rheem.
Later ones were greased instead, to stop oil leaks..

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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 f you need to change the Rack

http://community.webshots.com/album/117738459JkCtax

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

G'day guys, Ive checked the u-bolts, and no joy there, bugger it!

it seems the driverside wheel has more slop in it than the other side..... does this help to locat the problem anymore?

everyones telling me that it cant possibly be worn out... coz the cars only done 66,000 miles... (depends howmany roundabouts are in the town i spose)

anymore help available for this topic?

-Cam

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IS NOW BACK ONLINE AFTER SOMETIME..... SORRY TO ALL, FOR NOT REPLYING TO PM'S!!

The left hand side always suffers first as it is always falling off the road, hitting gutters etc. The felt bush needs replacing and the track rod inner ball and socket looking at. Basically doc laid it all out for you. I can't believe people pay $250 fer gawds sake to buy a reco rack. There is nothing in them. Don't forget to replace the mounts and U bolts.

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Chris

Everything I like is either
illegal, immoral or fattening.