Pulling..
Turbo Mini Forums

I've had a problem with the car since I bought it, I'm that it is pulling to the right. I've had it tracked, twice, but that didn't help, I then had a problem where it felt like the steering rack had work down, the wheel would turn about 30 degrees either way, there'd be a clunk and then the steering would work.

My dad suggested that it had been in a crash, and bent the subframe, which seems possible, but isnt documented, any way of checking this?

Other than that, any ideas as too what could be the cause? Or even better, a solution? I'll probably have the engine out for the turbo upgrade in the near future, so was considering changing the subframe?

Cheers

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There are a few things that need checking. the most important thing is the spline on the bottom of the steering column. If you have fitted a lowering bracket without loosening the 'U' bolts you put stress on the spline. This then wears and you end up with a very dangerous situation.

Pullling to one side can never be caused by tracking, so unsurprisingly, having it altered has made no differance.

What can cause it are:

1) uneven caster (maybe bent ti-bar, could be bent subframe)
2) low tyre pressure
3) sticky brakes
4) worn wheel bearing

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

If it pulls under normal driving i'd be looking at the car crabbing, the toe all over the place (you've had that looked at) the brakes, and the tie rods. If it only pulls under braking I'd check the tie rods.
I had it before where i swore my brakes were sticking, rebuilt them, problem persisted (thought it was me) fitted new calipers and discs, problem still persisted. Never thought to check the tie rods, they were loose at the front of the subframe. Tightened them up, and fixed that problem!

Crabbing or toe settings will never cause a car to pull in one direction consistantly.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

Are you sure? My car pulled to the left for a while, went and had my toe reset, came out fine. Managed to centre my wheel too when they sorted it.

Thanks for the reply's guys,

It could be the brakes, as on occasion it will pull in a random direction. Its had disc brakes put on the front, no idea what they are from as the car is a mash up of random mini parts. What could be done to the brakes to help? Bleeding the lines? Giving them a clean? Not my area of expertise to say the least..

I'll have a nosey under the car tomorrow, how obvious will it be if things like the tie rods are bent/loose?

As for the others I checked tyre pressures the other day, and didn't notice any play in the wheels that would indicate a wheel bearing, and there's no noise either.

If it helps the problem is very intermittent, sometimes it will really try and lunge into oncoming traffic, and other times it will go straight. Also, a steering drop braket has been fitted, the new steering column feels sticky, and squeaks as well...

Feels like everything is wrong with the car when you start trying to fix things..

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Sorry, should have said, that was a few months ago, steering column has since been replaced

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Could be siezed calipers. Try some brake fluid around the seals on the pistons after cleaning them up if they don't push in relatively easily. I had to use a big bar against the old discs the other day, to free and move the pistons in enough to fit a new disc and pads. Couldnt push them back firmly with my hand or a screwdriver like you should be able to.

Edited by Carlzilla on 10th Mar, 2012.

Check the U bolts on the rack are tight - this would allow the rack to move around.
Check your track rod ends & top and bottom ball joints are in good condition and done up properly - wear in these would allow the hub and wheels to move around independently of each other and make the steering a bit random.
Check for movement in the tie bars, it will be obvious as they will move side to side and front to back. Then put a straight edge against them to check for bends.
Check your wheel nuts are tight.

You need to check the column spline.

Edited by wil_h on 11th Mar, 2012.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

I know what you're saying and it makes perfect sense, but it did make a massive difference to the pulling to one side. And the life of the inside of the tyres! But that was not long after I bought my car, it was nothing to do with me haha. I normally centre the wheel, and get the wheels something like straight, even them up front to back with a tape measure then take the car to be properly aligned whenever i have messed with the track rod ends.

I'd forgotten about that bit, just about to go and lift the car up and have a look around, but Carl has reminded me about my tyres, which are wearing unbelievably fast on the inside, I've done about 1000 miles on these two and they're almost finished...

I originally thought it was because the original owner had fitted fatter tyres and group 6 (I believe) arches, but not cut back the wings.

Does this help the diagnosis? And I'll let you know if I find anything else.

Thanks again

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Go drop a tape measure between the front rim lips on the inside, between the front at 3 and 9 o clock. It'll tell you if your toe is out. Should be pretty even measurements. Tyre wear is a bastard on small wheels if the toe is miles out, it wears them out in no time.

What Andy said, check the U bolts that hold the rack in. Mine came loose and caused me no end of torque steer issues!

Run a piece of string around all 4 wheels, that would give you a good indication if there is a major alignent problem (crabbing).

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi

If there is a clunking noise at the steering, does sound like U bolts not tight, like Andy and Matt says, I've had this happen to me in the past..

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Mine pulls to the left. I changed out the bottom arm bushes that were way past their best yesterday - it made a difference to acceleration pull but the car still goes left when you let go of the wheel.

The mot showed up the top arm bush has play - i'll be doing this next along with all four ball joints. I found play in both sides - I assume from additional stresses from turbo power...

Just had a look under the car, there didn't seem to be any play in anything there, it didn't look like it had been changed recently, but it also didn't look like it was about to fall apart.

I gave everything a wiggle with the car on wheels and with the wheel off the ground, and nothing moved.

I took Carl's measurements, its was about 47in at the front and roughly 46.5in at the back, i couldn't take the measurements at 3 and 9 because of the gearbox and the subframe, so they were dont at about half 4 and 7. The odd thing is, once i'd had each wheel off the ground to have a look the measurements changed, and it was 45 at the front, and still 46.5 at the back.

I've also manage to find a pretty serious oil leak, which is hopefully the cause of my low oil pressure, just need to work out where it's coming from now.

I took some pictures, just incase I'd missed something.









This was what looked like a split pin on the bottom of the flywheel housing, was really loose, and i have no idea whether it's supposed to be there:


These are a couple of the oil leaks:
Taken under the gear linkage on the back of the 'box:


Taken under the bit that the rad braket bolts to:

Edited by Mike-998 on 12th Mar, 2012.

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Uh oh. Looks like a weepy crank oil seal.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

I was hoping I wasn't going to have to do any serious work on the engine, but never mind, I'd rather that than i fit the turbo and blow the thing up..

Need to ring the garage then, as crank bearing are a tad out of my league..

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They aren't that difficult. Get the haynes manual out.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Really? The main obstacle I have is that i have no way of taking the engine out at the moment..

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Spend some money on a hoist or rent one.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Look like nows the time to to whip the engine out and strip the subframe and suspension down for a good refurb.

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1/4mile in 13.2sec @ 111 terminal on 15psi