Pulling..
Turbo Mini Forums

I'd love too, but it's a bit difficult when I use the car every day, and live on campus at university...

Hopefully It will last until the easter holidays and I can do all the jobs I have been meaning to do in one go...

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=469104&fr=0

See I have the same thing but it pulls to the left literally the steering wheel turns like 45 degrees.

I've replaced the rack when it was MOT time, and tightend up the U bolts properly. I have checked and nothing else is bent.

I will give everything a double check when I whip out the engine to put the turbo lump in in may.

Will it be really obvious if something is bent?

Cars been doing it ever since I bought it a year ago this month!

Mine isn't as severe as that, only turns the wheel about 30 degrees, but at least yours isn't trying to pull you into oncoming traffic

I had a look at the components, but as it's always been like this it just looks the same as always, nothing looked misshapen though.

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=469104&fr=0

oh I also missed out that I have fresh reconditioned metro 4 pots on as well so its not braking for me.

Will check it out soon enough

Problem still persists, however the steering column has ground itself down again, so there's clunking in the steering again, which means another new steering column...

What I don't want to do though is put a new one on there, and it to have the same thing happen in another 3000 miles..

My dad thinks that it is the six inch wide wheels that are the problem, making the steering heavier, but I'm not so sure, people are running seven inch wheels without (I assume) any problems..

Could this be a rack issue? Can you replace the rack and column with the engine in? And finally is it worth upgrading/renewing the rest of the suspension/steering components while I'm at it?

Thanks again for the help

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=469104&fr=0

change the rack. yes they will come out with the engine in.

The rack pinion is quite a lot harder than the column, so it is not likely to be damaged. Don't take this as gospel, you will need to check, but I've never come across a worn rack pinion, I have come across loads of worn out columns.
What is very important is that you use the correct bolt on the pinch clamp on the bottom of the column, and that you slacken off the rack U-bolts a bit when you fit the column to allow it all to move and line up properly.

Okay, might have found the problem then:

Where are these U bolts you speak of?

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=469104&fr=0

Dont worry about that split pin, its a "jiggle pin" to keep the hole open and let any small amounts (!) of oil escape.

When I restored my mini I did not put a new rack on, renewed everything else on the steering, but after road testing I had knocking up front of car and after checking and checking and checking again it still took a lot of finding and in the end it was the ball joint inside the steering rack, renewed the rack, is ok now

Main Build
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.php?p=vt&tid=489133

Upgrade to Turbo
http://www.turbominis.co.uk/forums/index.p...tid=448367&fr=0

not had this on the mini but had something like it on the mondeo. diff?

while parked up turn the wheels left then try to pull away, if the clunk sounds it could be that, then try right.

I may be totaly wrong, but it gave my car some very strange driving before it gave up, what diff do you have fitted?

Bolts are wrong way up on tie rods to lower arms. They should be fitted so the nuts are at the bottom. The way you have them fitted if a nut comes loose you will lose the bolt and thus control of the car! Not related to your issue mind you!

On 5th Sep, 2011 Vegard said:
I stand corrected. You should know