Replacing steering rack

[snowberrymini]

Hi,

My Mark 3 Cooper S just failed its MOT because of play in the steering rack. Does anyone know how big a job it is to replace and what's involved and does the car being hydrolastic make a difference?

Thanks

[Vegard]

To be honest, it's a bitch of a job. You need to lower the front subframe some, and this is even worse if it's remote change. It's one of those simple but tedious jobs.

[aquamini]

whereabouts are you if you are not far from me i am in north wales i could give you a lift doing it.Straight forward depending on condition of your car when i left school worked for a rover dealer and they said 80 minutes on job sheet (yeah right)!!!!! .

[snowberrymini]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

[Spitz]

I replaced mine last summer ( although dry and rod )

The sub only needs to come down a little.

Remove the four rear mount bolts, remove ( or just try losenning all the way ) the four top mount bolts, undo the remote changer from the floor., release the engine steady ( and bottom one if fitted )

Of course the car needs to be supported off the ground and the front sub supported seperatly on jacks so it can be slowly lowered.

Slowly lower an inch or so and check that the hydro lines, fuel lines etc. aren't being pulled...lower a bit more and it may be enough to wiggle the rack out ( of course after the u bolts, steering column, and rod ends have been released )

Count the number of threads, or measure, exposed on the end of the rack so you can put the rod ends back on fairly close to originalm position......but you'll still need to do a proper alignment.

edit:...oh yeah....as I recall it actually only took two of us about 60 minutes to do. I think most of the time may have been saved due to getting the u bolts back in rather easily ( held tongue in just the right way )

[mk1]

I have done it in one evening, but its a bitch of a job.

[alexdenevers]

whereabouts are you if you are not far from me i am in north wales i could give you a lift doing it.Straight forward depending on condition of your car when i left school worked for a rover dealer and they said 80 minutes on job sheet (yeah right)!!!!! .

On the MKI 850 workshop manual it was written 3.5 hours ! And I usually change one fitted with remote gearchange in 4 hours.


I've found this on the web, it might help you -> http://mini.nicehelp.co.uk/Work%20Shop%20Maunal.pdf

[InimiaD]

One tip which I've found useful in the past concerns the U clamps,,,,,,,,
,,,,,, for some reason they are a swine to put back in so either put them in a vice (protecting the threads) or give them a tap with a persuader until they close up enough.
You can check if they fit easily by test fitting them from inside the car through the original mounting holes.
If they fit easily with no resistance there is a far better chance of getting them fitted in one go when underneath the car.

[cheleker]

InimiaD's comment may just be the most important one!

Those that do this job very fast usually recommend just prying up the floor to get the pinion clear...and other butchery. Take your time. Have a tea break or two, and the job is not to bad...but will take a while. And no matter how carefully you measure during disassembly, take the time to recheck/reset the toe out.