Steering rack service

[Aginley]

Best place to buy new drumsticks?
Also are the racks full of oil or just heavily greased . Conflicting views online.
Anything else I should know.
Cheers lads

[woodypup59]

Lubrication is 1/3 pint of SAE 90 oil IIRC.

But I don't see why you couldn't grease it. My mower gearbox needed a "semi-fluid" grease so I mixed up half grease & half engine oil to make something the consistency of mayonnaise and used that. Seems OK.

Beware rebuilt racks - they usually have new boots and paint and thats all.

The usual wear point is the bush at the other end from the pinion. Dead easy to change when you got the rack in pieces like that.

[Aginley]

Great, anyone sell new tie rods? Trackrods)

[jerry]

Beware on reconditioned racks those that have been shotblasted before painting as they shotblast grit is difficult to remove and it then contaminates the grease/oil causing the rack to go stiff to move. I bought two racks that had been "reconditioned" from a well known Mini specialist that became excessivly tight when in use as the grit jammed them up.

Jerry

[imack]

Great, anyone sell new tie rods? Trackrods)

The only new track rods I've seen are these heavy duty ones from Swiftune

https://swiftune.com/parts-shop/steerin ... -1538.html

[Andrew1967]

Never heard them called drumsticks before ..

I might have a spare NOS pair as the rack I put in HOY didnt need any work (surprisingly), apart from cleaning and painting.

[Aginley]

Never heard them called drumsticks before ..

I might have a spare NOS pair as the rack I put in HOY didnt need any work (surprisingly), apart from cleaning and painting.

That would be great!

[Spider]

Be great if Andrew can sort you with your 'drumsticks' but otherwise, they are well and truly NLA.

They don't usually wear, however, The ones you guys in the UK have are often pitted from rust, otherwise, look around for some good used ones.

I've overhauled many steering racks, I used to supply reconditioned - proper reconditioned ! - units to most of the Mini parts suppliers in the Greater Sydney area and some interstate.

I always found that the Racks that had Oil in them were always in much better condition internally than those that had Grease, of which around 1 in 3 couldn't be overhauled. Oil is definitely the best lubricant to use and it was what they were designed to take.

They did switch to grease in production at some point though, not because it was better, but because they could have less warranty claims from leaking racks. I think Peter said much the same in his write up.

[CMC]

FWIW - NOS QH mk.1 steering rack repair kits are still available:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283903493193
I've used a set to freshen up a rack with rusty rods & damaged threads.

[Andrew1967]

The same as the ones I have ..

[Aginley]

So rebuilding the rack and found both bearings that hold the pinion in place were shot.
Has anyone got the size or part number for the bearings?
Also might as well swap the bush and seal while I’m at it.
Thanks

[Spider]

The Bearing part No is BTA662. They are an odd ball bearing, unique to the BMC / Leyland range. They were used in a few cars. From memory they are 9/16" ID x 1-1/4" OD x 3/8" T, angular thrust bearing. They don't seem to be made anymore but they can be found with some digging around

http://www.mlproduktservice.com/mg-1100.html

https://minikingdomonline.com.au/produc ... n-bearing/

The seal is 17H6293, I don't know what the size of them is off hand, however, they are still made and are a common seal you can get from the bearing suppliers.

[Aginley]

Blimey not cheap. Be better buying a mk2 rack at this rate.
Thanks for that though