Installing steering rack
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mr.lotus
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 8:36 pm
Installing steering rack
I have a, 1963 Cooper. Steering rack has play, considering replacing the assembly. Is it reasonably possible, to remove and install the steering rack, without removing the sub-frame or engine? Car is left hand drive, remote gear shift. Thanks Steve V. Mini in Arizona
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guru_1071
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 2109
- Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:47 pm
Re: Installing steering rack
its easy (HA!)
you 'just' need to lower the subframe down a little to be able to wangle the rack out.
in an ideal world, just removing the rear bolts, the tower bolts and loosening the front bolts should be enough, but often its easier to drop the exhaust down and undo the gearbox remote and remove the shockers just be able to get a bit more 'droop'
often the worse bit is getting the 'u' bolts back into the respective holes, which is where the extra droop can really help.
its one of those jobs that can either be easy or incredibly hard, depending on how easy other things come to bits and what not
not my favourite job to do on a mini by a long stretch!
you 'just' need to lower the subframe down a little to be able to wangle the rack out.
in an ideal world, just removing the rear bolts, the tower bolts and loosening the front bolts should be enough, but often its easier to drop the exhaust down and undo the gearbox remote and remove the shockers just be able to get a bit more 'droop'
often the worse bit is getting the 'u' bolts back into the respective holes, which is where the extra droop can really help.
its one of those jobs that can either be easy or incredibly hard, depending on how easy other things come to bits and what not
not my favourite job to do on a mini by a long stretch!
please note, these are my own, individual sales, nothing whatsoever to do with my employer, minispares
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66S
Re: Installing steering rack
Another thing I would add is that the thought of doing it is much worse than doing it. It really isn't that difficult, once you're underway.
Al
Al
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InimiaD
- 1275 Cooper S
- Posts: 1526
- Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:20 pm
- Location: West of Offas Dyke.
Re: Installing steering rack
Another useful tip is to gently "squeeze" the U clamps in a vice. Don't damage the threads whilst doing this and make sure they don't "fly" out of the vice jaws.
You can test fit the clamps from inside the car until you get a non interference fit through the mounting holes
The amount of times I've done this job in the past and struggled to get the U clamps back in their respective holes. That was until i tried the above tip. Saves a lot of faffing about.
You can test fit the clamps from inside the car until you get a non interference fit through the mounting holes
The amount of times I've done this job in the past and struggled to get the U clamps back in their respective holes. That was until i tried the above tip. Saves a lot of faffing about.