stiff in the morning (steering)

[dhenry]

Hello,

Some of you may have noticed it was a little colder this morning. I came out to the mini at 8am to find that my steering was incredibly stiff. Last night it was ok, this morning it wasn't. I check to see if somebody had slashed my tyres. Luckily they hadn't. I pursued and after about 20 minutes the steering loosened up and returned to normal. Is this a common problem? Is it due to the cold? Is it a sign of much needed maintenance or a buggered steering rack?

Let me know if you have any ideas. Thanks,

Daniel

[dhenry]

well the problem did not reoccur this morning so lets hope it is the last of that. Has nobody ever experienced this?

[coop12g295]

Did you eat your weetabix this morning

[dhenry]

I had shreddies this morning rather than wheetos yesterday. You may be on to something.

[austinisuseless]

Stiff in the morning?

Could be a tight joint in the steering/suspension department, and with metal expanding and contracting with temperature, a joint could be tightening with colder weather. Have you overhauled any steering/suspension joints over the summer?

And always, always, have porridge on a cold morning - it puts more lead in your pencil/arms.

[dhenry]

the front end is all new this summer. I think I need to jack it up and re-tighten everything now it has settled in a bit.

[austinisuseless]

Could be one of your swivel hub joints is shimmed out too tight, one of the top ones most probably, the top ones without a spring inside it. The bottom ones have a spring inside it that should allow it to give more, but could be tight too.