mk1-forum.net

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

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

Did you eat your weetabix this morning

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

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.

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.

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.