Morris Minor Owners Club

I have about 1/2" of up and down movement on steering column. Have checked steering wheel nut and that is OK. Any ideas?

Check the bolt at the bottom of the column, near the floor, and don't drive it again until you have. It's all that holds the column to the rack.

Felt bush at top of column will be knackered as well.

Note that the securing bolt at the base of the column passes through a groove in the splined section thus preventing the column from pulling upwards even if the bolt loosens. Check it ASAP

Well I have just checked it and it is tight . Suppose that means rack out then.

I don't know but, could the rack be loose verry little play would be amplified up the column. Before I thought about taking the rack out I would check it's security.

Do you mean - IN/OUT movement Ian ? Or just play in the column bushes meaning the wheel can move up and down as opposed to in/out? If the later - then column bushes will need renewing - Mini (very very similar column) has a plastic bush at the top - much better than the felt thing - may be possible to fit to Minor - but i haven't tried it.

If you do mean up and down movement and it is not the steering wheel
lifting up without moving the column then the pinion shaft may be loose.
it is inserted from the bottom of the steering rack and is adjusted with
shims to give play of 2 to 5thou". the whole lot is secured with a cap held on by two bolts. It is unlikely but worth checking that this cap is not hanging off which would allow excessive movement.

If you try to pull steering wheel off of the column, that is the movement I am getting. At first I thought the big nut holding the wheel onto top of column was loose, but that is tight also.

wanderinstar wrote:If you try to pull steering wheel off of the column, that is the movement I am getting. At first I thought the big nut holding the wheel onto top of column was loose, but that is tight also.

Likely to be the pinch bolt connection of the column to rack. Very dangerous until fixed.

MoggyTech wrote:Likely to be the pinch bolt connection of the column to rack. Very dangerous until fixed.

??????

Nadir wrote:Check the bolt at the bottom of the column, near the floor, and don't drive it again until you have. It's all that holds the column to the rack.

wanderinstar wrote:Well I have just checked it and it is tight . Suppose that means rack out then.

AS previously said I HAVE CHECKED PINCHBOLT.

Precisely

If it is in/out movement like that Ian - then yes it does look like rack trouble. Can you get someone to do the pulling while you watch under the car at the rack ?

Nadir wrote:Precisely

Alas I am only human

I had this symptom one one of the cars every year at MOT time, and every year I tried to tighten the pinch bolt, only to fin that it was already tight. Eventually I changed the bolt and the problem vanished. Turned out the the centre portion of the bolt was worn and so did not fit snugly in the grove in the splined shaft. Only a small amount of wear can give a surprisingly large movement.

Did anyone resolve this? I have a similar problem with condsiderable up and down movement in the steering column. The pinch bolt at the base of the column seems fine and secure as is the steering wheel nut

Leo
69 Traveller

I had this on the Midget (LHD Minor rack fitted upside down), and it turned out to be the rack. The pinion would pull up quite a long way.

I simply replaced the rack - I know they can be rebuilt, but the peace of mind of buying a recon for the 40 odd quid it cost outweighed the being tight and hoping to not make a total hash of things option.

Leo wrote:Did anyone resolve this? I have a similar problem with condsiderable up and down movement in the steering column. The pinch bolt at the base of the column seems fine and secure as is the steering wheel nut

Leo
69 Traveller

The pinch bolt or inner shaft can wear giving excessive free play. Worth checking before fitting a new rack.

Thank you all for your advice
Pinch bolt removed and inspected, seemed to be simply a case of tightening it up. Absolutely no play now

Leo