Morris Minor Owners Club

Ive got a 1954 morris minor 4 door splitscreen 1600 engine bigger wheels/tyres and small steering wheel. Is there away of making the steering lighter ie power steering

having bigger wheels and a small wheel wont help. also your speedo might be inaccurate with bigger wheels unless you have done some mods. i dont realy know of anyway to make the steering lighter with out adding power steering but thats pricey.
i think im right, if not in sure someone will correct me

Yeah there is an easy way to fit power steering.

You need to get a second hand electric power steering module off an old car. The Vauxhall Corsas had electric steering!

You then chop off/shorten the steering shaft that comes from your steering wheel to the steering rack, then add in the power steering unit. You do need to weld on the correct adapter to the steering wheel side but the steering rack should be interchangable.

You do need to slightly modify the control module so that the steering isnt too light.

This is a common conversion on minis and so your best researching this! Also I have heard the MGF had an electric power steering unit WITH a variable control on the module that allowed you to set it up just how you like it!

Good luck and keep us all updated!

p.s. Aint been on here for ages! Its all changed!

Check that the trunnions are properly greased and turn freely on the swivel pins

The easy (and sensible) answer is to NOT use a small steering wheel! Simples!!
But -as above - it is possible to fit electric assisted column from Corsa/Punto - some others. But as mp- points out - maybe it all just need a good greasing - because Minor steering is noramlly super light, and I doubt your bigger wheels will make that much difference - although if the contact patch is much further outboard than the suspension design calls for - you are obviously having to scrub the tyres in an arc instead of just 'pivoting' them - and this leads to terrible snatching on rough surfaces and under braking - overall heavy steering and of course heavy tyre wear!

Something that had never occured to me as a possibility! Thats given me an idea for my old MGB!

Will the camber of the wheels affect the heaviness of the steering?
The steering on mine seems heavier that it should be and I have a feeling the camber is out. Sometimes it looks very pigeon toed.

To an extent - yes, although castor has much more effect. Check the camber by parking on a nice level surface - and put a sprit level against the tyres! Probably need to pop the hub cap off - and avoid any big 'bulge' at the base of the tyre.

Isn't the castor built in to the steering geometry?
What would the effect if the eye bolt washers weren't present?
I've has a close look and there is a line that suggests the presence of the washer, but might be a casting mark on the eye bolt itself.

Eyebolt washers missing would indeed make for +ve camber. Castor Is 'built in' - but if negative camber is introduced then that pushes the bottom arms out slightly - and the tie rods then pull the arms forward slightly - increasing the castor. Also - if the little rectangular washers are missing - where the tie bars attach to the bottom arms - that again pulls the bottom arms forward (quite significantly!) and increases the castor - making the steering 'self-centre' strongly - and heavier.

The suggestion about not using a small wheel is actually not as bad as it may sound.
My first Minor had wide wheels and a small steering wheel and it was awful to drive. Fortunately in those days I could fit in a bucket seat. Over the first few months of owning it, i converted it back to standard and the thing that made most difference to drivabilty was using the original steering wheel. The average Minor is tail happy if driven hard, so the last thing you'd need is less sensitive steering.

Having said that, a very well modified Minor (5 link + coil overs on the rear etc...) can be very grippy.