Hi all!!!..I just sign from Madrid -Spain
I have a 1999 Mini sports pack. The problem I´m trying to solve and asking for HELP!!! is that the steering wheel is so hard to move when the car is not moving...!!!
Can someone give me ideas on how to fix this problem. A friend of mine has the same model and no problem with the steering....

Thanks for all replays

 

power steering

 

the car must be running for the steering to be "easy". he might have taken out the power steering pump and went manual steering.

also put in your key, the steering wheel might be locked???

 

bad ball joints and/or rack.
btw i love the power steering comments.

 

servo electric or oil?

 

i thought servo was aka brake booster, is it also used for ps pump?

 

titi,
All cars are hard to steer when engine/car is not running. I own 2 Classic Mini's and both are hard to turn the steering wheel when just sitting in the garage. If it steers OK when going down the road then you don't really have a problem. Your friend might have a problem with his Mini is it steers easily when just sitting still. You might want to check the air pressure in your tires and have your front end aligned to make sure that all is within spec's.

CasaMini
Bedford, TX
63 Austin
71 Leyalnd Mini
2003 MCS

 

It's the fat tires of the sportpack.

 

esp if it has a smaller dia steering wheel than factory.

 

Another thing I see is that so many people have no idea that the ball joints have grease fittings. BTW, classic minis don't have power steering.

 

My mini is really hard to steer if the car isn't moving. But step on the accelerator just a tad, and the steering loosens right up.