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General MINI TalkShared experiences, motoring minutes, and other general MINI-related discussion that applies to all MINIs, regardless of model, year or trim.
This is amazing. I called at least 4 BMW shops, my local dealer, three steering specialist shops including the "rack and pinion doctor" and no one knows what lube to use for the rack itself. They all told me not grease it with anything. The PS fluid will take care of it. There is no PS fluid. The steering is electric. I have googled the question, looked into the Bentley maual, YouToooooobe...
What is it about tech info for this car. The dealers here don't even know where the steering units are made or by what company. Once again essential info is missing and really difficult to find.
I called the tech at Super Lube and he discussed with me the differences in lube and after listening intently decided that the super lithium moly lube I was told would work is not as good a choice as Super Lube synthetic which doesn't separate and if you are hungry after all that suspension work you can put some on your burger... It's food safe.
And there you have it. Another mystery solved after more hide and seek truth games.
Its a sealed unit, only the gen 1 rack/pump had CHF. Thanks for the info on the grease for the teeth/gear. I think there was an internal grease used by MINI, if I find it I will post up.
Called the rack doctor in somewhere. He told me the grease they use is proprietary. Isn’t grease/ lube a very chemistry specific product? Can anyone make their own lube. We use a lot of olive oil here. Will it work for pesto, salads, and steering gears?
I couldn’t determine the “proper” product to use. I even called the head office of JTEKT, where the Japanese office lady answering the phone made it clear that as a civilian I had no right to ask the question. There is a ***** at the helm of every gate. I was able to chat with a tech guy at super lube. Much better experience.
What I feel is the worst part of restoring this Mini to health are the secrets that people/ companies hold so dear. I’ve only discovered some of these truths due to the kindness of people on the forums.
...when I rebuilt the rack on my MG Midget I just used GAA (Grease, Automotive and Artillery) like Castrol Braycote 610
If it was good enough for the recoil shocks and T and E (traverse and elevation) Hand-wheel and Crank on my M30 107mm Mortar, it is good enough for the MG.
M30 Rack and Pinion
Last edited by JABowders; Jan 17, 2019 at 10:07 AM.
Thanks, but is it good enough to protect from the chuk-holes in I-70?
The point here is that gen 1&2 minis are keeping a lot of businesses employed. There are specs which are not known, repair instructions left unpublished. What repair info have you researched that you cannot find? What is left out of the Bentley manual?
The point here is that gen 1&2 minis are keeping a lot of businesses employed. There are specs which are not known, repair instructions left unpublished. What repair info have you researched that you cannot find? What is left out of the Bentley manual?
I agree that it can be a total pain to track some of this stuff down - being an old guy (48), I really miss bound paper publications because they're just more easy for me to navigate. It seems all the MINI stuff is digital only. If they do produce paper books I'd love to know about them because I'd deffo get some.
I have a feeling that the Bentley manual is pretty much an abbreviated version of the factory manual, that is usually the case with Bentley and how it was with my old Saab.
Saab had excellent factory manuals.
And also very cool quick reference parts books with diagrams which made it simple to find proper part numbers:
Although I didn't have a 79/80 (mine was an '86), I liked retrofitting some of the older components like roll-up windows and the manual steering rack from '79 EMS because it was slightly quicker ratio than the power rack.
Lovely interface with the manuals. Very legible and easy to read. Nice clear pictures.
