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Tech<br />
MINI<br />
WORKSHOP<br />
Adjust the tracking by winding the track rod ends in and out.<br />
“Car designers do their best to design<br />
out bump steer but it’s inevitable”<br />
particularly if there is a difference from<br />
turning in one direction to the other, and<br />
you will then also have a reference point<br />
for when you can adjust the rear.<br />
When you measure toe, it’s important<br />
that you do it with the car’s weight on the<br />
<strong>Mini</strong> adjustable rear camber brackets.<br />
suspension. There is an effect called<br />
‘bump-steer’ which describes the way<br />
that the tracking changes with<br />
suspension drop or compression. Car<br />
designers do their best to design out<br />
bump steer but it’s inevitable, as the only<br />
way to eliminate it is to pivot the steering<br />
tie-rod so that it describes exactly the<br />
same arc as the suspension arms. As the<br />
pivot point changes when steering is<br />
applied, there will be some change when<br />
the suspension is dropped and<br />
compressed. This is also worth<br />
remembering if you adjust the ride height<br />
of a <strong>Mini</strong>.<br />
Ideally, the same amount of steering<br />
rack tie-rod thread should be visible on<br />
both sides of the car, as this means the<br />
steering rack is centralised.<br />
MEASURING TOE<br />
There are a couple of different methods<br />
to measure the amount of toe on your<br />
car. One is using the professional gauges,<br />
but the electronic systems and optical<br />
devices are expensive. Another is by<br />
using a plate which you roll the car on to,<br />
this deflects with the side pressure of the<br />
tyre and indicates if this pressure is due<br />
to toe in or out. A third method is by<br />
An axle stand makes a handy point to tie the string to.<br />
Gently add tape markers.<br />
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