jeg,

The track rod ends are for Sprite so you should be able to find them.  I got mine from a local supplier who supplies TR, MG bits etc. as well as Mini.

Rick

Rick, where did you get those steering rod ends?

I received a box o'bits from MSC a couple of weeks ago and planned on finally getting to a few small jobs on the front suspension.  I've got new C-STR687 cones, new C-AJJ1572 longer steering rack rod ends, ball joint shims, knuckle joint cups and a full compliment of bushes (offset and combo-poly) and so on, but I haven't come across any of those greasable ends before.  While it's dismantled, I'll also be replacing the shafts and bearings in the upper arms.

These will be the 3rd pair of steering rack ends that I install in my 17 years of owning this particular mini.  Not because they're horribly worn, but I replace them when they get relatively sloppy.  It'd be really nice to be able to give them a shot o'grease every now and then, so I wouldn't mind shelving these that I have and getting those greasables! 

I hope you chronicle your trip - always fun to read.

Image Gallery

After ROO landed in Canada in January 2014, I found I needed a new clutch master near the end of May.

I also decided to put hi-los in the rear, new rubber springs front/rear and check/reset the Koni dampers up front, new HD adjustable lower arms & tie-rods/control arms, new wiggly pins & bushes for the new lower arms, new steering rack rod ends (longer, greasable Spridget type), repack the rear wheel bearings while swapping over to Cooper S drums.

All followed by a laser wheel alignment to set up at <1 deg. neg. camber f/r, 3.5-4.5 deg. caster at front, more on the ditch side for road crowning, std. toe-out at front, zero toe at rear.

Front rubber springs were 4 dot & rear 3 dot...the latter collapsed as we headed across Canada.  Two stops to adjust the length of the rear trumpets before getting to Sault Ste. Marie.  Coming home we had a Club friend in a Subaru carry some of our extra gear west from Milwaukee and we gave him everything we would not need when we got to the Missouri River, as he had to sprint on ahead.

After I got home I swapped out the 'new' rubber springs and replaced with Moulton Smooth-a-Ride set.   And thanks to my seatmate, tossed the thoroughly trashed Falkens for a new set of Yokie 539s.

So, before heading for San Diego in late May/very early June, I will check all the drive shafts, suspension & brakes over for leaks, torn boots & torque everything to spec.  Like wise check over the cooling system, the ignition system, lights, battery/charging system etc.  Check tires for embedded screws/nails/glass, torn/damaged sidewalls...and give an oil change & lube including the greasable steering rack rod ends!

Check tools & spares, wash, wax, clean interior & glass...load camping & personal gear, turn ignition key and roll!

Registered yesterday, hotel booked weeks & weeks ago...will be driving the Australian Window Van.

Looking forward to seeing friends with Classic Minis & Modern MINIs.

Less than 3,000 miles return trip...may go down the coast Hwy. 1 & 101 and return inland...have all the new road maps, will get new tour books later in spring when they come out.

PHOTO:  Peter Rogan in Wishart, who stored the Mini for me for a few weeks after my cousin moved to Chapel Hill, north of the Brisbane River.  We went straight from the airport to lunch with the Rogan's & to collect ROO for the trip to Tasmania for Mini Fest in Hobart, Nov. 10, 2013.  ROO loves driving adventures....

My nephew called me just now asking if this is only for classic minis. We saw the new website and it looks like it's going to be a very fun event. Anybody registered yet?

//www.minimeetwest2016.com

Is the poster available for download so we can post it in our facebook wall?

EDIT: I just saw the new website car show page and it includes new minis as well. I'm curious who are going to be the show stoppers at the car show event.

We must hook up for lunch on Sunday, June 12th as we will be headed to Santa Barbara and Big Sur on the run north from MMW in San Diego.  Maybe on the Pier??

You're waay ahead of me. "Somebody" rarely pays attention.     BTW: Smoothed and resurfaced this Spring, the road in the pic is 12 miles of twisty heaven. Just watch out for the ocassional street luge. 

Dang! Just read a little further and realized it's a done deal; San Diego has been choosen. Another excellent venue! 

Santa Barbara for MMW '17. Pass the word...

Somebody's not paying attention... But you can still vote for MMW2017... Fml...

Santa Barbara gets my vote! Great venue! 2 hrs. north of L.A.—4.5 hrs. south of San Francisco. The area has about a dozen local Minis plus an enthusiastic vintage car crowd. The Sunday cars & coffee meet features everything from Bugattis to oddball British fare—20 million dollar Ferraris to vintage motorcycles. Plenty of auto-X sites, 45 mins. to the Mullen Auto Museum //www.mullinautomotivemuseum.com, 2 hrs. to the Peterson Auto Museum //petersen.org.

Hotels & motels can be kinda expensive downtown, but reasonable rates can be had just 10 mins north or south of town. Also, spectacular beachside camping available (motorhome and tent). Moss Motors' showroom and warehouse are 12 mins. away.

Lots of twisty roads, not to mention the iconic Hwys 1 & 101. Biggest plus? It's Santa Barbara, man! //www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g33045-Santa_Barbara_California-Vacations.html

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: ahem... okay I live here. Still, it's a great place for MMW '16.

ohhhhh.... a shortie woody.

Chuck, same trip, I woke up to a foggy morning in Monterey so didn't catch the extra moisture in the exhaust right away.  Down on power a little too climbing up to Laguna Seca...so I was not keen to drive on through San Fransisco during the rush hour, though the exhaust was clear.

Then it hit me, I had forgotten to retorque the cylinder head before driving the 1,300 miles south to Irvine.  Pulled over at a coastal park (2,000 miles later...).  Let the engine cool down a little and retorqued the head.  Stopped at Pier 39 until the evening traffic flow over the Bay Bridge lessened then lit out over the hills into the Central Valley, headed for Carmichael.

At one point no other cars were beside me in any of the lanes.  Checking the rear view, every lane had vehicles, but they were some distance behind watching the dirt brown Mini climb the hills at speed.

Finished the trip taking 1st in the small bore Mini in the Giant Slalom at PIR during the All British...much slower than the big bore Minis but quicker than all but one Triumph (a spitfire) and a handful of Jaguars.

Nonetheless, I do not recommend failing to retorque the head after a new gasket install! 

Great story!  Santa Barbara is one of our favorites places and it only gets better the further north you go.  

Yes Chuck, 1 & 101 have been our favorites now for 20 years...in fact getting out of the hotel at 4:15 am after MMW 2002 allowed me to pedal the Mini 1000 around from MacArthur Blvd/John Wayne Airport to Santa Barbara before dawn...for a 1st cup of coffee & a light breakfast.

Later in the morning, I jumped a new BMW sedan and new Mustang convertible up Big Sur way.  Gave them the beep, beep and scooted on by, swooping around the downhill corner without touching the brakes. When I stopped for coffee I was approached by a woman who asked if she could take a photo of her husband alongside the dirt brown Mini.  Of course...she got the photo and told me that they were just starting on their trip from Los Angeles to Michigan celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary...driving the new BMW.

They had seen the Mini parked in Santa Barbara and then watched the Mini hop on by...apparently seeing one almost as much fun as driving one!

San Diego is a great place!  I have lived there almost my entire life.  Just left 6 months ago... Wish I could be there to drool over all the cars.

I highly recommend driving Highway 1 and 101 on your trip along the coast.  

Room Reserved...agree, a great rate for currency deprived Canadians.  Looking forward to the 1,400 mile trip south, an extra couple of days in San Diego (never been there) and a coastal trip back home!

We are proud to announce that the host hotel for Mini Meet West 2016 will be the Crowne Plaza in Mission Valley. Located just minutes from the AutoCross venue at Qualcomm Stadium, and central to the most popular San Diego attractions, the Tiki themed Crowne Plaza is a little slice of tropical San Diego heaven where you can rest and relax among your Mini friends.  We will have exclusive, secure, cordoned off parking for our Minis as well as an exceptional hotel room rate, as part of a package that we negotiated for this event. The hotel information and reservation code will be available on the website soon. 

Joanie Berkwitz. Co-Chair, Mini Mert West 2016

The question was asked about whether this will be a Classic Mini only event. The Classic Minis are the focus and the main attraction of Mini Meet West, and of course they always have been. The entire event is structured with the Classics in mind. Having said that, many of us are dual owners, and some Mini enthusiasts do not currently have a Classic, or feel that their Classic can make a long trip. MINIs have been included in past MMW events ever since they appeared, and that trend will continue. We will welcome all Minis and MINIs, and the culture and friendships that surround them.

-- Joanie Berkwitz  Co-Chair, MMW 2016