Sorry if this has been covered before, I've used the search function but couldn't find an answer.
Could worn or weak engine mountings cause the engine to drop far enough to foul on the steering rack? The engine vibrations on our 1500HL seem to all get passed through to the car, especially the steering column itself. I've had a look underneath and the sump looks very close to the rack. The rubber on the mountings looks like it's been stretched out of shape too, but this may be normal as I only have our 2000 to compare against.
I seem to remember Howard changing the engine mounts but that could have been some time ago. I also seem to recall that some mountings available aren't that long lasting. That wasn't very helpful was it?
I'm sure someone will be along soon. You are doing stirling work on her!
That's a Sprint, no restrictor cups on the mounts and a different animal entirely in that department mate.
Howard's got a point; current new mounts "vary" in their quality, he wrote, trying to be diplomatic.
Mine all came from Express Factors (The dealerships' own factors, long since absorbed into Unipart) back in the early '90s and are almost certain to be better than repro ones, I've only got through one pair in the last 42,000 miles and then only because of a bit of stupidity on my part .....
Would poly one's be an option? If so, maybe the club could look at this as a 'spares venture' perhaps. Especially as Joe's 'neighbour' produces poly items. Just a stray thought. It happens now and again.
Welcome to the inside of my head! I woke up thinking it was Thursday, February the 19th, 2009.
And swiftlyish back to the topic of this 'ere thread; are 1500 ones the same as 1850 ones? If so, I may be able to offer a pair for sale to the o/p should they be needed...
Where the 1850 mounts have the mounting bolts protruding from the left and right hand side of the mount, the 1300 and 1500 ones have it coming straight out of the bottom at the same angle as the stud the engine bolts to.
...Pictures!
1850
1300/1500
Though confusingly, it's stated the lower one is for non O/D cars and the upper for 1300/1500/1850
Is strange, no?
Edited as I forgot to finish what I was typing.
Last edited by Oli_88 on Tue May 03, 2011 2:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.
That lower pic is a rear or gearbox mount, The top pic is a 1850 engine mount and looks the same as a 1500 engine mount the difference being a very slighthly diffrent size and rubberyelasticibility (thats a real word honest), not sure if a 1850 will be suitable as Ive never tried one.
Thanks for all the replies. The engine mountings are definitely like the top of the two pictures, but look pretty stretched out of shape to me. I'll try to get a photo and post it up.
The car is very smooth other than this, but the steering wheel (and everything else for that matter!) vibrating like crazy is spoiling things. I'm just hoping it is something fairly simple like a pair of engine mountings. [-o<
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I woke up thinking it was Thursday, February the 19th, 2009. 
The engine mountings are definitely like the top of the two pictures, but look pretty stretched out of shape to me. I'll try to get a photo and post it up.