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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - cracking sound

afternoon folks
having just fitted a recom rack went on holiday in Scotland fantastic weather roof down ever day when going around one off many corners,a loud cracking sound from i think the steering column then the steering wouldn't self centre. what sort of bearing would be in the column,if needle roller could this have started to break up any advice please
thanks gary
gary knowles

I cant help...but more info is needed....what year is the car and rack...they changed over in 71 to a differant rack which uses grease the pre-71 rack used gear oil.

good luck

Prop
Prop

Maybe worth checking the cast brackets that secure the rack to the chassis.

Jonathan
Jonathan Severn

forgot about that,76 1500 the supplier who sold me the rack said to but oil in not grease.
gary
gary knowles

If 1500 rack is the same as later midget (with the SPit rack) it should be grease?

You'd get a crack if the column jumped on the splines; but I've never worked on a rack (only think I've never dismantled), so it's a relative mystery to me!

Certainly I'd check as JS says.

A
Anthony Cutler

Gary, there are small ball bearings located in both ends of the steering column assembly and that might be the source of the noise you hear, but I think it's much more likely coming from the rack and being transmitted up the shaft to your ear. The reason for that belief ist he lack of self centering after you hear the noise and the fact that it's a rebuilt rack. I'd check it very closely and consider getting another rack. One other thing, did you check the alignment of the rack to the column and shim it to match when you installed the rack? If it's not properly aligned that can place some side loading on the shaft which might be the source of the noise and also the tightness.
Bill Young

Bill is correct. You have to re-fit the chunky shim to the one side - it is a throwback from Morris Minor days I believe
Geoff Mears (1970 Midget)

Gary,
Check the pinch bolt where the column attaches to the splined pinion shaft on the rack. These are well known to loosen, and if the bolt drops out you can suddenly and dramatically end up with no steering! The tell-tale is when the steering wheel will pull up and down with a little clonk noise. Not sure if this would create the "crack" sound but worth checking anyway.

Guy
Guy Weller

As Anthony says, the bloke was wrong. This is the same rack as used on the Triumph Spitfire and it expects grease, not the oil as used in the Morris Minor racks that came in the 71 and newer Spridgets.
David "Not that there is any practical method for greasing them..." Lieb
David Lieb

This thread was discussed between 07/07/2009 and 08/07/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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