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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - fitting new steering rack

I am going to fit a steering rack and column in the next few days in my replacement shell, which did not have one in when i bought it has anyone got any tips on aligning them and what shims i will need if any.
mark heyworth

I believe that the late 1275 & 1500 (Triumph rack) has one shim behind the driver’s side mounting bracket.
Dave O'Neill 2

It's behind the passenger side bracket Dave. At least it is on my car...

... off to see if the parts catalogue can confirm...

Malc.
Malcolm

Yup. Passenger side.

Phew! Had me going for a minute there!


Malcolm

It was once explained to me that the steering rack was designed for a wider car than a Spridget. The steering column is angled outwards not at 90 degrees to the rack, so when fitted it pointed the steering column further out than wanted for our cars. The solution was to add a shim at the opposite end to the rack pinion to adjust the rack and therefore the steering column alignment.

When fitting a new rack leave the rack clamps loose,fit the steering column including the clamp, also loose, under the dashboard. Spin the steering wheel from lock to lock a few times and then inspect the rack clamps, adding the shim at the left for rhd cars and right for lhd cars. When everything is 'comfortable' tighten the clamps. Dont forget the clamp packing and don't overtighten the clamps, the alloy ones crack easily!
GuyW

I think that Richard B recently pointed out that the WSM says driver’s side for the late rack. It’s certainly passenger side for the Minor rack.

If you think about it, the Minor had the rack behind the engine, so when putting it in front of the engine, the (extended) pinion shaft will be much further out. The Spitfire rack was originally fitted in front of the engine, I believe, so not the same animal.
Dave O'Neill 2

My Sprite has a Heritage shell and with a shim at the passengers' side the column touches where it passes through the bulkhead. I am told this is a problem with some new shells. It can easilly be sorted with shims and perhaps a round file but it is certainly best to check before the ensgine is in or the shell has been painted.

Jan T
J Targosz

Has anyone got a photo of the shim? Not sure I remember taking one off my 1965. Might be in a box somewhere waiting to be found.

If not what are the dimensions of this shim?
James Paul

can anyone help with the thickness of the shim part no 22


mark heyworth

Mark, those shims are about 1/16” thick. Usually multiple are fitted, one of my cars had about 5 of them!

Should be easy enough to make some. Obviously you could make a thicker one if needed instead of 2 or 3 thin ones.

John Payne

I have just got around to reading my workshop manual, and as i read it you have to fit steering rack brackets passanger side with the shim and loosen the side nearest the pinon ,connect the column and turn 1 full turn side to side and check the movement of the bracket and shim it accordingly ,is this correct or am i missing something out.
mark heyworth

I recently added a shim to my rack, as I'd realised it was missing one. I found that when I removed the steering column upper u-bracket the column settled about 3/4" to the right of the centre line of the u-bracket mount. Adding a home made shim about 3mm thick to the passenger side rack mounting corrected this. The steering now feels a little lighter, and I guess has removed a strain on the pinion bearings etc.
J Smith

Fitting the rack today and with the shim in the passanger side the column mount was about 15mm to the left of the mounting holes ,without a shim it was still to the left of the holes fitted to the drivers side mount they nearly line up not to much strain,is this normal or is nothing normal with midgets. also the column does noy sit in the middle of the hole in the footwell it is close to the bottom of the hole, so a shim at the mount would make it even tighter so will have to leave it, unless anybody know a way to move it upwards.
the rak is stiffer than before but it has just been refurbished so i would expect it to loosen up with use.
mark heyworth

Fitting the rack today and with the shim in the passanger side the column mount was about 15mm to the left of the mounting holes ,without a shim it was still to the left of the holes fitted to the drivers side mount they nearly line up not to much strain,is this normal or is nothing normal with midgets. also the column does noy sit in the middle of the hole in the footwell it is close to the bottom of the hole, so a shim at the mount would make it even tighter so will have to leave it, unless anybody know a way to move it upwards.
mark heyworth

Mark, are your rack bolts and clamps still slightly slack as you are doing this? Rotating the rack very slightly in the C-clamps should raise the column and maybe align it better where it passes through the front of the footwell.

I think that the only purpose of the shims is to get the steering column aligned where you want it.So adjust things with the clamps slack and then check to see where you might need shims. Don't let the shims dictate what you want. It should be the other way round. The main thing is that when you tighten things down, the steering still spins freely, lock to lock without stressing the connection at the rack spindle. The best way to check free movement is with the wheels clear of the ground. Or better still, before connecting the TRE ball joints.

GuyW

guy, You cant rasie the rack as it is tight against the mounting point,I have got it it as good as i can get it it slides on splines easy and is near enough to the mounting holes . the rack trns end to end with TRE not connected bit is a bit stiff but the rack has just been refurbished so would expect it to loosen up with use.
mark heyworth

If it helps mine is close to the bottom of the hole in the firewall. Made fitting the rubber seal a challenge! It was like that when I took it apart and the rubber seal was not properly fitted.
Bob Beaumont

I didn't mean to raise the rack, Mark. I think the L shaped brackets would prevent that. I meant to rotate it in the C clamps, just a fraction. But as Bob points out, they don't necessarily go dead centre through the firewall hole anyway. Mine didn't either!
GuyW

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2021 and 03/09/2021

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