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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - rack packing

Now I know this has had an outing before but I hope someone out there will save me from a trawl though t'archives!
Basically the packing material round the rack cradle points has given way meaning that the rack is loose in the brackets. It rattles [apart from anything else like "unsafe"] . . so what is common practice amongst the wise? What do you use?
Thanks as ever!
David Cox

in the archives you'll see that most have used tape, mostly electrical tape or friction tape, but those may compress over time / load, because of the soft materials they are made of

Brown and Gammons sell packing material for this job that is a non-compressible "gasket" looking stuff (the non-compressible stuff has clay in its compound, and is used by auto companies for shimming doors and things like that).

Frankly, the mounting brackets do hold the rack pretty well (side x side), so even cellophane tape might work fine (!), but I liked the stuff B&G sold me (I googled the maker's name that was printed on the material and found out about its properties, and posted what I found here, so if you looked in the archives, perhaps under my name + steering rack, that info is still here somewhere).

Norm
Norm Kerr

Thanks Norm I'll investigate,
BTW I made up a "stop the rear axle pinion from turning tool" as per your suggestion when I changed the pinion oil seal last weekend. Worked a treat! Thanks for the tip!
David Cox

I use the old tube of a bike now for 6 years and I heard about using silicone kit.
At first I tried to use the tube of a car tire. The alloy bracket broke the rubber was to thick.

Flip
Flip Brühl 948 frog 59

how thick does it need to be? how about the plastic from a 2 litre coke bottle? (other fizzy drinks are available)
d cusworth

David,
Be careful, if your car uses the alloy brackets they can crack if too much packing is used and then overtightened.
I use that self-amalgamating electrical tape. It is rubbery so grips, but deforms just enough not to over-stress the clamp when tightened.

Guy
Guy

Guy: thanks for the tip but you're talking to a tee shirt holder. Tighten-tighten-tighten-crack-sh*t. Been through that sequence before! maybe that's why the rack is loose now.. didn't want to break another cradle! Will have to measure thickness VERY carefully next time... or use your suggestion of some SA tape.
Thanks all!
David Cox

Sorry David - I didn't realise I was talking to the afflicted!
Guy

no offence Guy! "afflicted" is just about right! There's not much I don't have an award for after 36 years of ownership of my midget!
David Cox

This thread was discussed between 08/02/2011 and 09/02/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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