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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rack play

How servicable is the steering rack on a 71 Sprite? Haynes says how to adjust play. Is this the normal route or is a new rack generally required? My column turns the pinion but the rack doesn't move. It's not too bad as it's passed several MOTs with only an advisory mention of it, but I'd like to sort it when I do my engine bay tidy up in a few weeks time.

Ant
Ant Allen

where is the play at??

jack up front of car....

at 12 and 6 grab the wheel, does it have play

at 9 and 3 grab the wheel, does it have play

play at 12 and 6 is a wheel bearing

play at 9 and 3 is 99% always the inner tie rod at the ball and cup,,,,you wont have to replace the inner tie rod, most likly just a brass shim behind the ball cap or grind off 1/16' off the female cup and retighten does the trick,

I would recommend new gaitors and ball joints and you will need those little round lock tabs, as those always get destroyed when taking apart.

The worst part is seperating the ball and cup at the end of the inner tie rod....my advise spend $10 and take it to a machine shop and have them seperate the stupid thing....or if you love aggrevation and dis appointment, you can heat it up with a torch, wrap it in cooper sheet stick it in a vise, put vise grips on the other end and beat on the vice grips with a BFH, usally it will break free after repeating this procedure 5-7 times though out the next 2 days or so, luckly you only have to do this twice (each side)

remember your rack is oil NOT the newer grease rack, so you will have to convert a grease gun to an oil gun, to get the oil in the rack....oil is same stuff as the rear end lube.


Prop
Prop

If there is wear in the rack bar itself, it is likely to be around the straight-ahead position. You can try adjusting it, but it is likely to make the steering very stiff at other points in its travel.

There are recon racks and recon racks. Basically, you get what you pay for and it is worth having the rack properly rebuilt by a steering specialist rather than a cheap repainted item of unknown provenance.
Dave O'Neill 2

OH so true Dave,

Dont even give a rebuilt rack a 2nd thought other then as a parts source

Id trust the 8 year old china girl that makes our condensors to rebuild the racks then to buy one thats supposed to be rebuilt.

prop
Prop

The play is in the rack itself. Column turns but rack doesn't move. It's not dreadful, but it is noticable when driving. I'll see if it's consistent when not pointing straight ahead.

Thanks for the advice

So where's a _good_ place to get a replacement rack from?

Ant
Ant Allen

Ant

before you spend money

ensure the bottom pinch bolt on the column is very tight

they can (and do) work loose and allow steering wheel movement before the rack takes up the movement

because the pinch joint is at the bottom of the column the lost motion isnt visible

[this is a certified tee-shirt moment bought to you by courtesy of the "Beentheredonethat" corporation]
Bill

If Ant's opening post is to be believed (and why not?) then he's already checked that Bill:
"My column turns the pinion but the rack doesn't move."
David Smith

I fitted a recon rack once and wasn't happy with it after a year or so, so I stripped it and found what seemed to be a new rack and a very pitted pinion, no rust that must have been removed. I had a local machinist bore the rack pinion housing for a new bearing and the same for the lower bronze bearing casting then fitted oilites and reassembled with all the best bits. That has worked very well.
David Billington

When my pinch clamp was slightly loose I couldnt see the pinion but because the steering worked (-ish) I would have assumed the pinion was working too

my clamp is right at the end of the column and hides the pinion from view
Bill

I had my race-car rack rebuilt by these guys...

http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/
Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks guys. Sounds like I need to get up close to the pinnion and check that it's actually turning. I think it is, but now I'm not so sure.

In true Arnie fashion - I'll be back.
Ant Allen

This thread was discussed between 25/11/2008 and 27/11/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.