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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering Rack Removal

For removal of the steering rack. If I disconnect the TRE's and undo the 4 saddle clamp bolts, the steering column pinch bolt is removed and the column itself withdrawn from the pinion spline, is it possible to then extract the rack from the wheel arch without taking the radiator out?

Can I put it all back together in the same way?

'68 spec 1275 R/H drive with vertical flow rad.

Ta, Mark
M Crossley

I haven't tried it, but I would have thought the difficult bit would be getting the bolts out.

It's probably worth trying. If you then find that it won't come out and you have to remove the rad, you haven't lost anything.
Dave O'Neill 2

Mark

your making the assumption this will be easy peasy ...yeah sure just disconnecct the 2 tre and then the 4 bolts and the steering column and slip that puppy out.... 3 days later

hahaha

ive pulled mine a couple of times ....if its been out recently....then yees i dont see to. Much of a problem...if its been a few years and many miles....welll its an mg midget
prop

I just did this on a '65 Sprite, and the answer is Yes, Yes and Yes.
I know yours is a later spec, but the rad is the same, so should not present a problem.
Bernie Higginson

Mark
It'll come out ok
When you refit it make sure your pinch bolt is the correct one and has a solid shank where it locates in the groove of the pinion
If your bolt has thread all the way up give it the flick
I've come accross a Midget with a bolt like this and the thread can slide up the splines of the pinion with drastic results
willy
William Revit

also don't forget to note where the shim(s) come from behind the rack bracket and replace in the same position.
David Smith

David,
I would have thought the rack brackets, and therefore the shims, could stay in position if just the top U clamps are removed. One does however need to be careful to use the correct packing and not to overtighten these clamps on re-assembly
Guyw

Fair point - but I'm not sure if you can get at the pozi screws in the upper bit of bracket with the rad in place. Might be easier access to undo the 6 bolts. I hope Mark comes back to let us know how he got on.
David Smith

Yes, that may be difficult. I know l have done it and probably used a pozi-drive head in a ratchet spanner for those screws, but cannot really remember. I do recall that the bottom of the splash guards got in the way a bit, and made it awkward to squirm the released rack out sideways, but not impossible.
Guyw

Thanks for the help chaps.

I was thinking of overhauling the rack. Its about the only mechanical system that I haven't fiddled with. However, I think my motor might have to come out, (again) so I'll probably have the rad out soon. I might experiment with rack access anyway. I'll let you know how I get on.

Mark
M Crossley

This thread was discussed between 11/07/2016 and 18/07/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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