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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering wander

After overhauling the suspension, steering and I still had a slight play in the steering.

Found the cause, I'm missing the "seating" which fits into the rack clamps and the rack moves slightly (about a 1/4 inch) in the housing before moving the wheels.

Tried all the usual suspects and it's NLA, but the MGOC spares man said "it's just fibre, put a cardboard washer in". Is this correct? And what alternative I can use, not having much "fibre" in the garage!

On the other hand, the uprated suspension and brakes are now fantastic, car corners like it's "on rails" and the ride is much improved too.

AndyB

a borris

Sounds reasonable to me, all you need is something that's a bit compressable yet fairly rigid to take up the clearance. Card stock gasket material or cork should do fine.
Bill Young

Careful Andy - it needs to be VERY thin. Too thick and you'll hear the alloy bracket snap as you tighten it down.
When I did my rebuild I literally put a single wrap of wide Scotch (masking) tape round the rack mounting clamp area. It lasted for three years until MoT failure last year for slight play in the rack. I dismantled and reassembled with a single turn of the thinnest gasket paper that I'd subsequently acquired.
Steve Clark

Thanks, 3 years on masking tape sounds fine!

It's taking the rad out (again) that's the pain! Guess once it's out I can add or remove the tape to get a good fit.

AndyB
a borris

I used a couple of turns of self-annealing rubberised insulating tape. I think it is more durable than masking tape.
Guy Weller

I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, but I used two pieces of Eng-ur-land World Cup balloons that arrived free with something. The midget was booked in for an MOT the morning after I discovered the rack was loose, also following a full front end overhaul. They're still there three years later. No, hang on, it must have been the previous World Cup ... so still there seven years later! No sign of any movement ...

Tom
Tom Coulthard

Bit like the World Cup itself then Tom... lol

Mark.
M T Boldry

This thread was discussed between 15/04/2009 and 16/04/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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