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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Track Rods

Hello, back again !
Is there any set distance on how far to wind track rod ends onto the rack ?
The knackered ones i took off were at different positions and to me, they must be roughly the same ?
Regards Gary

Durham
G Bewick

You put them on so they set the front wheel track(ing) (details of how to check by DIY methods are in the archives). The toe-in is IIRC around 1-3mm but don't trust my memory look in your Driver's Handbook for the correct range.

IF the tracking was correct with the old TREs then you could have moved the lock nuts back a turn and counted how many turns each TRE took to remove completely, subject to the new TREs being the same length.

There are variations to parts and components thorough the models and years from the start at the Mk1 Sprite to the end at midget 1500 so it might help if you were able to put up your vehicle profile to view.
Nigel Atkins

Yes, the amount that the Track Rod End (the bit with the ball joint in it) is screwed onto the Track Rod should be approximately the same. Not necessarily identical, but roughly the same number of turns of the thread. This will ensure that both have sufficient thread engaged for safety, and also that when travelling in a straight ahead position the rack itself is central within its range of operation.

This a different point to that of adjusting and setting the actual toe-in, but I think you appreciate that.

If as dismantled they were very different then first check that there isn't something amiss with the components. Check for example that the steering arms match (The bent arm that bolts to the back of the hub carrier and to which the TRE attaches). Its more likely that they have just been set up wrongly, and the parts are all OK.

You may well find that when the TREs are reassembled correctly your steering wheel had been fitted to suit the unequal TREs and this may now need to be removed and re-positioned on its splines.Do check advice on how to remove the steering wheel though as done wrongly, you may knock out some teeth (yours).
GuyW

"Do check advice on how to remove the steering wheel though as done wrongly, you may knock out some teeth (yours)."

...or damage the steering column, if it is of the collapsible variety.
Dave O'Neill 2

Are you replacing both ?
I am rebuilding a mini currently and have thought about this my self. My view was to centre the rack, wind the TRE on all the way and then wind each out the same number of turns until you have both wheels parallel, thereafter go for your fine adjustment, and secure.
Quite happy to learn from others that this method is flawed or not. . . .
P Bentley

Just a comment - but don't take this as something to worry about:
The rack itself will wear most at the straight ahead position, or on the first teeth immediately either side of that. One dodge that may possibly have been used in an attempt to overcome this wear is to move the steering to one side of this wear position and to re-adjust the TREs unevenly to bring the wheels back to the dead-ahead position.

Not directly related to this but a safety check worth doing is that the pinch bolt on the steering column / rack pinion is tight. They do work loose in time. The bolt should also be inserted from the top so that should the nut work loose, the bolt itself would have some chance of continuing to locate in the cut out slot in the shaft. Its an easy check safety item that I think should be a standard service check every 3000 miles. But for some reason Nigel's Good Book doesn't make mention of it.
GuyW

Harsh, Guy ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

LOL Dave, I quite expect Nigel to refer me to some obscure sub-paragraph in The Good Book that I haven't yet noticed - probably with some handy catch-all phrase like "check all bolts for tightness". That would cover it. ;-)

But its a serious point - they do loosen up and they are easy to check.
GuyW

I know your going to heavyly rely on the good hand book point by bullet point exactly but i figured i throw this in anyway haha...

Make sure you run the car back and forth about 10 feet or so amd keep it straight as possiable before setting up the car

Id even repeat the measuring precedhre a 2nd time after the set up

Prop
1 Paper

Guy,
it's like the compressors no one can criticize any safety checks any one want to do for themselves and advise for others.

How old and how much use has your steering rod and nut and bolt had, over how many years, miles, is it original or replacement.

I've got no evidence to say so so only a guess on my part that may be this wasn't a regular occurrence. I've replaced mine because it was worn I think, can't really remember now, but I've replaced lots of worn parts that aren't covered by any service and maintenance schedule but as parts of my car were already 34 years old before I got it this was to be expected.

The good book does say to check the wheel nut tightness something like every week(?), I don't check that regularly but the only time I can think of when I had two very slightly loose was after taking the wheels off and checking within 30 miles or so use.

We all have our own hang-ups from personal experience, the good book doesn't suggest carrying a spare fuel pump just in case or fitting and using a second pump but some owners had reported the need. Personally I prefer fit'n'forget as I don't enjoy fiddling with the car, hero roadside repairs or even route serving and maintenance (but I do it because it's necessary) but I know some think that somee or all of such things are part of the "fun"(?) of classic car ownership, and good luck to them it takes all sorts, but not me.

Next time I'm in that area I'll check the tightness of the nut and bolt and report back if it's loose - in fact b*gger it I'll check it now so none of you worry about me (or the road/pavement users around me).
Nigel Atkins

I was going to do a skit as a follow up but I'll just say, not difficult to get at but not so easy with a X-flow elbow in the way and lack of 7/16" deep socket in the right size so the ratchet is close to rad fins.

The nut and bolt were very tightly done up.

I remember now a mechanic would have done it when the ill-fitting Argentine steering rack was fitted (with the rad removed).

Out in cold, two sets of tools and tool boxes, muck on one palm, frisson of danger of damaging rad - if I carry on like this I could be a macho butch mechanic or engineer




. . . or perhaps not.
Nigel Atkins

Ahh but Nigel, think how well you will sleep tonight.

And about that lovely soft warm confident glow you will get as you speed along those sweeping bends in the secure knowledge that your pinion nuts are tight. And you did it all on your own!
GuyW

Guy,
I done just that last night, I speed along sweeping bends in the secure knowledge that my pinion nut and bolt were tight and the wheels fell off because I hadn't checked the wheel nut tightness since last Saturday!

I tried to check them before the drive but my forearms were too weak from their previous exertion with the pinch bolt and nut.
Nigel Atkins

Oh dear, Nigel. If you find that tightening your nuts is too much of an effort perhaps you need a longer tool.
GuyW

Schoolboy error there Guy, you should use a short tool to tighten and long to undo, I'll see if I can find you a JT vid on leverage. :)
Nigel Atkins

Not an error Nigel. If you found tightening your nuts too much of an effort, you clearly need a longer tool to give you the required pint of leverage. And then an even longer one next time to undo them.
GuyW

Lol - I knew a young lady many years ago that was nicknamed spanner face ....
Chris at Octarine Services

I'd never argue about the required pint of leverage especially when a wide selection of good quality ales, well kept and well served, are on offer.

Guy, you've cost me a small fortune, I've got to go to the pub for some natural medicine to help me sleep tonight as getting at that pinch bolt put an unnoticed hole in the rad with the ratchet handle. This means my wife will want to go too, which means pasties at the pub to tide us over until the takeaway, the expense of it all - and the pinch bolt didn't even need the slightest tightening!



Just joking - we don't need an excuse for an occasional half.

Who brews leverage btw, I couldn't find it on Beer Mad or Quaffale(?).

http://www.beermad.org.uk/

http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/index.php
Nigel Atkins

Sorry Nigel. 'Twas a slurp of the tongue.
GuyW

Proves my eyes are getting better and I read one of Prop's posts yesterday and didn't notice the mistakes whereas today I can see them and the post was that mixed up that even Prop noticed and apologize about it, yes, that bad!
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 26/04/2017 and 28/04/2017

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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