MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Steering Rack Play

Having the yearly road worthy check done and identified some play in the steering. The check been carried out was having either the left and right hand wheel on jack and looking for play by moving the wheel left and right. The play does not appear to be in the Tie Rod End but where the Tie Rod is in the Rack Housing. I'm wondering if there could be some wear on either the Ball Seat or the Ball Housing. I have never Overhauled the Steering Rack during the 15 years of ownership and from my knowledge of the PO and how the car was when I bought her I would say he did nothing to it during his ownership. Before I start to pull it apart would appreciate any advice saves pulling things apart to find my diagnosis was incorrect, as much as my wife thinks I love being covered in lovely grease I can live without it when necessary.

Thanks for any help that may be forthcoming.
Shane Rossetto

Shane - seems to me that I saw a pictorial how-to of an MGA rack repair that was done at a John Twist training session a few years back. I'll try to locate a web address for you, or someone else may be able to give it to you immediately.

It's certainly possible for the ball and socket of the inner tie rod to wear that much, especially if they're not well lubricated, but I'd guess it's more likely for them to come partly unscrewed ro give noticeable slack.

Anyway, I'll see what I can find - - Alec
Alec Darnall

Hi, Shane - I did a Yahoo search on the words 'MGA steering rack rebuild', and this was the first one on the list:

http://www.chicagolandmgclub.com/photos/a_rack/

Very informative, and several more sites looked promising, too. You can always find great info on Barney Gaylord's MGAguru site, which will show up several times if you do the search I mentioned.

Best of luck - - Alec
Alec Darnall

Oops - forgot to mention - click on the thumbnails and the pictures wil expand for close inspection - - Alec

.
Alec Darnall

Shane,
Before you pull the rack apart (not really very difficult) check the inner ball joints (where the tie rod joins the rack)for play. The rack seal needs to be removed, or at least pulled back, to really check this. There are shims that can be added or removed to adjust clearance.
Regards,
GTF
G T Foster

GTF

Thanks I was thinking of the inner ball joints. As for the shimming I was reading the manual and looking at the play they might be taking up.

Thanks Alec great site and looks like a very informative day. One day have to move to a city to be able to go to events like that.

Appreciate all the help.

Shane
Shane

One more thing to check befor tearing into the rack. Try removing the thinest shim under the cap for the rack damper. This will often move the rack down closer to the pinion and correct play due to inporper meshing of the gears. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

Chuckle. That MGA steering rack rebuild on the CMGC web site is also an MGAguru production, done in my home garage as a club tech session. Ditto for the MGA seats, windscreen, frame straightening, hydraulics rebuild, engine tech days, and one of the gearbox rebuilds. If you back up one directory level you get a list of more than 60 tech sessions and various other club activities in photos and notes. See here: http://www.chicagolandmgclub.com/photos
Barney Gaylord

Sorry, Barney - no offense meant, your site is a terrific resource, even for us "midget-heads", since so many of the subassemblies are similar. I wish I lived closer to Chicago, so I could drop-in on some of your activities (except for those hellish winter temperatures and the excess of salt you use on the roads).

My first post was based on memory, which seems to get more faulty with each passing year <sigh>. Best wishes - - Alec
Alec Darnall

Shane

I have seen cases where the play comes from the inner ball joint having rotated on its thread, and being loose on the rack. When you remove the boots, this is easy to see.

dominic clancy

Thanks for all the advice. Guess this wet and rainy weekend I just might be under the car having a look at a few things.
shane

This thread was discussed between 19/07/2006 and 20/07/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.