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MG MGA - steering rack shims

Hi All

In the steering diagram there are shims shown where the steering rack mounts to the body. Are these required and if so how do I determine how many and how do I align the rack by use of the shims. I have fitted the steering rack without any shims and it seems to work fine, but I’ve got the feeling I’ve done something wrong and I need to align the rack somehow by the use of shims. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

Tim
t sullivan

These were fitted by the factory and riveted in place. So unless they have rusted away or been removed in a restoration, they should still be there (still are on my car on the LH steering rack mount)
dominic clancy

I believe the shims are there to line up the steering shafts where they intersect at the universal joint. If these axes are not intersecting ant the right place, the UJ action will be lumpy or stiff. So it is important!
Art

Tim, look at the following subject heading under MGB Technical for a good review of these shims and how to work out your situation
[what are the steering rack shims for?]
regards
mark
Mark Mathiesen

When I fitted my rack I found the exercise of aligning the axis of the shafts to intersect exactly at the steering joint almost impossible to determine, perhaps someone has a good way of doing it.
J H Cole

The posting on the MGB BBS can be a bit difficult to find. As the author was prepared to post his idea on one BBS I am sure that he would approve of it appearing on the MGA site. I would credit his name, but I can't find the site again.
I will post three images in separate
postings.
As MGB dimensions may vary from the MGA they should all be re-checked by accurately measuring the steering column diameter and the distance between centres of the locating bolt and the centre of the u-joint spider on the MGA.

Mick


Mick Anderson

Image 2


Mick Anderson

Image 3 of 3


Mick Anderson

Mick, impressive stuff but a bit beyond my capabilities equipment wise -I wonder if there is not a simpler way availible to the average DIY MGA owner?
J H Cole

JHC. I've seen this being done at a local mg specialist on my own A. With the right "Cones" it is a doddle and from what I have seen its the only way to do the job properly. Where he got them from I dont know but he also had to fit some shims (or at least replace the existing ones -- I had to wait for him to get new ones from the suppliers)
David
D C GRAHAME

I made a useable set with some plastic pipe and wood dowels that I turned to a point in a lathe. A couple of turns of tape on the shaft gave a good fit. It is important to get the dimension from end of shaft to tip of pointer or swivel point of the universal joint to match.
John DeWolf

I forgot about being able to add pictures. The pipe is 3/4" inside.



John DeWolf

Thanks all for the images, maybe its an operation that I will try. What strikes me though is that the steering column has some adjustment - why not let this achieve the alignment instead of shimming the rack?
J H Cole

The cones were factory tools and are shown in original factory service manuals. The correct procedure is also in the manual.
John H

Note, this procedure as listed above is in the MGB & MGC Manuals, not the MGA manual.
John H

If you don't have the cones you can use a couple of lengths of stiff wire. Coil one piece tightly around the steering shaft and bring the end out to where the point of the cone would be. Spin the shaft back and forth until the tip of thw wire stays in one place (no wobble). Do the same from the other side. You may have to move the "point" of the wires along the shaft axis until everything matches up correctly. Takes a bit of time and effort but it does work.

HTH

Larry
69 C in restoration with a newly installed steering rack.
Larry Hallanger

This thread was discussed between 15/07/2007 and 17/07/2007

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