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MG MGB Technical - How do I identify what rack I have?

I have been given a steering rack for my restoration and cannot tell me if it is a chrome or rubber one (I don't have another to compare it to). It's shaft is 555mm (21.85 inches) from the point of entry into the actual rack outer housing to the end of the knurled top. Can anyone confirm which type it is please?
regards
mark
Mark Mathiesen

Mark,
I have one out of a '65 on my bench now. Shaft length "from the point of entry into the actual rack outer housing to the end of the knurled top" is 17.375 inches.

Housing has the following:
CAM GEARS LTD
WORLD PATENTS
PENDING

and numbers:
18993 (embossed at both ends)
2983 (engraved on raised area near inspection plate)
Steve Buchina

Can anyone else confirm the measurements for a rubber rack?
regards
mark
mark mathiesen

Mark,
So there is not confusion (on my part), I measured the steering wheel shaft up to where the universal is fitted.
Steve Buchina

36 C
RAY

The best measurement I could get on my '77 working around the motor mount and V8 was 22" so I'd say you have one from a rubber bumper MGB since I recall the one from a chrome bumper car is about 4 inches shorter which is consistant with Steve's measurement.
George Champion

I suggest checking the number of turns lock-to-lock. It is my understanding that the earlier racks had less turns than the later. Something like 2.6 vs 2.9, but do check the archives for the actual number. I purchased a new old stock rack some time ago and installed in my '66 MGB. It fit just fine, but had the higher number of turns, which felt funny when driving. So I swapped to an aftermarket rack with the correct gear ratio. That experience leads me to suspect that the shaft lengths are the same except for the V8s, at least in the USA any way.
Terrence Goodell

This thread was discussed between 11/03/2007 and 12/03/2007

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