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MG MGB Technical - Steering Gearbox lubrication

Seeking advice on how to lube the steering gear box in a 66 mgb roadster. The owners manual says there is a zerk fitting on the cast housing portion which attaches to the steering shaft that terminates at the the universal joint. The manual also specifies a 90 weight gear oil and a timeline for lubrication, as it does for other lube maintenence chores.

On examination of the steering gear box (housing) I can find no zerk fitting nowhere! ( excuse the improper use of the English language) So, What's up here? Any ideas? I suppose one could remove the two bolts on the top, gasket, shims, spring amd felt piece and do the lube. Rather not do that if possible and if I am missing something here.

Thanks for any info/

Jim Hanks
Jim Hanks

No, there's nothing wrong with your vision - or your car, either.

The factory (or the steering rack sub-supplier) decided to delete the steering rack zerk fitting.

Remove the steering rack gear housing top cover (two screws), and pour (or pump) the oil in. With
any luck, you'll find no driveway leaks afterwards. If so, then remove the boots to drain the remaining
gear oil - and then use a high-temp bearing grease.
Daniel Wong

I've found that trying to get oil into the housing as Daniel describes to be a near impossibility. Oil poured there just stays there. The only luck I've had is making sure everything is as oily as I can get it when the rack is disassembled (after a thorough cleaning, of course), and then filling the rack boots once everything was back on the car.
Adam Birnbaum

You need to remove the damper after removing the top cover to get oil into the rack housing. I use a magnet to pull it out. Only problem is how much oil to add. A dry steering rack requires .4 US pint to fill. A trigger type oiler is the best way to fill it. Look at page 100 on the Moss catalog for details of the damper, remove all parts down to 10 and it's easy to get oil into the rack. For some photos of stering rack parts see my Yahoo Photos at;http://photos.yahoo.com/flash1929
Click on the steering rack album.

I recently disassembled a rack from a rubber bumper car that was packed with grease, I understand the new replacement racks use grease. The rack I disassembled had enough wear in the rack bushing to cause a clunk. I discovered the rack bushing didn't have any grease in it. I would advise anyone buying a new rack to remove the right side boot (US cars) and pack some grease around the rack and try working it into the bushing, doing that will increas the life of your new steering rack assembly.

Good luck, Clifton
Clifton Gordon

I have been using synthetic engine oil in my MK I rack , I use the pump oiler and it works a treat . won't rot the boots either .

If you have patience , the oil goes right in after you remove only the cover and shims

-Nate
Nate

This thread was discussed between 20/04/2003 and 21/04/2003

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