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MG MGB Technical - steering rack

any advise on adj. backlash between the rack and pinion
trevor burnett

You can adjust it by adding or removing shims underneath the top cover plate - but always do it with both wheels off the ground and make sure it doesn't bind anywhere towards the ends. There's a spring loaded plunger under the cover which is subject to wear. I replaced my plunger and spring and found the original shims were then still exactly right.
Miles Banister

Hi Trevor

Unless it is brand new, the top of the rack will be worn at and near the straight ahead position.

Adjustment is pretty much limited to removing shims, and making sure that the rack still moves freely at at left and right full lock.

If there is more play in the steering wheel movement than you are comfortable with, removing the pinion and rotating 180 degrees and reassembling will reduce some of the free play.


Cheers
Ian F


Ian Fraser

"If there is more play in the steering wheel movement than you are comfortable with, removing the pinion and rotating 180 degrees and reassembling will reduce some of the free play."

Only in the straight-ahead position, the wear and consequent free-play will be shifted to one half a turn of the steering wheel either way.
Paul Hunt 2


"Only in the straight-ahead position, the wear and consequent free-play will be shifted to one half a turn of the steering wheel either way."

Given equal wear on the pinion and the rack, free play in the ahead position will be reduced by half, and an equal amount of free play will be introduced at a point 1/2 a turn either side of straight ahead.

At the 1/2 turn point the caster effect will be loading the rack, and the new free play will be less evident.

In my own case, there was a great improvement in straight ahead feel, with no noticable free play 1/2 turn either side.




Ian Fraser

My rack is 100K plus miles old, I removed a 1.5 thou shim about 120 years ago and it remains close to perfect. After reading some comments on here about after market racks I intend keeping it as long as possible.
Stan Best

This thread was discussed between 09/06/2006 and 11/06/2006

MG MGB Technical index

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