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MG MGB Technical - steering rack

Hi,
Could someone tell me if there is a difference in the steering racks fitted to the early RB cars and the later RB cars ?
I have a 81 GT and the steering is really light and easy to use, but on my 74 roadster , it feels a lot heavier and not as easy to park.
Both cars will self centre and both feel fine at speed, its just the difference is really noticeable when parking.

If the racks are different, can I fit the later rack to my early car ?

Many thanks for any help.
Jim
J Robinson

I believe that all RB cars had the same rack. I'd check for differences in tires, sizes and tire pressure first. More rubber contacting the pavement means harder steering effort at rest or very low speed. You could also lift the front of the cars and turn the wheel to see if there is noticeably different resistance to turning the wheels with no weight on them. If so, check to make sure that the rack is lubed, and then see if one or both of the swivel axles are binding or not lubed.
David Burke

My bet would be a bad rack. Ric
RIC LLOYD

Hi Guys,
Thanks for your help with this.
I jacked the front of the car up today and the steering spins freely from lock to lock. I did notice the slightest hint of feathering on the inside of the rhs wheel. (tracking out ?)
I then changed the wheels from front to back , and it did make a very slight difference.
It's not that the steering feels seized, it just takes a lot more effort to turn at low speed than my other car.
I seem to remember reading that there were two different racks for these cars....one with 3.0 turns lock to lock and the other with 3.5 turns.
Could anyone confirm this ?

I appreciate the help I've had so far with this
Regards
Jim


J Robinson

Hi Guys,
I may have solved the problem.
I jacked both cars up, marked the steering wheel with some tape and then turned them lock to lock.
The 74 roadster has just under 3 turns lock to lock , while the 81 GT has 3.5 turns.
This would explain the different weight to the steering between the two cars.

Sory to have to ask another question, but is this a GT only rack, or can I buy one and fit it to my roadster ?

I can't see any problem in doing this, but maybe someone will be able to give me a definate answer, before I buy a new rack.

Thanks for all help
Jim
J Robinson

Any MGB rack will fit any MGB. I'm certain there was no difference between roadster and GT, but there was a change in ratio at some point in production. I could look up Clausager to find out.
Mike Howlett

This is what Clausager says. "A steering rack with a lower ratio was introduced on 1977 models, from car number 410001 in June 1976." That's why your late model GT feels lighter than your earlier roadster.
Mike Howlett

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the info, that confirms what is in the cars at present.
I think that I'll buy a later car rack and retro fit it to the roadster, as the steering is much easier to use on the later car. Hopefully there is no difference in the coupling area on the steering shaft.


Thanks again for all your help.
JIm
J Robinson

Jim.

Before you rush out and buy a new rubber bumper rack I suggest you read the archives under; Argentinian Steering Racks. Thats where they are currently sourced from and have been far from trouble free, mainly very stiff in operation with a reluctance to self centre.
You might be better off with a second hand one from a late car and have it refurbed which is what I ended up doing.

Kevin.
Kevin Jackson

This thread was discussed between 04/05/2008 and 06/05/2008

MG MGB Technical index

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