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MG TD TF 1500 - Steering Gear

My machine is a 1954 TF. I have a vibration/pulsation in the steering wheel when turning right. Left is no problem. The faster I go the more noticable. I don't believe that it's in the (wire) wheel bearings. I've rotated the tires. No help.

Jacked up the front end and put it on jackstands. When I rotate the wheels, lock to lock, by pulling the tires back and forth - not using the steering wheel, I feel a very distinct rumble thru the arch. By the way, I bought the car fully restored and I tend to think (hope) that typical defects were attended to.

Question 1. Any ideas on the vibration/pulsation when turning hard right?

Question 2. Is a distinct rumble in the steering gear normal?

Question 3. Are the problems likely to be related?
John Flanagan

John - Your damper may need to be adjusted. Take the cover off and remove the thinnest shim under it and see if that helps. While you are at it, check that there is sufficient 90W hypoid oil in the housing, it also acts as a damper (I know, there are those that say you can/should use grease, but the manual calls for oil and I believe that there are significant reasons to stick with it - e-mail me if you are interested in the reasons). The rumbling you hear when running the rack from lock to lock by pulling on the wheels is normal, you are running the rack back and forth across the pinion gear much faster than normal when you are doing that. Finally, I don't believe that the two conditions are related. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

John:

When you turn right, the body weight and much of the turning stress is on the LEFT side. Turning left reverses this load and 'unloads' the left side.

Therefore, you should also check for play or looseness in the parts on the left side. First check to see if all the bolts and nuts are tight: Shock, swivel link bolts, pan bolts, lower fulcrum pin bolts, etc.

You also need to very carefully check for any play between the left side trunions and swivel pin. This is hard to detect with out dissasembling as the weight of the car and front spring puts tension on these parts with the car sitting on the ground. Jack the car up under the spring pan and try wiggling where the swivel pin enters the swivel link. You may actually have to use a pry bar of some sort to see if there's too much slack. There should be none. If you think there is ANY or aren't sure, disassemble the swivel links and pins and visually inspect the condition of the acme (square section) threads in the trunion and on the swivel pin. Also check the condition of the thrust washers used between the distance tube of the swivel link and the shock or lower A arm, the distance tube, and the bushes in the swivel link. Without frequent and proper lubrication by PO's these can wear quite badly. The links and pins a quite expensive to replace, and may have been "passed" because of the cost.

Check the condition of every thing else while you're mucking about down there.
Blake J.

Hello. I totally agree with the above, except grease is just fine! It really sounds like a tire/wheel problem. Could the hub be so worn that the wheel is wobbling under load? Perhaps have someone driving in front of or beside you to visually check for wobble/vibration. How did you rotate- f-r,or side to side? Definitely give the entire front end a good looking over- check for cracked/loose shock arms, bent/damaged parts, etc. I have driven T-cars with really worn/clapped out front ends that did not vibrate. Get to the bottom of it, as there could be a real saftey issue here!
GeorgeButz

This thread was discussed on 20/04/2000

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