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MG TD TF 1500 - Steering issue

Hi,now this is a puzling issue. My 1954 1250cc TF steering has become extremely stiff in the last 10 days. Prior to that it seemed fine. The car has always been well maintained. I have disconnected the track rod ends and the king pins are as free as they should be. This leaves the rack and pinnion box but what can be wrong with such a reliable unit. The stiffness is very even from lock to lock with no nasty noises or play apparent.

I removed the cap from the base of the steering box and the pinion as far as I could see looks fine with no traces of foreign bodies present.

Any help will be really appreciated.

Peter
p derbyshire

Have you been checking for FLUID leaks from the rack???
STEVE
Steve Wincze

Peter, has the rack ever had grease put in it? If so, it could be congealed and needs to be cleaned out and put the proper oil in it. Just sayin. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Thanks Steve and Paul. You make good points as I have tried to fill the rack with oil in the past and never succeeded in injecting any using a grease gun. I am now going to remove the gaitors and see if I can see inside at whats been going on.

Will advise what I find.

Peter

p derbyshire

Gaitors removed and rack looks in perfect condition. Converted a grease gun to pump oil and injected some but I don't see any improvment.

Have now run out of ideas !

Any further tipe appreciated.

Peter
p derbyshire

Just release the clip on the rod end of the gaiter and fill with an oil can spout.
If the stiffness continues then slack off the damper assembly and check again. If this fixes it then adjust as per WSM.
Not being silly but is the stiffness there when jacked up, if not then tyre pressures?.They are very sensitive to pressure, I run at 25psi on radials.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Did you try to put oil in through the hole when the fitting has been removed ?? It can be squirted in using a neoprene hose the fits in the threadd hole in the rack, and over the nipple of the plastic squeze bottle of oil,,

Steve
Steve Wincze

Peter - Try loosening the damper cap about one turn (or remove it completely) and see if that frees things up. If it does, you need a couple more shims under the cap. Cheers - Dave (PS. I know that it is counter intuitive that the damper could seize up instead of loosing over time, but it sounds like we are getting desperate at this point).
D W DuBois

Thankyou for the additional tips. The damper cap I guess is the one that site above the pinion. I did try to loosen it but access is difficult and it wouldn't budge. I need to have another go.

And yes I have the wheels and track rod ends off and the car is on my ramp which helps a lot.

Peter
p derbyshire

Peter, I agree with the damper theory as everything else has been checked. If the rack has been dry in the top section where the damper has run dry, it may have galled the smooth surfaces and created a high friction area. If that's the case, a good dose of 90 weight should overcome it. Don't know where else to go. Baffled. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Hi all, today the steering was definitely easier and just about acceptable I think. Ive ordered new gaitor boots from Moss and will reassemble next week.

As a comparison I can turn the steering wheel fairly easily with one finger. without the track rods connected. Does this sound reasonable ?

Peter
p derbyshire

Hi Peter,
That sounds just about right.
The oil must have soaked through and diluted the grease. When the boots are on it will get even better as the oil is sloshed about
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Ray was quite right. The old hard grease has been dissolved ,cleaned out as best as possible and the box filled with 90 grade oil by inserting a thin plastic tube under the gaitors. New gaitors and track rod end nuts fitted and all is now back to normal. I hope my experience may help others.

Thanks again to everyone.

Peter
p derbyshire

This thread was discussed between 24/04/2015 and 28/04/2015

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