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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Where can I buy RHD steering rack pinion?


Hi,

I'm in the process of restoring my 69 MKIII midget and I've had no trouble finding most of the bits I need except for a steering rack pinion. Does anyone know where in the UK I can buy one from? It's the one with the small flat bit on the splines.

The rack itself is in good condition but the column has been loose on the pinion and worn the splines away.

I live in Aus so I'm just looking for a pinion as the postage on a complete rack from the UK would be too expensive.

Greg
G D Hall

If you can´t find it through the usual MG sources, Moss etc., you could look for a pinion for a LHD Morris Minor. Probably easier outside the UK or other RHD countries.

One suggestion:

http://www.morrisminor.dk/

Tore
Tore


Moss no longer stock it and everywhere else I know in the UK.

Good suggestion on a LHD Morris one. I had heard this before but wasn't sure how true it was. I found a LHD pinion in the catalogue. Part no. STR118 and 270DKK. So the price was ok too except they're not in stock.

I did a search for a Morris one in the US but didn't have any luck there either. I found this statement on a forum-

"Just to confirm that a pre 1968 Spridget Steering Rack is identical to the LHD Morris Minor - part number ACG 6010. A later verion BTA1096 was introduced for cars between 1968 and 1971 using a different pinion part number BTA1096. After this date they fitted a tRiumph Spitfire rack which required different mounting brackets; track rod ends and steering arms!"

Mine is a 69 Midget so perhaps it's not the same as a Morris?

I thought perhaps someone may have made a reproduction one.
G D Hall

This is new to me, but it seems the pinion was changed. Could be that both versions can be used, though. The Moss US catalogue could indicate this.

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29291

Both part 9 and 9a can be used for "all Sprite Midget to GAN5-114486"

I believe the Triumph rack was not used until early 1972?

Tore
Tore

Of course you can´t use the LHD Moss US parts, but I suppose the changes are the same for LHD and RHD pinions.

Tore
Tore

You could try Kiley Clinton. I don't know if they would just supply a pinion, but it's worth a try...

http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/
Dave O'Neill 2


I thought the only difference was how the coloumn was retained i.e. grrove around it or a flat. So perhaps either would do the job. Still had no luck with any RHD one or a LHD Morris.

Strange that Moss UK (and others) sell new and exchange racks but limited parts for them.

I've emailed Kiley and Clinton. Everything's worth a try. It's pointless spending money restoring it if I've got no way of steering around the first corner I come to. Perhaps since I'm on the other side of the planet they may be sympathetic and sell me just a pinion.
G D Hall

Greg
Have you tried Jim Brown in Launceston
I'd be very surprised if he couldn't help you out. Also make sure you use the correct pinch bolt, if you use one too small in diameter or if by chance it is worn it is possible for the shaft to pull off the pinion.It needs to have an unthreaded shank to fit the groove in the pinion. A bolt with thread up the shank is unsuitable as the threads can slip up the splines.
Willy

Where abouts in Tassy are you hiding
WilliamRevit

Hi Willy, I'm in Hobart. I haven't tried Jim Brown. I very rarely buy parts in Aus because more often than not they are very expensive and I've had bad experiences with suppliers also providing poor quality reproduction parts.

I buy all my parts from the UK as you know you'll get a quality part, with the good exchange rate parts are a lot cheaper (sometimes half the price) and the postage is quite reasonable. Having said that I have now also contacted an Aus supplier for the pinion.

I've had the car 17 years and it's finaly getting a birthday with a respray and restoration (for 2nd time). It probably won't be back on the road until the middle of next year.
G D Hall

Greg

I did use al Morris minor LHD rack and pinion. It was cheaper than the Austin Healey item (and the outside looked the same). The correct pinch bolt is also tougher than 8.8 steel. Don’t ask me how I know. I was lucky the splines did not disengage on a highway.

Flip



Flip Brühl 948 frog 59

I seem to remember seeing Midget rack pinions on Ebay Aus.... Have a look, you may be surprised...! And it's close to home... :-)

Mark.
M T Boldry

Flip,

You mean a RHD Minor rack, since your Sprite is LHD? As you know the Minor racks are turned "upside down" in the Spridgets.

I bought a "reconditioned" rack from a well known MG parts supplier for my ´61 Midget before I dismantled it for rebuild. After a few hundred miles it had just as much play as the old one. Now I have installed a rebuilt rack supplied by a Morris Minor specialist. It has a 2 years/20.000 miles guarantee, so I hope it is better. It was a lot cheaper, too.

Tore
Tore


Mark,

Your right there was a RHD pinion on Ebay Aus ($130)but I know the seller and last time I got a part off him it was rubbish so I wouldn't risk it again. It looked like a reproduction pinion.

I bought a 2nd gear for my gearbox off him earlier in the year. It was meant to be a high quality teflon coated reproduction and it cost $280 which was a lot more than one from England but it was meant to be really good quality. Well it was that bad it was unusable, that far undersize in the length it had a rediculous amount of slop and a considerable portion of the synchro cone wasn't there. After a grizzle he refunded my money and I bought a geniune one from England for a lot less and it was perfect. The pinion might be good but I'd rather not chance it when I know they are happy to sell parts that are not up to scratch.

I did find another seller in Aus who has a 2nd hand pinion for $145 which he says is excellent condition and a 2nd hand column meant to be very good condition for $275. I was hoping not to have to pay this much money for them but looks like my only option at this stage. A new rack (not reco) in England is under 100 pounds but the postage would be the killer.
G D Hall

GD. I'm sure the ones I've seen have been in O/E British Leyland packaging, but then I may be wrong....

I'm planning a trip back to the UK in May / June 2011 just for a couple of weeks. I'll be visiting Midget 50 and sorting some bits to bring back (I have 35+ years of accumulated Spridget parts). I'll see if I have a spare rack or two.

In the mean time, if you find yourself up on the Gold Coast, look us up... :-)

Mark.
M T Boldry

I had another look at the one on Ebay and it has tarnsihing like it may be a genuine old part. I have asked the question. If it is I'll buy it. Problem solved. It has the groove all the way around I presume this will work the same as mine with the small flat on one side?

The car is now completely stripped ready for painting and I got one more surprise. The lower wishbones are bothg slogged out where the outer pin goes through. So looks like I need 2 wishbones. I've bought a lot of parts from the UK this year getting it ready to reassemble. The challenging parts are the heavy ones as I have to source them localy.

I you have a good column or wishbones you want to sell I'd be interested.
G D Hall

The saga continues..

I contacted the Ebay seller and he tells me it's for the early midget and the one with the flat like mine is for the late 72-79 Midget. That's confused me as I'm sure mine is an original rack and it's a 69 GAN4 Midget making it an early one too.

Are the racks different internally. i.e. do you need the matching pinion? Will my steering column go onto both types of pinion?

Thanks,

Greg
G D Hall

AFAIK the columns are interchangeable.

The easy way to tell which rack you have is by the mounting brackets:-

Early rack has cast alloy brackets

Late rack has pressed steel brackets
Dave O'Neill 2

Mine has cast alloy brackets so must be the early one. I was told by an AH specialist that both types of pinion will work and the flat was put there to make sure the column goes on the correct way so the indicators cancel. Obviously a non issue so I bought the pinion off Ebay. Not sure if it is geniune or reproduction. In all my searches this was the only new one I found. A bit surprising that I couldn't find any in the UK.

I did find someone in Aus who had a new column but it wasn's cheap at $565+post. Most suppliers in Aus told me it was almost impossible to get a new one or even a good secondhand one. I've decided to buy the one I did find at $275.

This little problem is now sorted. Thanks to everybody who gave me advice. I've bought a lot of parts for my car in recent times and never before have I had so much trouble finding a part. I get the impression the coupling design wasn't that good so a lot have been replaced over the years and that's why there are no spares about.

Greg
G D Hall

GD, I carry NEW wishbones in stock...

www.classiccarclinic.com.au

Mark.
M T Boldry

Mark, thanks for letting me know but I decided to buy the wishbones from England as suppliers in Aus were charging $330 each + post for new ones with pins and I could buy the same in England for less than $90! Obviously I had post on top but that was less than $150 and I got quite a lot of other stuff sent at the same time.

Greg
G D Hall

Nice one Greg.....

Ours are British made too... :-)

Mark.
M T Boldry

This thread was discussed between 17/11/2010 and 21/11/2010

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