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MG MGB Technical - Steering Rack Alignment - 76 MGB

I have a 76 MBG in which I just replaced the entire front suspension with a new Brit-Tek kit. (Rebuilt king pin assemblies, springs, everything) My steering still feels stiff, yet not as bad as before. I think the Steering Rack needs alignment. I have read my shop manual, but the way it is explained is rather confusing. Does anyone out there have a simple yet effective way to align the steering rack? HELP!
Dan

I just taped a plastic degree wheel to the steering wheel and counted the degrees from lock to lock (tie rods disconected) and set it to exactly 1/2 way from one extreme , hooked up the tie rods and set the toe in - works like a charm now .

I also followed the advice of an expert here and uses synthetic engine oil in my rack , car has nice night steering to boot
previously it would get stiff when the car has hot .

-Nate
NSH

Alignment relates to how the rack shaft lines up with the steering shaft and is controlled by shims between rack and cross-member. What did the steering feel like before you reconnected the rack to the axles? Take the U-joint off, is the steering still stiff? Maybe the rack damper shims have been fiddled about with in order to hide wear. The rack is supposed to be lubricated with EP90 oil. If it needs lighter oil to cure stiffness it is probably hiding some other problem.
Paul Hunt

Paul

Thanks for the info. I have never loosened the bolts holding the lower rack assembly, nor the ones at the u-joint. The only bolts I have ever loosened are the 3 under the dash area that hold up the column (did this to remove the dash during restoration). There does'nt seem to be much to adjust up there, only a little left and right movement. I looked at the picture in the shop manual. It shows 2 bushings that appear to be part of the steering column. Could that be the culprit? Do these get cruddy, and can they be cleaned and re-lubed, or are they sealed? Thanks a lot for your imput!
Dan

I'm rebuilding a chrome bumper roadster and using rubber bumper steering / suspension as doing a v8 roadster. I got a recon rack which when i put on has stiff at a certain point in the steering. I took the rack off and the rack had the stifness in it, the motor factors have since supplied another two and both have been worse, (one was very stiff on most of the rotation.
Ian Sanders

From what you say the steering was even stiffer before you rebuilt the front suspension - so if the rack is out of alignment then it must have been so before your work. But the problem right now is that you don't know where the stiffness is!
What I'd suggest is that you disconnect both steering arms and see if both hubs swing easily on the king pins. If they do, and you still have stiffness at the wheel, then you know it isn't in your recent work.
Then disconnect the universal joint in the steering column and test again at the wheel. If it isn't stiff then your problem is with the rack - if it is then it's in the column.
Paul's point about the rack damper shims is very good. Before trying any of the above simply loosen the damper plate and see if the stiffness eases - if it does then the damper is shimmed too tight.
I think your '76 US spec steering column will be different from my '73 UK spec one, but out of interest I re-bushed my column last year and it felt just a little too tight for almost 2k miles afterwards.
Miles Banister

Miles

Thanks a million! You gave me some great troubleshooting ideas. I will try what you said this weekend, At least now I have something to work with.
Hats off to the UK guys, you helped me out once again!

Dan

This thread was discussed between 08/04/2002 and 14/04/2002

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