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MG MGF Technical - TF steering rack in F?

Just for interest i read on one of the bbs' that someone had changed the rack in the F for the Tighter TF one, but can't remember who? was it Rob?
Any ideas if this makes much of a difference (good/bad)?
and how much it would be (approx) inc fitting? it sounds like a non DIY job to me!

If it's good this can join my pending upgrades list.
so far on the list
Leather interior.
C/R gearbox (+ lsd?)
Kingsley

T'was I, Kingsley! ;o)

The TF rack is superb - it seems to have erradicated the slack in the mechanism, so that, in addition to the slight increase in speed, you have a more 'meaty' feel through the steering wheel, more communication, and the percieved stability on the motorway is dramatically improved.

In short,it is a highly recommended mod.

Getting the parts at the moment is tricky, thanks to those well documented problems with Cat logistics, plus there is the additional problem that a number of TF parts still have no official part number. This rack came courtesy of MG Sport and Racing. Can't recall the exact price - but in the same ball park IIRC as an ITG Maxogen airfilter kit.

Fitting is 'easy when you know how' (and you have access to a ball-joint splitter) - and I confess that I didn't do it myself. I took pictures; these should appear in a magazine available near you soon ;o) You are probably looking at 1, maybe 2 hours labour, tops, if you ask a garage to perform the work.

Highly recommended. 9/10 :o))

BTW Mike mentioned that there is a Metro quick rack available for 140 quid - no idea about compatibility. Maybe Mike will cost this up for potential use in the MGF/TF?
Rob Bell

Cheers Rob,
Looks like it's on the list ;)
I'll give Mike a ring when he's back.
Kingsley

Hi Kingsley

I took Robs car around the carpark in France and have to say that it felt really precise and not at all vague like the original F rack. It's well worth the swap.

That's the thing I had about these MGF meets ... I just don't have enough birthdays to get the stuff I NEED.

Stefan
Stefan Gibney

LOL, nice one Steff. :-)

SF
Scarlet Fever


Hi Rob,
indeed very interesting with the swap for the TF -rack. Did You notice if the steering force got any lighter when both front wheels were off the ground with the new rack ? IMO on cars with old original EPAS there is a rather big "braking effort" somewhere in the system that makes a lot of resistance even with no load on the wheels with ignition off...At least compared to any other make of car that is jacked up in the same position. (Hope these lines makes sense, a bit hard to express it all !)

Regards , Carl.
Carl

I haven't tried that TBQH Carl. The next time I have the car on axle stands, I'll try it. Mind you, the low speed weight is higher with the TF rack, so I doubt that the 'stiction'(sic) that you describe is going to be palpably less than the original rack.
Rob Bell

This thread was discussed between 06/06/2002 and 09/06/2002

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.