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MG MG Y Type - Track rod ends

The track rod ends on my YA have a dust cover on them that the brake drum catches and rubs through. Upto now I have kept greasing them on the principal that if there is fresh grease in then no damage should occur, but they have now started to perish. I thought that a previous owner had used covers that were too wide, but looking at the details in the workshop manual it appears that they don't have a bellows type cover but what looks like two rubber domes.The only thing I can think of is that someone has fitted a non standard track rod end. Any ideas anyone?
J Foster

hello j, i had the same problem with brake drums catching on the rubber dust covers, my fix was to rotate the drum on the car while holding an angle grinder against the drums lip i now have clearance of about 2 mm to the rubber dust cover, hope this helps Graham
Graham Sharpe

Thanks Graham, that does help and I will give that a go when I have new dust covers. Do you by any chance remember the dimensions for the covers? Also do you think that they are non-original pattern track rod ends to have dust covers on them?
Regards, John
J Foster

Hi john,i bought the track rod ends from the Octagan club about 18 months ago, i would think they are pattern parts, sorry i dont have dimensions for the boots. i didnt know weather it was the drums which were made with the lip a few mm too big, graham
Graham Sharpe


Hi John
If it's any help, those fitted to my YB are Lockheed units and have a very neat "double saucer" shaped boot. See picture.
May be worth trying to source some New Old Stock units from some of the auto-jumble dealers. Remember these were fitted to several other contemporary cars.
Keith

Keith D Herkes

In Australia you can purchase "generic" rubber boots in pairs in three different sizes quite cheaply (but they only last a few years due to the Sun over here).

I can't recall the size I used & can't find the reference just now, but as Keith suggests, it's worth asking.

I would not choose to grind down the edge of the brake drums !.

I have seen quite a lot of steering arms over the years that were bent & that takes them too close to the drums/wheels - worth checking !.

Got to go now & salvage a battery box !.

Tony
A L SLATTERY

Just to update: I bought generic boots on ebay (small, pack of 4 for £5.99 post free) and they fit perfectly with approx 1/8th of an inch (showing my age) clearance. I suspect a previous owner has fitted a larger size to make life easier putting them on. Anyway, thanks for all the international advice - it is amazing how close the internet brings us all together,

John
J Foster

John
Just to help others possibly, if you got these from a "dealer" on Ebay, could you post the Ebay name, or a link if he has more for sale.
Would save trawling through the lists.
Thanks Keith
Keith D Herkes

Keith,
The contact details are:-
P.G Enterprises (Peter Goodwin)
5 Julia Crescent
Stonebroom
Derbyshire
DE55 6LS
01773872786
peter@pallets.freeserve.co.uk

Very good to deal with and received within a couple of days. Hope this is of use to someone as I was originally struggling and didn't think I could buy them without complete track rod ends. I am a (very) novice mechanic and had them fitted in a couple of hours,

John
J Foster

This thread was discussed between 29/10/2015 and 23/11/2015

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