MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Steering self centreing

Hi All.
Should MGAs steering self centre ? A friend drove my Coupe this weekend and commented on the stiffness of steering and lack of self centering. It's not something I was aware of.What should I be checking and could tyre pressures be a factor? What tyre pressures for radial tyres? Many thanks for any help.
s page

Firstly what is he compering to, other MGAs he has driven, or a modern car with PAS, To check your steering for stiffness, jack up the car so both front wheels are off the ground, disconnect both track rod ends that way you can check the movement of each stub axle separately for stiffness and compere them against each other, if they are both free that leaves the steering U/J to check,and finally the rack, the only other part is the column, but as you say check the tyre pressures first, if you have got a problem my money is on a stub axle or both, or the column U/J
Andy Tilney

All our steering geometry is set up with a "castor angle", which has the effect of centring the steering. If your car wants to stay "on lock" there is more than likely a fair amount of friction in the mechanism. Look for seized TRE's or Kingpins as the most likely.
Allan Reeling

I find that the A has not as much self centering force as others, but it has enough. And yes, I've done the mechanical checking. Tyre pressures and lube the trunnions are the key.
Art Pearse

Everything seems free with the car up on stands. It might just have been not like a modern. Any thoughts on tire pressures. I have radial 165 Firestones.
s page

Weight off the suspension may not show up stiffness if the problem is caused by the thrust bearings. Also check the tracking. This not only affects tyre wear, it affects cornering geometry because it changes Ackerman too.
Allan Reeling


The inbuilt Caster Angle-[its non adajustable on our cars ] makes the front wheels self centre. Like on a traymobile/supermarket trolley.
The angles need to be very similar, on both sides.
Have an experienced wheel aligner --using modern lazer equipment--check & record all of your car's angles and toe-in.
It may have suffered accident damage earlier.
These front suspensions like frequent greasing.
My Coupe' has Electric Power Steering--it self centres nicely.
I.W. Cowen.

Thanks for all your help. All greased and running smoothly. All good.
s page

This thread was discussed between 16/04/2018 and 20/04/2018

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGA BBS now