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 MGB Technical - Grease or oil in steering rack

Have replaced 90w oil in rack and pinion twice in my 77B. Each time the oil ends up leaking out the bottom even after a new gasket with gasket sealer. Is there a special way to replace this without leaks or should I be using grease instead of oil?
JCH Hibbard

I've had this problem. Once the bottom pinion housing starts leaking it seems impossible to stop it. I tried new gaskets and RTV silicon gasket sealer. But the rack should have oil in it, not grease. Anyone got a bright suggestion to stop the leak?
Mike Howlett

Thanks Mike, same here, new gasket and Permatex Form a Gasket Sealant #2 non hardening which I've used for years. Both surfaces are true and clean but....leaks.
JCH Hibbard

Could it be leaking through the srew threads? Try PTFE tape or Loctite 572.
Allan Reeling

Allan is quite right - the bottom cover securing bolts must have thread sealer on them otherwise oil in the rack will find its way out.
Miles Banister

OK makes sense hadn't thought about the threads???
JCH Hibbard

"...the bottom pinion housing starts leaking..."

I had this same problem and determined that it was being caused by a too-thin gasket. The housing was interfering with something internally before the gasket was fully engaged. I had replaced the pinion bearing and I suspect that it may be thicker than the original. Anyway solution was to fabricate my own gasket out of 1/16" cork gasket stock and it hasn't leaked since (3 years or so). As an alternative I supposed that one could double up or triple up the standard gasket for the same net effect.
G Oakes

This thread was discussed between 16/04/2011 and 19/04/2011

MG MGB Technical index

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