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MG TD TF 1500 - Esoteric question about the steering rack

If anyone has their steering rack apart or has spare parts lying around I need some information. Could you check the thickness of the bottom thrust washer (see attached drawing). I think mine is too thick. I have 8 shims installed and still have no free play.

Thanks
Tim
TD12524

TW Burchfield

Free play in a TD's steering? I've never had a steering rack apart, so I don't know the mechanics. I just have the impression that any freeplay would indicate a problem. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud, I think Tim means that he cannot get any end float in the pinion shaft.
Tim, are you sure that you have the thrust washers the right way around with their chamfer toward the pinion gear?
Cheers, Hugh
H.D. Pite

Hugh, you are right I'm talking about end float along the axis of the pinion shaft. I think you may have indirectly answered my question. My thrust washer has no chamfer. Guess I'll have to source one. Moss lists them as NA. Thanks for the info. BTW I found a pretty easy way to fill the rack. I removed the spring and ball from the existing grease fitting, reinserted it and pumped grease into the rack with plastic hose and a pump oil can. When I'd put a sufficient amount of oil into the rack I quickly removed the hollow grease fitting and put in a new one. Very little mess. Looks like I'll be doing it again soon.

Tim
TW Burchfield

Thanks, Hugh. I feel better now. Bud
Bud Krueger

I have purchased one of those mini grease pumps for this but have not tried it out yet.
Christopher Couper

Chris, if you remove the innards of the old grease fitting your grease pump will probably work much easier. A new grease fitting is very cheap. Remember to remove the cap from the damper pad to let air escape while filling.

Tim
TD12524
TW Burchfield

Tim when you say you'd pumped grease into the rack I guess that was a typo as you then go on to mention putting oil in the rack? Not being picky but I'm sure there are still some owners out there who aren't aware that the steering rack grease nipple is for oil. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter, you are correct.

Tim
TW Burchfield

Tim,
Once you remove the existing fitting, can't fit your plastic hose right into the fitting hole in the rack??

Steve
Steve Wincze

Steve, you possibly could but I would think the pumping pressure would push the hose out of the hole. With the fitting in place you have a pretty good friction fit. I removed the existing fitting, removed the spring and ball inside and reinstalled the fitting. I then fastened a plastic hose to the fitting and a pump oil can and pump oil into the rack. I also removed the damper cap to allow air to escape while filling. I then quickly remove the hollow grease fitting and replace it with a new one. See the attached photo.

Tim
TD12524

TW Burchfield

Gents,

Remove the grease fitting. Cut the bottom off a liquid detergent bottle. Put a plastic tube on the neck and suspend from the radiator cap. Insert the tube into the fitting hole and hold in place with a gob of plumbers putty. Pour lube into cut off bottle. Gravity will do the rest. When full the rack will, by design, drip on the floor as the differential, transmission, and engine if they are full.

Regards,

Jim haskins
J. M. Haskins

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2015 and 03/08/2015

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