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MG TD TF 1500 - Rack & Pinion Tie rod play need your Help

Hy Guys,
Yesterday we discovered remarkable play on the right hand ball housing assembly in forward and rear direction.
There is no play up and down and well not in Rack & Pinion direction.
I have never opened this Rack & Pinion system before and I’m not sure how can I open it. I will not remove the whole Rack & Pinion assembly from the car.
Time is an issue for me. The point is, that we have scheduled a long trip through the Alps in Switzerland and Italy. Totally 1500km and we will start in two days, on Tuesday. I have no spare parts in hand and even no chance to get them in time.
Anyway, my point now is to get detailed information’s as much as I can on this ball housing; how can I remove the Tie Rod, how can I repair it. I found in the Archive a reference to Horst Schacht’s Manual and there I fund on page 52 the note:
“The excessive play can be corrected by changing the thickness of the shim between mail and female ball housing. An easier solution is to simply mill the face of the female ball housing to eliminate the excessive slack.”
Further references I have in hand are the MOSS Catalogue and a Workshop manual but the information’s given there are very poor.
Anybody here has done this repair and will share the experience with me? Any Pictures, advices, notes, remarks, helping hand is welcome.
Cheers,
Guenter


GK Guenter

I have only done this afte removing the rack. I would remove the rack. With the time constraints you mentioned. The pressure you have regarding time, etc...

Take another car. Enjoy the drive. Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Thank you Tom, very helpfull
Guenter
GK Guenter

Guenter,

Here is some information on how to rebuild a steering rack. It is based on an MGA rack, but also applies to a TD.

http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/steering/sr201.htm

Disassembling the inner ball joint is not easy, it requires special tools or, as suggested in the above tech session, using heat. I would be wary of heating these parts.



John


J Scragg

Hallo Günter,
call me under
02761 65992

Klaus
Klaus Harthof

Thank you John, for the link, good informations.
Thank you Klaus, it was a good conversation.
Cheers,
Guenter
GK Guenter

Hello,
This morning I opened the Rubber Rack Gaiter in order to examine the condition of the Ball housing assembly.
It was a surprise for me to see the Ball assembly in excellent working condition. No clearance no play, it was as it should be.
The next surprise was a remarkable clearance between the rack bar and the casting housing. I clocked this clearance with 0.4 mm(!)
The decision is clear now: I have to order a new steering rack and pinion assembly.
Cheers,
Guenter


GK Guenter

Günter,
Moss sells brand new steering racks and that might be the easiest way out for you.
http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/mg/t-type/steering-suspension/steering/mg-t-steering-racks.html
They do a 48hr delivery service and it is an outright sale and no surcharge.

Regards
Declan
D Burns

Guenter,

It may be possible to either sleeve your rack or fit a spring loaded plunger. I know this can't be done in time for your trip, but don't throw the old rack away, it is better than the reproduction parts.

John

J Scragg


You should first check to see if its the Rack or the Housing or both that is worn.
Use a Micrometer to measure the rack at several places. If worn, does the wear match up with what the Dial Indicator measures?

If it does not then the housing may need attention.

Jim B.
Jim B in NJ

It seems to me that some one had this issue. He drilled & tapped the rack housing, & installed a bolt and jam nut to push against the rack.
Len Fanelli

There already a boss ready to drill on that end of the rack. I virtually duplicated the pinion end. can't be
done on the car though. The rack comes out easy on RHD cars but I believe hard on LHD.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2015 and 11/08/2015

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