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MG TD TF 1500 - Steering rack

I don't know if anybody has had this problem.
A friend was complaining about stiff steering.
Presuming it was a rack problem I disconnected the spider bolts and found the rack was free, The steering column was also free.
When I pushed the spiders together there was a gap at the top and touching at both lower arms, this remained as the shaft was turned, As soon as the bolt were tightened the stiffness returned.
I removed the rack (RHD easy peasy) and found the the rack mounting was not machined true to the pinion shaft.I made 2 thin wedges to re=align checked that the drive spiders were true to each other. The miss-alignment was forcing the pinion shaft up causing the friction.
should have said the rack was a modern replacement
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Good fix. I think your last statement says it all.
Bruce Cunha

He just thought it was normal for an old car.
I told him I have fingertip steering once rolling
26?27 psi tyres. He was quite surprised on driving mine.
Ray TF2884
Ray Lee

Good job Ray.

Trying to fix an old car is hard enough. Trying to fix one with defective parts, when you cannot really compare them to originals, is a PITA.
Christopher Couper

" Trying to fix one with defective parts," Let me tell you about replacing the u-joint in my TD yesterday ... I'll start a separate thread. Jud
J K Chapin

I think the stiff steering might have contributed to this
Ray TF 2884

Ray Lee

This thread was discussed between 01/07/2025 and 04/07/2025

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