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Steering rack - Video

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vping

vping

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I had my son lightly move the steering wheel back & forth and this is what it sounds like. The sound is what I hear & feel while I am driving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9yRpCO6OTg

I took the top cover off of the rack and this is what I found.

tn_5-30-06-Racksuspensionbushings01.jpg

tn_5-30-06-Racksuspensionbushings00.jpg


There are a lot of shims on holding that notched piston jammy into place and there is a small copper bushing with a spring inside. Is it possible that the spring is not pushing down enough and that is why what is shown in the video is pushing back up?
Should there be oil in them there parts?

If you refer to my my last update in my Dampers post, my bushings don't look that bad. They are not mushy or dry rotted.
 
yeah... there should be oil in them thar parts... I don't know about the rack assy though. Someone else should. IIRC Doc recently rebuilt his, or tried to at least. Maybe he'll pop in with some useful info on how it should be when done right. I don't think it should be making that thumping sound though.
 
agree
 
1/3 pint of 90wt.
 
The bits all look right/correct. The "klunk" ~may~ be due to excess wear at the end bushing but it does look dry, so I'd reassemble after pouring lube in it and try it again. If the klunk is still there, check the ends of the rack inside of the joints for excess movement (in their respective bushings).
 
I found a hole in one of the boots. Am I to assume that is why the rack is dry? Filling it would be pointless then. (i'll order new boots anyway)

There are about 5 to 10 shims. Should there really be that many?

The end bushings are at the far ends of the rack near the boots right? Does that rack need to come out to perform this operation and if I need to replace the bushings how difficult is it to do?
 
You'll need to renew the boots, the bushings are at the ends of the tube, yup. If it was dry for a long time they could be worn, but I'd be surprised at that. Your car hasn't seen the amount of "duty" (by all indications) to wear out those bushings. It will be best to remove the rack from the crossmember to do the job if it turns out to be the case.
 
So I will order new boots, remove a shim or two, fill with 90W and cap it off. Then I might know more at that point.
 
Yes. You could put gearoil in it now and see if it improves somewhat. Don't take out too many of the shims as that can cause the outer (larger) "puck" to jam against the rack. The tension is from the bronze inner one. Outer is meant to be shimmed to act as a guide/slide.
 
ya know... I just remembered someone wrote up a nice little how-to on rebuilding a steering rack a little while back. I just searched the knowledge base, and it didn't seem to have made it into there. I'll search the forums to see if I can locate it.
 
HAH! Found it... this is the cleaned up version that JBird kindly edited to ease reading.

https://www.britishcarforum.com/ubbthread...amp;#Post153993

Could the above post get added to the MG Knowledge base? Or is there a different process for adding articles to the Knowledge base? Twigworker was the original poster of the how-to...
 
That's quite a mouthfull. I will have to look at it later. Too much to read as I am almost out of lunch and need to get some of this real work done for my CO.
 
I believe that's for completely rebuilding the rack if you want to go that route.
 
Not opposed to it in the least and would'nt mind doing it one day.
 
From the photos and video your rack is fine. Just needs lubed and -perhaps- a closer adjustment by removal of a shim or two. If it becomes perceptibly harder to turn the steering you need to add a shim back in there.
 
Moss has two different boots packages. One is the whole enchilada the other is individual as direct replacements and you have to buy individuall clamps. Is there any difference in the quaility or installation of either. I am away for the weekend and want to place an order with TB to maybe get it by the time I get back.
 
I ~think~ the "kits" are still Kingston's. If so, they're fine. I've replaced dozens with 'em.
 
Just might not be on hand. Mine did not get shipped with the rest of the order?
 
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