MG steering rack

tigerguy2 · Post by **tigerguy2** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:20 am

Mal, great news on the spline fit. And yes, I will be doing some checking on my steering soon. I have a rebuilt 289 about to go in and will be giving the steering a good going over when I have the cross member off. For what its worth, my pinion shaft is a bit different in that the pinch bolt passes over a flat in the shaft rather than a groove that goes all the way around.

I do have one more thought upon seeing your latest pictures. It almosts looks like the groove for the Oxford pinion shaft is cut for a smaller size pinch bolt than the one on the Tiger 's pinion. Might want to have a close look at that and be sure there is not something unexpected there that needs to be dealt with. Best regards, Gene

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:26 am

I do have one more thought upon seeing your latest pictures. It almosts looks like the groove for the Oxford pinion shaft is cut for a smaller size pinch bolt than the one on the Tiger 's pinion. Might want to have a close look at that and be sure there is not something unexpected there that needs to be dealt with. Best regards, Gene

Gene, you are correct about the groove size, but both the Tiger and the Oxford racks have no flat spot. It is a area to be looked at more closely.
We are trying to make parts work together that have not been designed as a perfect match. It comes down to, are we doing a modification that is safe

Good luck with the 289

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:06 am

Well the Oxford racks seem only good for LHD cars. On the Oxford they are mounted behind the cross member, and the Tiger is front mounted

gtsmrt · Post by **gtsmrt** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 11:42 am

Hi Mal,

Don't worry too much if it didn't work out this time. If it wasn't someone doing a bit of trial and error, research, etc (call it what you will), we wouldn't have our current Tiger mods/upgrades. For the effort you put in, it may have saved someone from a costly mistake.

Regards, Robin.

tigerguy2 · Post by **tigerguy2** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:12 pm

Hi Mal, got your PM on this unfortunate news as well. I must say you seem to be handling it rather well. What is plan B?

Does anyone on the forum here know of or have any experience with MGServicesHeathrow? I see them on ebay selling new and reconditioned steering racks, LHD and RHD and they ship world wide. I myself may be looking for a new/rebuilt Midget rack at some point in the future.

Cheers, Gene

Tomaselli · Post by **Tomaselli** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:31 pm

Gene, when I needed my early sprite/midget rack I simply bought (mines LHD also) a new one from a Triumph/MG specialist here in the UK;

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... dexID=1184

At the time, for me, there was only secondhand junk on eBay

Quality of the unit was ok, think I remember it being manufactured in Hungary of all places but it does the job

garyv8tiger · Post by **garyv8tiger** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:26 pm

Tomaselli wrote:Quality of the unit was ok, think I remember it being manufactured in Hungary of all places but it does the job

The specialist in mansfield says the repro ones are slightly harder to fit ,

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:43 am

Tomaselli wrote:Gene, when I needed my early sprite/midget rack I simply bought (mines LHD also) a new one from a Triumph/MG specialist here in the UK;

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewP ... dexID=1184

At the time, for me, there was only secondhand junk on eBay

Quality of the unit was ok, think I remember it being manufactured in Hungary of all places but it does the job
_________________

I think it is great that Dean & Dale have made these kits available for us to improve the steering responce and ackerman angle of the Tiger.
I have been looking at steering rack manufacturers and their are two I found in the UK http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/ http://www.quaife.co.uk/
If it is becoming difficuilt to find good midget racks and we start buying aftermarket racks, then why are we not trying to get one of these guys to build us a new rack, or a quick ratio rebuild kit with the necassary improvements.
I see Quaife sell kits to upgrade the escort rack to a quick ratio and also have a heavy duty rack for the escort as well. An escort rack may measure up as a donar as well. They make racks for other cars as well.

Kiley Clinton make racks for many classic cars.

Ferrari
XK 140 / 150
Triumph
Lotus
TVR

Jaguar
Aston Martin
Jensen

Kiley - Clinton also offer rebuild service using the rack and pinion kits for
E-Type
XK 140 / 150

Kiley - Clinton can also recover badly corroded: -
Rack and pinion steering systems
Rockershafts

Our engineers use a hard chroming and grinding techniques.

Worm and nut assemblies also available for
XK120 steering box left and right hand drives

Surely someone would come to the party and do something for the Tiger. There are plenty of cars that have survived and a world wide market.
Lets face it they are getting older and the racks are getting worn. If we could up grade the ratio of our original racks, with straight arms onto MGB steering arms, would that not be good.

Whada ya think

gtsmrt · Post by **gtsmrt** » Tue Jul 19, 2011 11:26 am

Hi Mal,

I think you will find that nearly everyone will agree with more companies producing replacement or upgrade components. I for one would love to see new and improved components for cars other than Mini's and Mg's.

Regards, Robin.

alpine5gt · Post by **alpine5gt** » Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:29 pm

I have a seller with a new midget rack. They told me there are 3 types of steering racks for the midget, early, mid & late. This one is the 'middle' type rack. Is it suitable as a Tiger doner?

Mal · Post by **Mal** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 6:13 am

Dean said you need a 58 - 69 midget rack. Hope that helps.

roymck · Post by **roymck** » Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:18 am

Just to clarify the rack situation .. The midget rack for a RHD car sits in front of the suspension. This same rack is also used on a LHD morris minor as the rack is mounted on the bulkhead behind the suspension so the rack is spun over. The racks for a Later Morris 1000 are the same fitment as a Early Sprite Midget rack .

So if you are in the USA with a LHD tiger you will need a LHD Sprite Midget Rack , you will struggle out there to find a RHD morris 1000 rack that is the same .

If you are looking for a RHD rack then you can fit a RHD Sprite Midget Rack or look for a LHD Morris Minor Rack .

In the UK it is cheaper to source a RHD Sprite rack as there is a price premium on a LHD Morris 1000 rack , although its the same item

If you get it wrong then you will have fun as you will spin the steering wheel to the left and the car will turn right .

Roy