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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - power steering

Not wanting to pay £1250 for a power steering kit does anyone know what rack to use ?
D.lowe

The rack used in the kit is a big secret.
I believe it's a lhd unit turned upside down from something like a new model Nissan Micra.
Maybe a trip to the local, friendly, rack reconditioner and ask what he thinks will fit might be worth a trip - and let us all know of course !
I thibnk the problem will be that even most small "economy" cars produced today are wider than the MGB. As such the steering geometry will be affected if the wrong unit is used despite it looking suitable. You need to check a "naked" i.e no gaiters rack to check the similarity to the MG item.
I was hoping to use a power steering COLUMN from a small car instead but it would seem this isn't possible as there isn't enough room under the MG dash.

Paul Humphries

I have done my research and I beleive the rack is a Peogeot 306 item.

I am using the 205 item on my conversion, which has the same centre casting, is slightly narrower toe to toe balls and has a shorter pinion.

Since these units are normally mounted on the firewall, a right-hand drive use a left, and a left-hand drive uses a right.

I have a section on my website and have been through just about all the racks available, and these seem to be the narrowist.

http://www.mgbv8.co.uk/

Having said that it is still not narrow enougth and requires off-setting 3/4 inch to get chassis rail clearance. I then centered the pinion for geometry sake and put a 3/4 restictor put on the opposite side to ballance the travel. This suited me as I would have had to reduce the lock on my wider wheels anyway.
Nick Smallwood

I can't belive it only two people out there interested in power steering and both from england I would have thought you yanks would know all about this subject!!!
D.Lowe

Hi,

Well, at least one of us Yankie Doodle Dandies is interested in power steering - me. I have a small Momo Ghibli steering wheel (13 inch) that is great to steer the car - very sensitive due to small diameter, however it is a bear when parking in tight spots. Even though the car only weighs 2000 lbs. or so (whats that? 910 kilo for the Brits and 143 stone for the guys down under?) it still makes me work up a mini sweat rasseling the little wheel (which I won't give up) I like it! I plan on installing 3.4 FI v6 with reworked 700r4 auto trans with overdrive and lock up converter with a Ford rear end, and the thought of installing power steering as well does interest me. (Going to pass on the air conditioning,power top/windows/locks.) Please let me know which rack works. Also would like to find out which 5 lug hub/rotor will fit the MGB front end as I plan on using a five lug rear axle and rear discs. Would like to be able to use the spare tire an any corner of the car. Getting older and want to park my big butt in the little roadster with the top down and stereo on and just cruise. No more slamming gears or fiddeling with timing, or SU's or valve tappets,or rear brake adjustments, Slave cylinder bleeding, clutch changes, engine removal to do same. I am done with that stuff.... just put it in OD and hit the gas. Thanks Alan
Alan

Hi Alan, MGC hubs fit straight on the B front stub axles,and are 5 stud Chevy 4 3/4 inch p.c.d.
I think Triumph 2000 calipers fit with a bit of machining.
Dave Lowe....
D.Lowe

Hi,
Thanks Dave I will do more research in that direction. The original topic of this thread was power steering and I confess to getting it off topic. In an effort to get it back on topic , I will ask this question, has anyone determined if a Volvo 200 series power steering rack is anywhere near being able to fit? I saw one of these Volvos and it looks to have quite a narrow front end. Of the racks that anyone has tried, what is the exact problem? Is it width or angle of the steering shaft or mounting angle? Alan
Alan

Guys, you absolutely have to have a rack that has the track rod swivels the same distance apart as they are on the original MGB rack. Or danged close. Otherwise, it's not "probably" -- you _will_ have bump steer problems.

I dunno, I only have a 13" steering wheel and at anything over .5 miles per hour, it's easy to steer even with pretty fat tires. I mean, it's a free country -- you can do whatever you want -- I just question the need I guess.
Ted

Hi,

The "swivels" that you are referrig to, do you mean the rods that the tie rod ends are threaded on to? If so, then there are 2 choices, if the rods are shorter they can not be used.. too much toe in, if they are too long, why not increase the amount of thread on the rod and cut off the excess length, and install the tie rod ends, adjust toe in, and drive the beast. My understanding of bump steer is that the rods from the ball end inside of the rack to the end of the tie rod end is too long, resulting in the car's wheel, after hitting a bump, jamming back through the rack and to the drivers arms. Seems to me the exact distance in space between the absolute end of one tie rod to the absolute end of the opposite one, is the critical measurement. Input?

Alan
Alan

I believe you're misunderstanding the point. If the actual rack length (not the tie rods mounted that have ball ends recessed onto cups on the rack) is greater or less than the original, the difference will induce bump steer UNLESS the rack is relocated vertically. Short or long ti rod ends are an easy fix.

Actally, you're interested in the center to center distance of the ball swivels- which MAY be significantly recessed in the rack.
Greg Fast

Yes, Greg's point is right on. However, relocating the rack vertically isn't gonna get you all the way there -- what you need is a system that sets up the tie rod ends to go through EXACTLY the same arcs that they do in the OE configuration. But note that I say "arcs", which means that even a bone-stock steering setup will have _some_ bump steer. When the suspension is bottomed out or extended, the front wheels toe in more. If the car's turning, that's going to give you bump steer.
Ted

Hi,

Thanks Greg I got the idea now. Us older folks sometimes take awhile to absorb these facts. Seriously
thanks for the clarification.


Alan
Alan

This thread was discussed between 04/03/2003 and 13/03/2003

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

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