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MG MGB Technical - Power Steering MGB

As my age and gut grow, I'm fairly forced into a 13 inch steer wheel on the 1974.5- Plus mgb roadsters. The rack and pinion is resistant on slow turns now with the sticky tires and stock camber, and I have considered the recommended camber wedges, and longer wishbone arms, and am currently "trying out" the kingpin roller needles with the kingpin rebuild.
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I see the MGOC offering the power steer unit, and the testimonials. What are board member's opinion? Anyone have one in action? Sounds like it has gotta be a tight, awkward fit though. Also, I just gave a glance, but there appears to be an electric as well as the pulley driven type. What's going price, degree of difficulty on install, and is the UK sole vendor location? Cheers, Vic
vem myers

Hi Vic,

I've tried one of the MGOC's power steering kits for MGBs. There are two types:

a. For 1800cc MGBs there is an electro-hydraulic system. It uses an electrically driven hydraulic pump to power an ex-Peugeot 306 power steering rack. In the UK, we have to use a LHD rack because the MGB's steering rack is behind the car's axle. On a Peugeot 306, the rack is in front of the axle and hence the right rack for an MGB is a LHD 306 rack turned over!

b. For V8 MGBs the MGOC suggests using a belt driven hydraulic pump and, I think, the same steering rack.

When I tried the car, at MGOC head office, it seemed to work very well. I tried one of the electro-hydraulic setups on the open road and a belt-driven hydraulic setup on a V8 roadster around their yard - the caer wasn't finished. A friend has fitted o belt-driven system to his factory V8 car and has been very pleased with it.

I don't think it was very difficult to install.

I think that the MGOC is the sole vendor.

Hope this helps

Regards

Peter
P L Hills

Peter- Thanx much for the good info, This sounds like a real "maybe" on my wishlist. I'm curious if there are boneyard Peugot 306's in the USofA for a DIY attempt. Peter- what was the cost of your friend's electro-pump? Can you describe your test drive? Were there notorious "flats" in the assist? How would you rate turn effort at stand still? If I may just nose a bit further. Thankyou, Vic
vem myers

Vic,

I think you would require a RHD Peugeot 306 rack, unless, of course, you are driving an ex-UK car with RHD. My thoughts are that a dead RHD Peugeot would be very rare in the USofA! It may be that a Citroen ZX uses the same rack. They certainly have chassis commonality to a certain extent. However, whether there are any more of these in the US, I don't know.

My friend bought a complete package from the MGOC. I think the cost was about £1000 - which would be about US$2000 at the moment - which would make this an expensive item to put on your wish list.

There semed to be no downsides to this mod - except for the cost! It really was like driving any modern car with power steering. I didn't notice any real difference between the electrically-pumped system and the belt-pumped system.

I suspect that your real problem would be sourcing a RHD power rack. If you'd like me to investigate a UK source and price for a RDH rack - maybe £150 for a service exchange rack in the UK plus breaker's yard old rack and shipping, perhaps £200 altogether - please contact me off line.

For more information, I suggest you email Roger Parker at the MGOC. He is a source of very good information.

Regards

Peter
P L Hills

Vem,

You might want to try a new crossmember from Fast Cars, Inc. The reduction in steering effort is amazing, and the handling is improved just as amazingly. I believe the cost would be less, and I know installation would be easier. Just disconnect the steering shaft and brake lines, unbolt the old crossmember (four bolts), bolt in the new one, reconnect the steering and brakes, and you're done. An easy Saturday afternoon job, and you've also removed about 80 pounds from the front end.

Check them out at http://www.fastcarsinc.com
Dan Masters

This thread was discussed between 16/05/2007 and 17/05/2007

MG MGB Technical index

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