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MG MGB Technical - steering rack oil

I have a 1975 gt and I don't know whether the steering rack needs topped up. The steering is not stiff (though the steering is heavy at low speed) The gaiters don't appear to contain oil when squeezed so I am unsure what to do. Advice would be welcome.


Rod
R E Merrall

They only need 1/3rd pint to be added after work, which once distributed you aren't really going to feel in the gaiters. In practice on old racks it all leaks out anyway, I've replaced gaiters on both mine at various time, none came out, but the innards were well coated with oil and no steering problems. Put oil back, and for several months they dripped.

MGB steering is heavy at parking speeds at the best of times, especially if you were brought up on modern power-assisted cars, worse if you have a small wheel fitted that many seem to do. Jack the front up and if you can turn the steering from lock to lock with the tip of a little finger it's fine. If not then it could be stiffness in the swivel axles as well as the rack, they need regularly greasing so it comes out of the joints, with no load on the suspension i.e. jacked up and safely supported.
paulh4

Paul is absolutely right. It is difficult to keep the oil in the rack. Despite fitting and refitting pinion oil seals mine has always dripped. When I had the rack out of the car I greased it liberally, which is how most steering racks are lubricated. No drips and so far no problems for some years now.
Mike Howlett

I squeezed 1 tube of Molybdenum disulphide into the rack 15 years and 60000km ago, plus 250 mls gear oil. Still smooth and easy to turn. Have not added any more since.
Ray Bester

Some of the new replacement racks are only intended to be greased (for life??) as the internals won't allow complete oil movement.
Some people just remove the top cover and the yoke and put grease in there, but that only lubricates the back of the rack.
To get full lubrication of the rack, pinion, top and bottom bearings AND the rack end ball joints you need Oil.
If you have a later car without a nipple or blanking plug, you can introduce oil through the top cover or with one side of the car jacked up, and large gaiter hose clip removed into the high end of the rack tube.
John Twist has a video on this.
Allan Reeling

Heavy at low speed may be a relative thing - if you don't often drive the B and are more used to modern vehicles.

Having wider wheels and tyres combined with a smaller steering wheel will give a heavier feel at low speeds. IIRC a '75 BGT as standard road wheels were 5"x14", tyres 165/80r14 and steering wheel 15.5". Remembering that has given me a headache, I'going to lie down now.
Nigel Atkins

Add to that Nigel, under-inflation (Brexit??) and different offset on replacement wheels, now I'm going for a lie down!!!
Allan Reeling

My gaiters don't leak which either means they are good or there is no oil! If I have to replenish can I loosen a gaiter and inject oil in?
R E Merrall

I thought that was what I said!!!
Allan Reeling

Alan So you did. I plead pld age/
R E Merrall

This thread was discussed between 13/10/2019 and 15/10/2019

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