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MG MGB Technical - Too much oil in rack?

How do I know how much oil to put into my steering rack? I just finished replacing the rack boots and the oil was empty. I added oil and notice it seems a little bit tight to be turning into Corners. Pulls a U-turn without any issues, but wonder if there's too much oil. If so how do I get some out?
TRH Hammond

TRHJ,

It will leak! Believe me.


Jim Haskins
J M Haskins

Listen for the gurgle, I use any oil gun to add oil thru the small end of the baiter (bellows)

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/steering/sr114.htm
Mike Ellsmore

I do have gurgling when I turn from side to side. So I guess I must be ok.
TRH Hammond

It should have 7oz. of oil in the rack.
Steven Rechter

1/3rd Imperial pint (0.4 US pt, 0.2 litre) in the rack, initially turn rack from lock to lock to distribute it. Too much, or turned too quickly when first filled from one end only, can burst a gaiter. If it's audibly gurgling then you could well have too much.

And yes, it will probably all leak out anyway. After some years of ownership of two cars I had to change one gaiter on each. The innards on both were wet with oil but none ran out. This could have been because of the damaged gaiters but there were no external signs of oil. I refilled with the new gaiters, and both cars promptly started dripping and did so for several weeks. I believe replacement racks from some sources are grease-filled.
paulh4

I think most of the replacement racks come greased. At one time in the dim and distant past the racks were fitted with a grease nipple and squirting 6 pumps of a grease gun filled with gear oil was a service item. I fit all my racks with a nipple for this purpose. When I'm "topping up" the rack I also oil the king pins and trunnions. The oil penetrates better, but I then follow up with grease which is better at keeping water out.
Allan Reeling

All the aftermarket racks are made in Argentina and come packed with grease. The early Bs had a fitting on the top of the rack. The owner's manual stated to apply several strokes of an oil gun, to this fitting, at regular servicing intervals. It was eliminated in the mid '60s when it was deemed redundant. .9 pts. 90W oil is recommended for all factory racks. Only the aftermarket racks should have grease installed as their inner workings are different. RAY
rjm RAY

" .9 pts. 90W oil is recommended for all factory racks."

Where did you see that? My WSM says "1/3rd pint (i.e. Imperial) .19 Litre, .39 US pint". 0.9 even of US pints would be way overfilled, more than double.
paulh4

Paul, you are correct once again. I was thinking of the oil cooler, for some reason. My '67 B's owner's manual also says .39 US pints for the rack. Mea Culpa. RAY
rjm RAY

Ray,
Only the aftermarket racks should have grease installed as their inner workings are different"
What's different?
Rack and pinion, pressure pad and two ball joints!
Allan Reeling

Allan, the aftermarket racks don't incorporate the interconnecting channels that allow the rack oil to move from side to side as the steering wheel is turned. This system allows the oil to move back and forth, for lubrication purposes. The grease filled racks have no such provision since they are permanently lubricated at the factory. RAY
rjm RAY

Ray, why does having these channels prevent the original style steering racks from being filled with grease like the new units. It would be alot less messy! I thought the reason oil was used is that it keeps flooding the contact surfaces between the rack and pinion gears whereas grease would eventually be displaced leaving a dry contact area?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

...also similar with the lubricating of the ball joints each end of the rack.
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

Despite many attempts I have been completely unable to stop the oil leaking out of my rack, so I have thoroughly greased mine. That was about 3 years and 10,000 miles ago. Let's see how long it lasts.;-)
Mike Howlett

Since a rack where the oil drains out and has only been refilled once in at least 100k is still working perfectly well, you could be waiting a long time :o)
paulh4

Mike, grease is too thick to be forced through these small channels which were designed for oil to pass through each time that the steering wheel was turned from one side to the other. The rack, in my '67 B, is the original unit and I've only replaced the boots once. It doesn't leak any oil whatsoever. RAY
rjm RAY

It doesn't leak through the boots, but from the pinion housing. No amount of new seals has ever stopped it, and it keeps leaking until it is empty. I reckoned grease was better than nothing, which is what it has had in it most of the last twenty years. It was the only part of my car that dripped - but no longer. The car is now a paragon of cleanliness, leaving no marks on my drive. And if the rack wears out, well I'll deal with that when (and if) it happens.
Mike Howlett

"grease is too thick to be forced through these small channels"

That's as maybe, but the grease doesn't have to be moved from one side to the other like a quantity of oil injected in one place has to. Therefore the presence of channels in old racks - especially if new grease-filled racks don't even have the channels - doesn't preclude the use of grease in originally oil-filled racks.
paulh4

Paul, no it doesn't, but oil that is moving about, is a much better lubricant than grease which tends to stay in one place. It's the nature of the beast. RAY
rjm RAY

Can I sum up "with original racks oil is best, but if you don't want the hassle of leaks and topping up grease is okay"?
Mike
Mike Ellsmore

I can live with that. RAY
rjm RAY

This thread was discussed between 22/05/2016 and 28/05/2016

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