MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Rack & Pinion Rebuild/Service

Having never taken a R&P apart I don't want to do something stupid. Since my car has been sitting for the last 40 years I have to assume it should be re-sealed at the bare minimum. Is this a simple task that can be done with typical shop tools? Or would I be better off trying to find a rebuild service?

For what is worth the rubber boots were full of oil. Left side especially.

Is there anything I should look for that may indicate trouble?

RHD

Dan
DHN Nordstrom

Question is does it need rebuilding. Does it move back and forth smoothly?.

If it was full of oil, the PO did it correct, the TD uses oil in the steering gear. A lot of us found grease in ours as there is a zirk fitting on the front that the novice (or lube shop) would feel is for grease but it is not for grease it is for oil that is introduced with a oil gun with a zirk fitting on it.

If the unit was oiled properly (sounds like it was, but perhaps overfilled) the damper is about the only part that is designed to wear and may need replacing.
Bruce Cunha

Bruce,
It does move smoothly.

So it's normal for the boots to be full of oil?
DHN Nordstrom

Yes, the boots should have some oil in them. That is why it is important to make sure the clamps are tight and the boots are not cracked.
John Quilter (TD8986)

Great.

Thank you both.
DHN Nordstrom

Don't make my mistake and overfill the gaiters with oil. As the steering wheel is turned one gaiter compresses and the other expands. The one that is being compressed pushes some oil back into the rack housing but not all of it so you need to leave some room. I had seen a picture somewhere where the clamp around the rack housing had been slackened and the spout of a pressure oil can fitted under the rubber to fill the gaiter. I use a full can of oil and the first time I turned the steering the bellows split. I now realise why grease shouldn't be used - it wouldn't flow into the rack housing. There is a bright side to the saga though. I was able to use the ruputured bellows to make a rubber seal for the bottom of the steering column where it passes through the floor boards.


Jan T
J Targosz

This thread was discussed on 17/12/2014

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.