Shims were fitted by the factory to set the alignment of the rack, both the
vertical and horizontal position of the column-end of the rack shaft.
Stress on the column-shaft bearing is the issue, not on the rack tube.
Depth of engagement of the shafts in the U-joint, which is bolted up to
fixed positions on the shafts by dint of a circumferential groove in one and
a notch in the other, is controlled by the column bolts under the dash.
Having disturbed the cross-member you may now need to fit shims even though
there weren't any there in the first place. Shim selection was done using a
pair of pointers on the end of the rack and column shafts, the objective is
to get the two points touching one another. I and others have made ersatz
pointers using wire, blu-tak etc. Early shafts had the turn signal
cancelling peg screwed into one position, hence the shaft only had one
'correct' rotational position for straight-ahead. This is set by insering
it into the U-joint in the appropriate position, then altering the position
of the wheel on the shaft as required. Later columns have a turn-signal
cancelling collar that can be twisted on the shaft, you can still assemble
column shaft to U-joint so that the wheel is 'straight' or assemble any-old
how and adjust the postion of the collar and wheel afterwards.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc" <smarc@abs.net>
To: <mgs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 6:56 AM
Subject: Seeking advice on MGB steering rack install
> Greetings all -
>
> I was hoping I could elicit some advice regarding the
> reinstallation of a steering rack in my 1973 MGB. I'm finding this to be a
> very difficult task.
>
> I had removed the entire crossmember, which was stripped down and rebuilt.
>
> As I understand it, it's important that the horizontal alignment of the
rack
> be such that there is no stress on the tube of the rack. I am having
> difficulty achieving this, as well as getting the shaft back into the
> u-joint. It seems that there is some dependency on depth of shaft
insertion
> into the u-joint that makes this thing line up. As I think about it now, I
> wonder if I need to loosen up the bolts holding the cross member to the
> frame to give myself some "wiggle room"...
>
> I am resisting the urge to wail away on it with a BFH, so I packed up my
> tools in frustration. I did find a technical note somewhere on the net
which
> mentioned something about some missing shims on the upper hole of the
mount
> brackets
> for the rack. Don't know if this affects me, but there weren't any there
> when I took it apart!
>
> Also wondering about centering of the steering wheel, as I hate it when
the
> wheel is crooked.
///
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