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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Setting toe.

I’m setting the toe in using the box of string method. Measuring from the string to the wheel face at all four corners and calculating the difference between front and rear gives 40mm which is the difference between front and and rear track so I think I’m good to go.
The problem is with the car being lowered and negative camber trunnions fitted the tie rods won’t screw far enough into the track rod ends to obtain the desired setting ( ie the tie rods are now too long).
I need to either cut the thread in the TRE 10mm deeper (there is room) or cut 10mm off the tie rods.
Does anyone know the thread size and pitch of the tie rods
Thanks


S Macfarlane

I'm not sure why you're having trouble. Mine was seriously lowered with negative camber and had a standard Minor-type rack and standard Unipart TREs.

Maybe your TREs just aren't deep enough. It might be worth checking some others for depth.

Dave O'Neill 2

It's been a while but I think I had to saw a bit of the end of the ones on my Sprite. I think the thread is 1/2 BSF on the rack bar. I preferred to shorten the tie rod rather than thread the bar but if the bar bottoms out in the rod you might need to cut a bit off it but suspect you won't need to.
Daniel

Yes. Dave is right. I’ve ordered some new tre’s. Hopefully they are threaded full depth.
Daniel. I haven’t run out of thread on the tie rods, the issue is it’s there but I can’t utilise it. You are talking about a slightly different problem.
As side note it’s not possible to cut more thread on the tie rod (not that this would solve it) because the diameter is slightly less than the threaded section. You can run the nut right off the rack end of the thread.
S Macfarlane

There are some poor made copies of tre's - or were, but I have no confidence that things are any better. A pair I bought had very over cut threads such that when properly screwed into the track rod they still flapped around axially and radially. They only tightened up when the original and accurately machined lock nut was nipped up tight. Not satisfied or confident over that, I sent them back.
Mind you, the rubber dust shield on the replacements then only lasted 6 months!
GuyW

Thread in the TRE is 5/8" x 18 UNF
Paul Walbran

Perfect. Thanks all.
S Macfarlane

This thread was discussed on 17/05/2025

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