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MG TD TF 1500 - OT - MGA Steering Arm Needs a Home

Long story, but I have a brand new ATB4186 right side steering arm for early MGA 1500 that I'd love to find a new home for. Asking $20. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud,

I think that also fits TF's and (maybe) late TD's

Don H/
Don Harmer

I'd heard that, Don. But, as I recall, it didn't.
BTW, it's on hold. Bud
Bud Krueger

It's no longer on hold.
Don, it was a long time ago but I think the issue that caused me to not use the ATB4186 was that it had a different thread. Bud

Bud Krueger

Bud Can I purchase this please?
Rod Brayshaw

Certainly, Rod. If you'll send me your mailing information I'll try to get an idea of the shipping cost. I think there is a method using an envelope that makes it quite reasonable. My email is as shown above. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud I sent an email but it came back undeliverable.

Try me at mgcarco at clear.net.nz

delete the spaces and add @
Rod Brayshaw

Odd, but so is the ethernet. I've sent an email to you. Let's see what happens. Bud
Bud Krueger

Got Email, but my reply to it has just bounced back. You need to clear my email from your spam blocker at your IPS
Rod Brayshaw

Just tried again. Bud
Bud Krueger

Bud, my left side steering arm just broke, looks like the melt for the original casting did not melt all the ingredients, could actually see a nail head and shaft in the break. Still it lasted 60+ years and let go when I was working on the car not on the road.

All that to get to this question, am I right in reading your thread that I can use MGA steering arms as long as I don't mind different threads and use the MGA nut?

This would be good as I am very Leary of the repaired arm and was considering converting to MGB front end as the TD steering arms are not available.

Thanks for your help and advice.

Norm
Norm Peacey

Norm, the answer is, "I don't know". I, and others, have heard that the early MGA steering arms will fit in late TDs and TFs. The thread is different. I'm sure that there is a guru somewhere out there who knows the answer. Bud
Bud Krueger

The answer is the MGA steering arms are straight at the taper, where the TD TF are angled.

IF you fit MGA arms you will have a different steering arm to ball joint position that will induce bump steer quite abit, almost by 1/2" (how do I know)

the car will not be safe to drive like that.

Warning, MGB will also create bump steer. Its critical the ball joint mounting position is identical to the TD TF or bump steer results.

A MGA owner fitted a MGB stub axles and steering arms to his car, he brought it to me to test drive as he was not confident to push it, the car was all over the road untill he heated the MGB steering arms and bent them to match the MGA height. Heating is not a solution I would undertake but 3 years on the car is still on the road.
Rod Brayshaw

Rod, interesting and informative. What is am considering is described here, http://www.mgexp.com/article/mgtd-front-disc-brake-modification.html, from what I can gather numerous conversions have been done with out issue.
Is this what you worked on?
Norm Peacey

Norm, I cannot get the link to work
Rod Brayshaw

Nor can I. The old 'Error 404 File not found'. Bud
Bud Krueger

I found it at:

www.mgexp.com/article/mgtd-front-disc-brake-modification.html

Which looks the same to me

Use the above on Error use the search in MG Experience to find it
Don Harmer

I think I see it, Don. If you look carefully at the copy/pasted URL you see that there is a comma (or period) at the end. This makes the URL invalid. It's a not uncommon occurrence. BTDT.

BTW, the steering arm is on its way to NZ. Bud
Bud Krueger

My apologies folks, the cut and paste did pick up an errant comma, I am not techie enough to understand why.
Anyway, are there any opinions on the MGB conversion now that you figured out how to view it? I have been able to get a complete B front end assembly and an complete early 3.90 rear end.
I was going to refurbish everything over the winter for a spring install using MGA 1600 wheels and OEM spec radials (car currently has bias ply tires).
I do not want to spend the time and money on this change if a simpler method is available.
If I use the MGA steering arms and heat and bend them, do they then need to be annealed to restore hardness?
Each question answer seems to create 2 or 3 new questions.
Thanks for everyone's help.
Norm
Norm Peacey

This thread was discussed between 23/09/2014 and 26/09/2014

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