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MG TD TF 1500 - Steering 'binding'

I've had the 54 TF for 12 years. Rebuilt a lot of mechanicals from shocks to speedo. So I'm familiar with her.

Been driving weekly for short trips (too hot out). All was normal and I parked the car. Yesterday (5 days later) I backed out of the garage and the steering is way too "tight"? Pretty much one day fine next day awful.
Similar to power steering on family car going out. Nearly that hard to turn wheels.

Has this happened to others? What can go wrong almost overnight?

Thanks

Peter

Peter Dahlquist

I would Jack it up and give it a try.

If my tire pressure is low it is harder to turn at slow speed.

Peter
P G Gilvarry

I guess in this order:
1) Flat tyre, failing that...
2) Jack up, as Peter suggests. Is problem still there moving road wheels side to side. Yes?.....
3) Undo track end on one side. Is kingpin free to move on that side? No.
4) Repeat on other side.
5) Have kingpins been greased recently - might be a gradual deterioration that becomes noticeable
6) Odds on rack will be OK, but check that whilst doing above

I've come across this a couple of times. Once with a Morris Marina (called it something else in States - one features in The Drowning Pool being driven by a young Melanie Griffiths) and that was a seized kingpin. The other time was in my MGB after I'd replaced the track rod ends by counting the same number of threads in as the old ones out. I got tracking miles out and had to get it adjusted professionally, but steering was appalling in meantime.
Peter Allen

Checked the oil in the steering rack lately?
JK Mazgaj

Get some oil (not grease) into the rack. If that improves it then plan for a clean out of the old grease. Remove the grease nipple to get the oil in.
M Magilton

Thanks all. Will be a bit of time before I can get the little beast up on stands to fool with stuff.
Peter Dahlquist

Bunch of info in the archives. And Univ Motors excellent youtube video. Hope to be able to clean the rack inplace.
Peter Dahlquist

Low on oil, fixed the problem. I do remember having problems many years ago getting hypoid oil into the rack. Did not know how much went in (if any). The orifice is just way too small. I remove the fitting and adapter, a few good squirts of WD40, drained, added a fair amount of hypoid oil.
Peter Dahlquist

This thread was discussed between 24/08/2020 and 29/08/2020

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