David:
The parts Ed has are rack shims, the shims are designed with tabs so
that they can be installed from the side easily. There may have been
two types of shims, a long one across both bolt holes to raise the rack
on the mounts, and then the 90 degree ones which are stacked over a
single bolt hole to twist the rack on it's mounts. I don't recall
seeing the former, but I've got a crossmember here with a number of the
90 degree ones fitted.
Correct alignment is going to improve response and cut down wear, but if
you were able to get the universal joint to fit and there is no binding
it must be pretty close.
Kelvin.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-mgs@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-mgs@autox.team.net] On
Behalf Of David Councill
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 1:51 PM
To: MG List
Subject: steering rack alignment
Has anyone done the alignment of the steering rack as mentioned in the
manual (Bentley)? I moved my column and rack from my 71BGT to my 72B
and
it seemed like there were a couple of shims that fit between the rack
and
front cross member. But I didn't try to align it - I just bolted it in.
Now
I'm thinking of going back and doing the alignment by the book except I
don't have the dial indicator (really just looks like caps on the rack
and
column ends). The shims are another problem. I can't seem to see that
anyone sells them. Ed of Just Brits is working on a lead but the picture
he
sent me did not look right - the shim appeared to look more like a 90
degree bracket. But checking Bentley, it also shows what looks like a 90
degree bended bracket for a shim. I don't ever recall seeing these shims
on
my 71BGT or my 72B, where in both cases I removed the rack from the car.
The one or two shims I saw were flat, seemed to line up right on the
cross
member bracket.
Is this something I really don't need to worry about? Or is there anyone
who has "been there and done that"?
David Councill
67 BGT
72 B
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