MG MGB - Lubrication; Front wheel alignment

J
THE STEERING
GEAR
GENERAL
DESCRIPTION
The steering
gear
is
of the
direct-acting
rack-and-pinion
type,
providing
light and
accurate
control under all
conditions.
It consists
of
a
rack bar
and toothed
pinion
mounted
on
the
front
suspension
cross-member.
No adjustment
for bearing
wear
in
the
box
is
provided,
except
by
■tting of the
necessary
new
parts.
The
steering inner
column
is
attached
to
the
pinion
by
a
universal
coupling.
CAUTION—If
the vehicle is hoisted with
its
front wheels
clear of
the ground
care
should be taken
to
avoid
forceful
movement
of
the
wheels from lock
to
lock,
as
damage
may
occur
within the steering
mechanism.
LUBRICATION
(Early
cars)
Give the lubricating nipple
on
the
steering-gear
housing
up
to
10
strokes of the oil
gun,
but
no more.
On R.H.D.
cars
the nipple
is
accessible
from
above the
steering
gearbox and
on
L.H.D.
cars
from below the
car
under the radiator.
Section
J
.l
FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT
The
wheels should
toe
in
■to
335m.
(1.6
to
2.4
mm.).
See
that
the
tyres
are
in■ated
to
the
correct
pressures.
Set
the wheels
in
the straight-ahead
position.
Set
the
arms
of
a
suitable
trammel
to
the height of the hub
centre
on
the outside of the wheels.
Place the trammel
to
the
rear
of .the
wheels and adjust the
pointers
to
register
with the wheel
rims.
Chalk the
position
of the
pointers in
each wheel
rim
and
push the
car
forward
one
half-turn of the wheels. Take the front
reading
from
the
same
marks
on
the
rims.
.
A45|9CW
Fig. J
.1
The front
wheel
alignment
check
must
be
taken
with the
front
wheels
in the
straight-ahead
position. Dimension (B)
is
fay.
to■in.
(1.6
to
2.4
mm.)
greater
than
(A)
‘
1.4
If adjustment
is
necessary,
proceed
as
follows.
Slacken the
locknuts
at
the
ends of the
short tie-rods
and
the
clips
securing
the
rubber
gaiters
to
the
tie-rods.
Use
a
wrench
to rotate
each of
the
tie-rods equally
in
the
desired
direction.
These
both have right-hand
threads.
NOTE.—To
ensure
that the
steering gearbox
is
in
the
central
position and that
the
steering
geometry
is
correct,
it
is important that
the tie-rods
are
adjusted
to
exactly
equal
lengths.
This
can
be
ascertained by
measuring
the
amount
of thread
visible behind
each locknut,
which
should
be
equal.
After
adjustment
re-tighten
the
ball
joint
locknuts
and
rubber
gaiter
clips
and
ensure
that the
machined
under
sides
of the
ball
joints
are
in
the
same
plane.
Section
J .2
STEERING—WHEEL
Release the three grub
screws
and
remove
the horn-push
hub
centre.
Unscrew the steering-wheel
nut
and
mark
the
wheel hub
and column
to
ensure
replacement
in
the original
position.
Pull
off the wheel
with
a
suitable tool. When
replacing
the wheel
position it
on
the column splines
in
the
original
position
to
place the
spokes equally about
a
horizontal
datum line. Tighten the
nut to
the
torque
wrench
setting given
in
‘GENERAL DATA’.
GHN
and
GHDS
cars
1.
Remove the steering-wheel motif
assembly;
it
is
a
press-■t.
Later
type,
remove
the
horn
contact
plunger.
2. Turn
back
the lock
ring
tabs and
remove
the bolts,
lock
ring,
and
steering-wheel.
NOTE: Early
cars
only, have
lock tabs integral with the
lock
ring.
HUB
3.
Slacken
the
steering-wheel
nut
and
fit
Service
tool
18G
1181
to
the
hub
using
the special
bolts.*
Mark
the hub
and column
to
assist
correct
re-alignment
and
pull
the hub
until
it is
a
loose
■t
on
the
steering-column.
Remove
ISO
1181,
the
steering-wheel
nut
and hub.
4. When
re■tting
the hub,
position
it
on
the
column
splines
in
the
original
position.
Fit the
nut
and
tighten
to
the
torque
wrench
setting given
in
‘GENERAL
DATA’.
*LATER
TYPE
STEERING
WHEEL
USE TWO
1%
UNF,
@-
in.
threaded,
%
in. plain shank,
bolts
to
■t
service
tool 18G
l
181.
Section
J
.3
STEERING-COLUMN
Removing and replacing
Withdraw the
clamping bolt and
nut
securing
the universal
joint
to
the
inner
steering-column. Unscrew the four
set
screws
from the
direction
indicator cowling and
remove
the
indicator. Withdraw
the clamping bolts,
nuts,
and
spring
MGB. Issue8.
83910