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STEERING
Tech solutions and real world tips
Matt Tomkins WORKSHOP EDITOR
Our resident workshop puppet master, Matt has Morris Minors and A-Series engines in his blood. This month Has been fighting electrical gremlins brought on by the cold, damp weather alongside readying his Land Rover for MOT.
Theodore J Gillam ENGINEERING EXPERT
Former Motor Vehecle lecturer and classic fiddling perfectionist. Has a love of compression ignition. This month Bought a 1948 Lea-Francis 14hp 4-Light Saloon and also a derelict house in Hayling Island...
Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS
Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern and will keep it that way. This month Removed original tyres, tubes and valve cores from a 1990 Lada Riva. Must still have had original Soviet air in them!
Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER
Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of pro mechanics. He’s our resident Triumph and BMW expert. This month Fitted electronic ignition to his BSA Victor Special bike, as the old mechanical advance unit was worn out.
QWhen I drive my MGB, I'm constantly having to correct the steering. Do you think this is a fault or a charming feature?
Ed says
AClassics are often unjustly tarred with the 'vague steering' brush. They should all hold a straight line without undue effort, so we'll give some general things to check on a typical car.
Jack up one or both front wheels and place axle stands under the body. Shake each wheel with moderate to large force. Hold it at 12 and 6 o'clock to check play in trunnions or upper and lower ball joints; 3 and 9 to check steering linkages and 4 and 10 for wheel bearings. Adjust taper roller bearings until play is just eliminated - and no more. Loose taper roller bearings promote wandering, and understeer on corners. Other bearings: see torque in manual.
Hand-feel track rod end joints for play while an assistant shakes the wheel or rocks the steering. Steering rack: check the small ball joints built into the ends of the rack. Steering box: check all six steering ball joints. The track rod ends should be of equal lengths in most cases. If not, this will make free play impossible to properly adjust on steering boxes,. Still slightly rocking the steering about the straight ahead make sure the extended portion of the rack is not rising and falling. If it is, screw in the large
damping screw (with lock nut) underneath the steering pinion until play is eliminated, but the rack remains free to self-centre while driving. Steering box: gently turn the
