Moss Motors, Ltd

Does anyone have information on rebushing a steering rack on a 1953 TD? I have play in mine and am trying to avoid buying a new rack (expensive)

There is a damper on the top of the rack. The spring shuold have a free lenth of1.024. Check that the plunger moves freely. Remove all the shims from the cap. NOW the fun starts. With the frount wheels off the ground reinstall the cap by hand or light wrench pressure untill the rack bar is "just locked". with feeler gauges measure the gap left and add .051 to this. That is what the repair manual suggests. It also said that you can adjust this by .030 eather way. this could be what you need to do. All of the ruber was shot in my steering rod dampeners when I got mine. Good luck.

After reading your reply to backlog I decieded to check my damber adjustment on a '51. With all the shims out and the cap screwed all the way down I was still able to move the rack bar. I assume when you say "just locked" you mean the bar can not be moved. Is that correct? Also, what rubber parts are you refereferring to? The only rubber parts I see are the two rubber boots. The small cup under my cap between the spring and the rack bar has a grove worn in it. I will either replace the cup if available or place a shim under the spring.It appears the previous owner lubricated the assembly with grease and not 90# gear lube as required. Before making any adjustments with the damper I will checkthe lower pinion bearing for wear.

Yes, just locked would be right when it stops moving freely. Now I would use the center hub of the steering wheel not the ring to check this. That groove will make a big difference when the adjustment is in thousants. How was the spring lenth? The rubber I referd to is in the rod from the fire wall ( steering wheel) to the rack, part #24 281-368 which come as a set.the damper pad( small cup) is 262-190 and looks available.

Thank you for the very helpful information.

No one seems to have asked which end of the rack is loose. If its got play in the passenger side end, there is indeed a bushing which is responsible.

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon

Morrnin' Bill, You got me I did fail to ask that. You also got me looking for that bushing now. Is this one that has to be fitted from a universal part or did I miss it in the part listing? Are you refering to the ball seat? It does stand to reason that there would be a bushing on the long end of the case.

Toadster,

Yeah, and I got myself thinking too. There is nothing shown for the long end in the catalog. I haven't pulled one apart to see, but I think maybe the rack gear just rides in the machined housing. If this is so, and you wear it (the housing) down, the only solution would perhaps be to have it bored and fitted with a bush which would then be honed to size. I see there are rack gear and pinion shaft sets available, for almost $800.00!, but no housings.

Folks, keep your boots in shape and you rack lubricated! (w/90W)

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Motorbill
From Lola to Land Rover, If it's British and has wheels, it's likely I've bloodied me knuckles thereupon