Steering Rack play

1968 MGB GT
I am experiencing some play in the steering rack.
Before I remove and strip it, what are the likely causes?
Is this likely to be wear in the pinion bearing or the rack housing bushes?
Any advice on removal and stripping?

Remove one of the shims to tighten up the damper pad and see if that helps. Start with the thinnest one first.

You might check the condition of the pad while you're at it.

Andy, here is an excellent video from John Twist that shows an adjustment to the rack that probably rarely gets addressed. I noticed the rack in the GT had a lot of play and couldn't figure it out until I ran across this video.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Universitymotorsltd#p/search/1/zQt-u-frkJs

Hi Andy,
Yes to above posts. But before you tear into your rack, make certain that is where the play (lost movement) is.
Make sure to check the flex coupling (u-joint) and the pinch bolt/spline on each sde of the joint. Also the collapsable column (think thats fitted on your car year) and don't forget a loose steering wheel nut/splines can cause freeplay.

Cheers and good luck Ric

... and tie rod ends.

x2

Yep te rod ends x3, plus inner te rod ends

Cheers Ric

ALL of the above. On any car that has not seen a replacement of the steering rack or other steering parts since new, the opportunity for accumulated wear and tear in ALL of its moving parts can add up to a fair amount of play in total, much of which can be addressed by readjusting the various parts, just as in John Twist's video that Wray pointed out.

BTW, Andy, check out the other videos John Twist has put on the internet, they are like having your own expert MG mechanic on your computer screen.

Thanks, guys.
Excellent advice and the John Twist video is really good!

http://www.jackscars.net/steering_rack.html

Jack

Do you know the history of your rack ?

I ask because I had some play in what was supposedly a new rack on my recently acquired roadster and when I took the plate off to check and possibly adjust the shims I noticed that it had some sort of grease in it instead of EP90 oil. I poured half a liter or so of EP90 in and then with the plate and all it's shims back in place it was perfect.

I shall need to remove it at some time for a proper clean out and re-oil but for it definitely cured the problem.

I've heard here somewhere that replacement racks are coming out of Argentina I think with grease instead of oil.