1971 MGB GT - More issues with the steering, now hopefully fixed - see page 33

[Westbay]

27 minutes ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

Surely Peter would be able  to feel if there’s any sloppyness in the joints rather than just a smooth moving loose joint?

"I’ve had the UJ in my hand today. It’s as loose and floppy as an ..."

[sierraman]

On 16/06/2025 at 20:22, captain_70s said:

Had one of them newish LRs right up my arse on Saturday.

Two lane stretch of the M80, conga line of traffic in the left lane doing around 45/50mph about 15cm from each others' bumpers despite pissing rain and significant standing water. Me doing a mildly perilous 60/65mph in the right lane in the Dolomite.

LR flies up behind me at 90mph odd and then proceeds to flash his lights at me as if I can merge into a solid block of traffic which I'm already significantly faster than.

Over the course of 30 seconds or so he gets closer and closer until all I can see out the rear window is radiator grill.

I eventually spot a gap in traffic big enough to dive in and he does that thing where, while passing, they drift into your lane. I genuinely thought I was going to get wiped out but they swerved back into their lane and fucked off into the distance.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope I'd come across them a few miles up the road having wiped themselves out...

I take no small amount of pleasure when you read they’ve had the Range Rover took off the drive at 3am, hopefully under duress. Then a pleading post requesting everyone making it ‘too hot to handle’ despite it being half way to Tilbury Docks. 

[Peter C]

These funny looking things arrived a couple of days ago. Once I'm done fixing the MGB they could be fun in the bedroom.

I put the guides on the ends of the upper and lower steering shafts and immediately I knew that the shafts were misaligned.

I sorted the vertical misalignment by placing a washer between the steering rack and the subframe.

At first, I couldn't figure out how to adjust the horizontal misalignment. Most of the advice I found from Google searches discussed adjusting the upper column up and down but nothing about moving it left or right. 

Then I found this: Steering Column/Rack Alignment

And I figured out that adjustment can be achieved by loosening these two fixings, which secure the lower steering column bracket to the underside of the bulkhead. 

Luckily, despite the extensive corrosion, both fixings loosened just fine and enabled me to adjust the upper shaft across.

Hey presto.

I re-fixed everything and went for a test drive. 

The problem is 95% fixed. There is still slight tightness around the straight-ahead but it's very slight and the steering now self-centres ok. The remaining tightness might be down to the steering rack having just been rebuilt or perhaps some more adjustment is required. Now that I know what I am doing, I might have another go in the future.  

More soon.

 

[danthecapriman]

Nice one👍

That alignment didn’t look that far out without those pointer things, but it actually was miles out wasn’t it!

[Westbay]

"I’ve had the UJ in my hand today. It’s as loose and floppy as an ..."

 

Did you replace the UJ ?

[Peter C]

7 hours ago, Westbay said:

"I’ve had the UJ in my hand today. It’s as loose and floppy as an ..."

 

Did you replace the UJ ?

No, it’s fine, doesn’t need replacing.

[beko1987]

Hopefully that straight ahead stiffness is the tips of those new parts being nice and tight. Might sort itself out with some use?

It did look mega out before though so 🤞

[Peter C]

I haven't done much with the MGB of late and I've been away on holiday, hence the lack of recent updates.

The MGB developed an annoying squeak. I was sure it was coming from the tailgate. I adjusted the tailgate latch, removed the two struts, lubricated and re-fitted them but the squeak still persisted. I removed the spare wheel, jack, tools etc from the boot but the squeak was still there and driving me mad. Turned out the squeak was coming from a loose exhaust clamp, which just needed a little tightening to restore silence or at least as much silence as can be experienced in an MGB.

After fitting the refurbished steering rack, I had to fabricate and fit an additional shim to loosen the steering rack adjustment, which was causing the steering to bind. Whilst the steering felt fine, I was getting a fair bit of bump steer, accompanied by knocking. A bit of research revealed that too many shims will cause the rack to be out of adjustment, which increases the effects of bump steer. Yesterday, I removed the shim that I fabricated and the two shims that MGOC posted to me after I advised them of the tight steering issue, which I also fitted sometime ago. 

A brief test drive revealed that the steering was binding again. This confirmed my previous theory that the rack was incorrectly adjusted by MGOC.

Removing / replacing the shims is easy, there's no need to lift the car and the whole job can be completed within 2 minutes with just a 1/2 inch spanner.

I fitted the original shims plus the two wafer thin ones supplied by MGOC, leaving out the fabricated shim. 

Next job was easy. I can get fairly comfortable in the MGB but on longer journeys I like to rest my right knee against the door. I also like to drive with the side windows down. Unfortunately, with the window down, the winder prevented me from getting comfortable.

I removed, rotated and re-fitted the winder. Job done, all good now.

Naturally, I also changed the position of the passenger side window winder, as my OCD would not allow me to cope with having two winders in different positions.

Next issue also related to unwanted noises. The seatbelt tongue rattled around within the buckle. A bit of insulation tape wrapped around the tongue prevented further metal to metal contact.

With these minor jobs done, the MGB was ready for a trip to London.

The MGB performed faultlessly and I think that the bump steer has been reduced, although admittedly most of my route was via the M40 and the A40, not along the usual banana republic quality roads. 

More soon.

 

 

[Peter C]

On route back from visiting my parents yesterday, the MGB starting to run rough. The engine was hesitating under load and lacked power. Pulling the choke out solved the problem. With the choke back in, the engine ran rough again.

I consider myself to be a competent DIY mechanic but when it comes to diagnosing these types of running issues I always seek help.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

I also posted a similar message on an MG restoration Facebook group. Predictably, I was told to overhaul my entire ignition system, check my ignition timing, replace my air filters.... and clean out my float chambers and jets.

I decided on giving the carburettors a clean. I assumed that the carburettors would not have gone out of adjustment that quickly and that the issue was, hopefully, related to dirt.

I removed the dashtops, pistons and opened up the float chambers.

Both float chambers contained the same amount of fuel. However, the insides of the float chambers were filthy.

This is the front one.

And this is how much crud came out of the bottom of the rear carburettor.

Now, just because there was sediment in the bottom of the float chambers it doesn't mean that the same crud will find its way deeper into the carburettors and block the jets but it does demonstrate just how much filth gets into the system because I don't have a fuel filter fitted.

Note to self - fit a fuel filter.

A test drive revealed that the problem has definitely been fixed.

Small win.

More soon.

[MAF260]

I sincerely hope the photo above was taken by your passenger holding their phone on the driver's side. If you are taking photos whilst driving then I hope you get caught and face the full consequences. There is absolutely no excuse.

[Peter C]

2 hours ago, MAF260 said:

I sincerely hope the photo above was taken by your passenger holding their phone on the driver's side. If you are taking photos whilst driving then I hope you get caught and face the full consequences. There is absolutely no excuse.

My wife was sitting next to me, she took the photo.

Thank you for your concern.

[MAF260]

40 minutes ago, Peter C said:

My wife was sitting next to me, she took the photo.

Thank you for your concern.

Good to hear. Anyone who uses their phone to take photos whilst driving is an absolute cunt, IMO. My concern is borne from still suffering the consequences of a phone-using cunt a year after this happened to my partner:

 

I'm assuming she was sitting next to you and taking all of the other photos you've posted while you were driving your car.....

[Peter C]

6 minutes ago, MAF260 said:

I'm assuming she was sitting next to you and taking all of the other photos you've posted while you were driving your car.....

That’s right, my wife and I are inseparable.

[MAF260]

2 minutes ago, Peter C said:

That’s right, my wife and I are inseparable.

So, you're a bullshitter as well?

 

From your own posts:

I set off just before 8:30am. Predictably, weather conditions were completely gash.

My wife took a couple of photos from the support car.

 

and..

 

Note support car behind me, with my wife behind the wheel.

 

No room for wifey...

I managed to squeeze three large boxes in the MGB - practical car!

 

 

Stay off your phone whilst driving. If you don't then you are a cunt.

 

[Peter C]

Busted, good sleuthing.

Ok, I’m a cunt.

[Talbot]

Whilst the manner in which @MAF260 has identified this might not be to everyone's liking, the message is valid and reasonable.  Using a handheld electronic device while driving is illegal for a very good reason.  Doing so is bad enough, but to then post said photos here and lie about how they were taken is asking for trouble.

Given a recent post about pulling out on a cyclist, and now posting photos of illegal activity while driving, you might want to consider carefully how you drive.

@Peter C You're a nice guy and I don't want to see a post from you about how you've ended up in a serious vehicle accident due to your own inattention/actions.  Or worse.

[MAF260]

 

I make no apologies for my language or sentiment as this blatant, regular occurrence rather stupidly posted in an online forum was met with arrogance, disdain and zero remorse. We have suffered financially and my partner is scarred for life because of the selfish actions of another road user who, like Peter C, decided that breaking the law and using their phone at the wheel was more important than paying attention to their driving. He's admitted to doing it in bad weather and even shows his wife doing it - it's beyond comprehension! As you've noted @Talbot his own driving record appears to be stained with a lack of concentration by his own account more than once.

I really enjoy the thread on the MGB ownership, but not the action shots.

 

 

 

 

[Peter C]

In my defence, I took the photographs whilst driving significantly slower than all other traffic around me and always in the nearside lane. I had the phone in my hand for less than five seconds whilst I continued to focus on the road ahead. It’s not like I was uploading photographs live onto the forum.

I hear what you’re saying, let’s leave it at that please.

[GeorgeB]

2 hours ago, Peter C said:

My wife was sitting next to me, she took the photo.

 

Was she legless at the time?

[Peter C]

4 minutes ago, GeorgeB said:

Was she legless at the time?

We have already established that I lied.

[Wibble]

I’m quite sure there are drivers spending far longer scrolling through their touchscreen controlled cars looking for the right menu, than it took Peter to take that photo, with his eyes still on the road.

[Matty]

5 hours ago, MAF260 said:

I sincerely hope the photo above was taken by your passenger holding their phone on the driver's side. If you are taking photos whilst driving then I hope you get caught and face the full consequences. There is absolutely no excuse.

On the motorway, in the slow lane with nowt else on. I reckon he is not the anti christ. You are aware of modern cars with haptic controls which need you to be the lad from apple in order to turn the heated rear window on? Jesus 🙄

[MAF260]

28 minutes ago, Peter C said:

In my defence, I took the photographs whilst driving significantly slower than all other traffic around me and always in the nearside lane. I had the phone in my hand for less than five seconds whilst I continued to focus on the road ahead. It’s not like I was uploading photographs live onto the forum.

I hear what you’re saying, let’s leave it at that please.

See how you get on with that in front of a Police officer, judge or maybe the relative of somebody who's life you changed forever.

There is NO excuse and NO defence.

[Dyslexic Viking]

Several years ago, a couple here in Norway was caught having sex in the car while he was driving on the highway at 120 km/h.

[MAF260]

Anyone defending these actions is as much of a cunt as the perpetrator.

[Jazoli]

7 minutes ago, MAF260 said:

Anyone defending these actions is as much of a cunt as the perpetrator.

Ok you’ve said your piece, time to move on.

[Talbot]

Given the very real trauma and cost that has clearly occurred to a member here from someone illegally using a phone behind the wheel, I don't think it's unreasonable for them to be incensed at the blatant law breaking here.

If someone admitted to drink-driving, I am sure many people would have a strong opinion on the matter.  Using a phone while driving has been proven to be more dangerous.

[Homersimpson]

Gentlemen (and ladies), my brother was killed by a speeding motorist but how many people on here (me included) can say they have never broken the speed limit and never will again.  We all do things at times that we shouldn't but we learn from our errors and if no one was hurt and we try not to do it again then that's all that can be asked, to err is human, to forgive divine.

The OP has acknowledged their actions, please lets leave it at that as I'm keen to enjoy this thread going forwards. 

 

[Matty]

3 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Several years ago, a couple here in Norway was caught having sex in the car while he was driving on the highway at 120 km/h.

The mind boggles!

[Peter C]

Since getting the MGB back on the road, I've had an issue with the steering. Over certain bumps, the wheel would shake and the movement was accompanied by a hard knocking sound. I replaced the steering column bushes and the steering rack but the problem persisted. 

I was advised on a Facebook MGB group that worn front crossmember pads may be causing the problem.

Research revealed that there are eight pads, two per mount and that there is a front and rear mount on each side. Unfortunately, my research also revealed that the front mount bolts pass through the crossmember, which is mostly inaccessible.

So I bought a set of new pads.

The action took place in my garage.

My working environment was comfortable but I had to walk to my workshop (located to the side of the house) each time I needed another tool.

I started working on the driver's side. I managed to remove both mount bolts without any major issues. 

The upper pads were definitely a bit squashed.

Putting the rear mount bolt (with new pads) back on was easy.

Getting the front mount bolt back on was impossible. The small opening in the bottom of the crossmember is big enough to get two fingers in but once they're in, I found it impossible to grab hold of the bolt and push it back up into position. 

I ended up removing the spring. 

By doing so, I gained better access to the bolt via the open side of the crossmember and I had it back in without any issues. 

The spring was awkward to remove, I ended up forcing it out with a crowbar. I couldn't get the spring back in, even with the track rod disconnected, which enabled the lower wishbone to drop down further, I still couldn't get the spring back in.

I couldn't use my coil spring compressors because the bolts were too long.

I ended up cutting the bolts down with a grinder.

I managed to compress the spring with the modified coil spring compressors and get it back into position. 

Just about every nut and bolt that I had to remove was tight / reluctant to come out / go back in. Getting the spring off and back on again was a right pain.

I then tackled the passenger side mounts. I decided to replace the rear mount upper and lower pads, which were easy to do, the same as the driver's side. However, rather than removing the front mount bolt and going through the same palaver with the spring again, I cut a pad and slotted it between the crossmember and the chassis, over the existing upper pad. 

This means that I couldn't replace the lower pad but I'm not too bothered about that because the lower pads are situated inside the crossmember, where they are not exposed to oil and moisture and from what I could see of the driver's side lower pad, they don't wear anywhere as much as the upper pads. 

With everything reassembled, I went for a drive around the block. I forgot to bring my phone so no in car shot - sorry guys. The test drive was brief but despite going over various bumps, I couldn't feel any shakes and knocks. A longer test drive will reveal whether the problem has definitely been solved.

One problem potentially solved but another issue needs sorting. By fitting the additional pad on the passenger side, I have slightly altered the angle at which the crossmember is mounted to the chassis. As the steering rack is mounted to the crossmember, it has also moved, which has affected the alignment of the upper and lower steering columns. The steering now binds when driving in a straight line and doesn't fully self-centre. I need to get the guides out and re-align the columns. Now that I know what I'm doing, having already done this once before, it shouldn't be too difficult to sort out.

More soon.