Steering woes

[Steve Plath]

I'll try to explain my problem, but first let me tell what happened. While out on a drive yesterday I was toodling along at a good clip everything running smooth. Got back to my house and started up my drive in first gear (it's steep) when suddenly no steering! I could spin the wheel lock to lock with no reaction. Scared the you know what out of me, but fortunately I was traveling at about 4 mph at the time. Looking under the car I discovered the drag link had separated from the drop arm coming out of the steering box. The drag link end assembly had popped away from the ball. While figuring out how to get all this back together and make sure it doesn't happen again I studied the exploded view in the Moss Motors catalogue and discovered a difference from what I found in my car. Just as a note I have an original steering box. In my car the ball at the end of my drop arm is pointing down and the drag link end assembly was connected to the ball from underneath the drop arm. In the Moss view this ball is on the upper side of the drop arm and the drag link assembly attaches from the top. Makes sense as it won't drop off on a jolt like mine did. The problem is when I try to reverse the ball and connect from the top the drag link is too high and hits the oil pan thus preventing a right turn. I'm now nervous about reconnecting the way it was as it may separate again and at speed that would be disasterous. Any ideas? Steve Plath TC5731

[Larry & Marilyn]

Hi Steve I have just been through this drag link end problem (although mine did not fall off). I received excellent advise from the members. Look at the thread 'Steering' beginning 7/12 and the thread 'Drag Link End' beginning 7/22. The drop arm end of the drag link is mounted below the drop arm. The Moss illustration is confusing. I suspect you do not have the correct end assembly, If you have the proper right end assembly on the drag link it will not fall out. It is different than the left end assembly and the end assemblies on the track road. My right hand end assembly was incorrect; it was the same as the right hand track rod end. The correct end will not drop out even if it becomes very loose because the slot is too narrow. Also, some of the internal parts on the correct end are different and they are assembled in a different order. I would say good luck but I think you have already had you share for this month. Larry TC 4703

[Charles Hill]

Larry, I suspect that your diagnosis is correct. My TC was set up incorrectly when I bought it 10 years ago. I probably wouldn't have known the difference if I didn't already have experience working on a TC steering. Both MOSS and Abingdon Spares attempted to provide the wrong parts. Who knows how many TCs have their steering gear set up incorrectly. I hope noone is hurt as a consequence. Regards, Charles Hill Larry & Marilyn wrote:

>Hi Steve > >I have just been through this drag link end problem (although mine did not >fall off). I received excellent advise from the members. Look at the >thread 'Steering' beginning 7/12 and the thread 'Drag Link End' beginning >7/22. > >The drop arm end of the drag link is mounted below the drop arm. The Moss >illustration is confusing. I suspect you do not have the correct end >assembly, > >If you have the proper right end assembly on the drag link it will not fall >out. It is different than the left end assembly and the end assemblies on >the track road. My right hand end assembly was incorrect; it was the same >as the right hand track rod end. > >The correct end will not drop out even if it becomes very loose because the >slot is too narrow. Also, some of the internal parts on the correct end are >different and they are assembled in a different order. > >I would say good luck but I think you have already had you share for this >month. > >Larry >TC 4703 > > > > > > >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > >

[Steve Plath]

Larry, I guess I should read more of these threads, but until it hits home it doesn't seem to stick in my little head. Thanks for the advice and I have just ordered a new drag link end assembly. Don't want to take any chances. Steve Plath TC5731

----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry & Marilyn" 48mgtc@shasta.com> To: "mg tc group" mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com>; "Steve Plath" splath@comcast.net> Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 8:44 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Steering woes > Hi Steve > > I have just been through this drag link end problem (although mine did not > fall off). I received excellent advise from the members. Look at the > thread 'Steering' beginning 7/12 and the thread 'Drag Link End' beginning > 7/22. > > The drop arm end of the drag link is mounted below the drop arm. The Moss > illustration is confusing. I suspect you do not have the correct end > assembly, > > If you have the proper right end assembly on the drag link it will not > fall > out. It is different than the left end assembly and the end assemblies on > the track road. My right hand end assembly was incorrect; it was the same > as the right hand track rod end. > > The correct end will not drop out even if it becomes very loose because > the > slot is too narrow. Also, some of the internal parts on the correct end > are > different and they are assembled in a different order. > > I would say good luck but I think you have already had you share for this > month. > > Larry > TC 4703 > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[ian thomson]

Steve. I would guess that your drag link is bent. I am sure that someone will be able to send you an accurate picture of one which you could compare with yours. Ian Thomson Steve Plath splath@comcast.net> wrote: I'll try to explain my problem, but first let me tell what happened. While out on a drive yesterday I was toodling along at a good clip everything running smooth. Got back to my house and started up my drive in first gear (it's steep) when suddenly no steering! I could spin the wheel lock to lock with no reaction. Scared the you know what out of me, but fortunately I was traveling at about 4 mph at the time. Looking under the car I discovered the drag link had separated from the drop arm coming out of the steering box. The drag link end assembly had popped away from the ball. While figuring out how to get all this back together and make sure it doesn't happen again I studied the exploded view in the Moss Motors catalogue and discovered a difference from what I found in my car. Just as a note I have an original steering box. In my car the ball at the end of my drop arm is pointing down and the drag link end assembly was connected to the ball from underneath the drop arm. In the Moss view this ball is on the upper side of the drop arm and the drag link assembly attaches from the top. Makes sense as it won't drop off on a jolt like mine did. The problem is when I try to reverse the ball and connect from the top the drag link is too high and hits the oil pan thus preventing a right turn. I'm now nervous about reconnecting the way it was as it may separate again and at speed that would be disasterous. Any ideas? Steve Plath TC5731 Yahoo! Groups Links --------------------------------- How much free photo storage do you get? Store your holiday snaps for FREE with Yahoo! Photos. Get Yahoo! Photos [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[fnitz]

Be sure to read Buell's excellent article on TC front end alignment and assembly from the TABC site. I can send it to you if you would like. Fred TC1353 -----Original Message----- From: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Larry & Marilyn Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 9:45 PM To: mg tc group; Steve Plath Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Steering woes Hi Steve I have just been through this drag link end problem (although mine did not fall off). I received excellent advise from the members. Look at the thread 'Steering' beginning 7/12 and the thread 'Drag Link End' beginning 7/22. The drop arm end of the drag link is mounted below the drop arm. The Moss illustration is confusing. I suspect you do not have the correct end assembly, If you have the proper right end assembly on the drag link it will not fall out. It is different than the left end assembly and the end assemblies on the track road. My right hand end assembly was incorrect; it was the same as the right hand track rod end. The correct end will not drop out even if it becomes very loose because the slot is too narrow. Also, some of the internal parts on the correct end are different and they are assembled in a different order. I would say good luck but I think you have already had you share for this month. Larry TC 4703 Yahoo! Groups Links