Question
MG Midget
QUESTION: I have replaced both out Tie Rods, It appears that the previous Tie Rod where not aligned correctly has one side D/S was showing 12 threads on the inner Tie rod and 8 threads on the L/S what is the correct way to align after removing the old Tie rods??
ANSWER: Hi Daryl. Before you do anything else, make sure that you can remove the steering wheel. If you adjust the tie rods so that the number of turns is about equal, then you will find that the steering wheel needs to be re-aligned with the straight-ahead position. If you cannot remove the steering wheel, then you may not be able to do the job. Be careful, the rubber bumper Midget has a safety collapsible steering column, so you must not hit the centre of the steering column with anything, or else it will collapse.
When you say that the Drivers Side tie rod was showing 12 threads and the Left Side was only showing 8, I presume you were counting the threads that were visible on the inner tie rods before you removed the old tie rod ball joints? The threads on the inner tie rods may not be identical in length, and the new tie rod ball joints may not be identical in length.
The correct method is to remove both tie rod ball joints, counting the number of turns required to remove them, then put both new joints back on by the same number of turns. (e.g. If one is fitted 8 turns and the other 12 turns, then fit the new ones with 10 turns each).
After fitting new tie rod ball joints, you must then get the tracking adjusted so that the front wheels have the correct amount of toe-in, and finally you should re-align the steering wheel if necessary.
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Front end Midget
QUESTION: Barrie I am counting the visible threads on the inner, but before proceeding removal of the outer Tie Rod the R/H 8 threads wheel appeared to have a visible toe in compared to the L/H 12 threads. If I go off the L/H wheel as being straight and the steering wheel centered the R/H wheel seems to be out?? You really notice it when you turn the wheels one or another. I will count the threads on both inner's and see if they match? Also what type of puller is required for steering removal.
AnswerHi Daryl. You cannot assume that the track rods are identical. One may have more thread on it compared with the other. Also, replacement track rod ball joints are never identical unless they come from the same batch. Maybe one of them has been changed in the past. The only way to get it right is to make sure that both the new ones are fitted with the same number of turns.
Sounds to me that the Left Hand one has been fitted correctly, but the Right Hand one has been put on too many turns. If one wheel looks right when the steering wheel is centred but the other one is visibly out, then you may not need to re-align the steering wheel, you may just need to adjust one track rod end.
As a rough check, when the wheels are pointing straight ahead, put a tape measure across from the front inside edge of one wheel, under the car, to the other wheel. If the tape has a locking mechanism, lock it. Now check the distance from the rear inside edge, under the car to the other wheel. It should be roughly the same distance, maybe a little wider at the rear. The toe-in specification for a Midget is between zero and 3.2 mm. Anything outside these limits will make the steering feel very strange, and your front tyres will wear very quickly.
If the steering wheel ends up just a little bit off centre, you can correct it by lengthening one track rod and shortening the other by the same amount, but no more than one turn of the rods.
I will see if I can find a diagram of a steering wheel puller. I presume yours is the later type - all plastic with 4 spokes.
