Re: Steering Ball Joints

[Mark Jablonski]

I am currently rebuilding the front end on my TC and am having
difficulty getting a new ball and seats for the steering box end of
the drag link. The balls and seats that I have bought are smaller
than my originals so the seats don't locate properly in the spring
and
at the inner end. There is also a danger that the ball could be
pulled out of the ball joint via the opening in the housing.

I've spoken to my supplier (someone who's been around MG's for a long
time) and he doesn't recollect ever having seen the larger size of
ball. However, both of my TC's have this size. It seems that the
whole ball joint on my cars is larger in diameter than the other
three
ball joints, whereas (according to my supplier) the norm is ball
joints about the same size on all four joints. The larger ball
joints
also have steel seats with bronze inserts whereas the smaller ones
just have polished surfaces in the all-steel seat.

The dimensions of my ball joint components are:

Ball diameter - 7/8"
External plug diameter - 15/16"
Seat OD - 7/8" the layout is roughly proportional to the smaller seat
but with a bronze insert in the bearing surface
Spring OD - 13/16"

The new balls are - 11/16" diameter - about the same as the other
ball
joints.

My question is: are the larger balls and seats available anywhere
and,
if so where?

The other mystery is - were two sizes of ball joint fitted to the the
steering box end of the drag link or were replacements made in a
different size at some time?

Thanks in advance.

Mark Jablonski
TC6022 & TC4820

[Mark Jablonski]

I guess my query got lost amongst the debate over "hood stitching" so
I'll re-post it:

I am currently rebuilding the front end on my TC and am having
difficulty getting a new ball and seats for the steering box end of
the drag link. The balls and seats that I have bought are smaller
than my originals so the seats don't locate properly in the spring
and
at the inner end. There is also a danger that the ball could be
pulled out of the ball joint via the opening in the housing.

I've spoken to my supplier (someone who's been around MG's for a long
time) and he doesn't recollect ever having seen the larger size of
ball. However, both of my TC's have this size. It seems that the
whole ball joint on my cars is larger in diameter than the other
three
ball joints, whereas (according to my supplier) the norm is ball
joints about the same size on all four joints. The whole ball joint
housing is larger at the steering box end. The larger ball joints
also have steel seats with bronze inserts whereas the smaller ones
just have polished surfaces in the all-steel seat.

The dimensions of my ball joint components are:

Ball diameter - 7/8"
External plug diameter - 15/16"
Seat OD - 7/8" the layout is roughly proportional to the smaller seat
but with a bronze insert in the bearing surface
Spring OD - 13/16"

The new balls are - 11/16" diameter - about the same as the other
ball
joints.

My question is: are the larger balls and seats available anywhere
and,
if so where?

The other mystery is - were two sizes of ball joint fitted to the the
steering box end of the drag link or were replacements made in a
different size at some time?

Mark Jablonski
TC6022 & TC4820

[Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd]

Mike,

I think that the main purpose of the spring is to remove backlash
from the system. In those days they did not care about steering
wheel shocks! Turning back 1 slot from tight is correct. I have tried
a second slot back and everything feels sloppy and loose.
The thread is quite coarse and apart from the sloppiness another
slot would make me nervous. I don't want to hit a pot hole and have
a ball joint jump apart!

Viv

[Viv James TraX Interconnect (Pty.) Ltd]

Yes Harry as now advised by several members, I refered to my
owner's manual and sure enough, both the assembly order and actual
case of the steering box end joint were wrong and have been for the
last 5 years until it burst open on hard left luck under plenty of power.
Fortunately there was lots of space and the speed was slow...........
I also admit to having assembled it myself 5 years ago.

I fully agree there is no need to change anything from original - all I
must do is put it back to original like you say! Hopefully I can pick up
the correct ball joint at Silverstone.

[Geoff Broad]

Good evening MGers  I have fitted a VW steering box to TC 6996 as part of the rebuild but I left the ball joints alone as they looked OK.  With the wheels on a concrete garage floor I get a lot of steering wheel movement before the wheels start to turn. This happens far less on the road when it steers pretty well.  Am I just compressing the ball joint springs trying to turn the wheels on the garage floor or should I have replaced the ball joints?  Thanks and regardsGeoffTC6996  A warm and sunny Suffolk ( for a change)  

[Ian Linton]

Attachments :

1. [url=file:///C:\Users\Steve\AppData\Local\PG Offline 4\Attachments\\3373BE5C993B4F5CB1A30295B378DE24.png]3373BE5C993B4F5CB1A30295B378DE24.png[/url]

Hello Geoff,  I fitted VW steering to my TA 10 years ago. It took awhile to iron out play in the system. I found the following:The VW steering box adjusting nut was too loose. It needs to be adjusted so there is almost zero play at the centre while the wheels are jacked off the ground. I found good instructions for the VW camping vehicle to assist with this.The clamp bolt for the drop arm was not fully tight. I now take extra care of this.Whether you have standard BC or the VW conversion you can reduce the end play of the rod ends slightly by either using internal circular nuts with two slots at 90 degrees (rather than the single slot version) or drill an extra pair of holes in the outer threaded casing for the split pin to achieve the same result.If you turn the ball joints 90 degrees you will offer fresh curved faces to the matching cups.  Once you have sorted these things out, including of course new king pins, the steering should be fine. I have been very pleased with my conversion even though there are twice as many turns lock to lock. I did however fit a new 15.5 steering wheel from John Kimble which not only makes this easier but also makes getting in and out of the car a little easier.  Kind regards,
Ian Linton TA3120Lewes, East Sussex, England  From: mg-tabc-noreply@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 16 June 2019 21:21
To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [mg-tabc] Steering Ball Joints    Good evening MGers I have fitted a VW steering box to TC 6996 as part of the rebuild but I left the ball joints alone as they looked OK. With the wheels on a concrete garage floor I get a lot of steering wheel movement before the wheels start to turn. This happens far less on the road when it steers pretty well. Am I just compressing the ball joint springs trying to turn the wheels on the garage floor or should I have replaced the ball joints? Thanks and regardsGeoffTC6996 A warm and sunny Suffolk ( for a change)