Needle bearings in a TC steering box

[Stan Teitge]

Does anyone have experience using needle bearings to replace the bushings between the sector shaft and the steering box on a TC. Met a fellow today who had done this but wondered what the collective wisdom was on the subject.

Cheers Stan

[Gene Gillam]

No help here, Stan...first I've heard of that being done. Seems it would cause the steering box to leak more than the bronze bushes allow though.

[Stan Teitge]

Thanks Gene. With any luck i will see him again in an all Brit. show on the Island and find out what he did. I recall he said the race guys in Calif. did it years ago but I could be wrong which is not an unusual occurrence.

Cheers Stan

[Gene Gillam]

Stan...I've heard of needle bearings being used to replace the bronze thrust washer that goes at the bottom of the king pin/axle assembly where it rides on the steering knuckle (item 26 http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProd ... der=190#26) to reduce steering effort.

I'd be interested in hearing what you find out about this.

[Stan Teitge]

Gene... I found this article on the net and needle bearings are mentioned on page 11 in Italics.
http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/Buell-TC ... 2nd-ed.pdf
The article is a good read with useful information on the TC front end. I was aware of the use of needle bearings in the king pins. Ill let you know what I find out.
There must be more TC steering questions than any other item in this forum. I wonder why.
Cheers Stan

[Duncan M]

In response to two comments prior and using the same source as above--Pg 18 http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/Buell-TC ... 2nd-ed.pdf Jim Buell mentions some people using Torrington needle bearings (NTA-1220) with stainless thrust washers in place of the bronze king pin bushings, and he points out some of the basic problems with the modification. Not to mention oversteer. He does not endorse this modification.