TC steering

[ctinker]

Hi all. I had my TC steering rebuilt about five years ago. Recently on motorways (I do try to avoid them!) it tends to wander when on concrete surface - it is OK on tarmac. It also seems more affected by camber than in recent years... Any ideas as to why this should be? Christopher Tinker

[dirk w dondorp]

TC's love to wander, as do their owners! This is the forum topic of the year BTW:-))
Could also be a tyre issue??

[ctinker]

Thanks Dirk. I am new to TABC. How do I find other comments as you say it is the topic of the year!!

[dirk w dondorp]

welcome Christopher,
you may go to resources (top yellow line) and browse through it and I am sure one of our many experts on this topic may help you on this everlasting ( with oil) theme. I am not one of them:-((
The TC is very sensitve to right tyres/pressures toe- in and whatever you can find on the steering parts of this car.
Succes!
Dirk

[ctinker]

Thanks Dirk, most helpful. Christopher

[Steve Simmons]

I've found that tire tread patterns play the biggest part in wander on grooved concrete. A different tire might feel better to you. Firestones don't seem to do it as much. Tire width also plays a part (and Firestones are wider than the original Dunlop B5). Toe in, etc plays a part as well but more in the overall stability of the car rather than specifically on following grooves in the road.

I run Dunlops and it does wander a bit on these type of surfaces, but eventually you learn that it's a normal sensation and stop trying to fight it. The car will stay in its lane and just dart a little side to side because the grooves in the concrete aren't straight. It's a bit unnerving at first but over time you get used to it and realize that it isn't dangerous. Just different than a car on modern radials.

If you want to feel real wander, drive a Model T truck at 40 MPH!

[ctinker]

Thanks for that. Maybe I'll stop worrying! But I shall certainly be checking the toe in (probably ask my mechanic down the road to do that professionally. .

[Steve Simmons]

One more thought, check the condition of the spring bushings. If they get old and sloppy, it will make the car feel less stable. Both front and rear! Also have a look at this article for best setup:

http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/Buell-TC ... 3rd-ed.pdf

[stephen stierman]

Check the toe in, 1/4" for the TC.
I increased mine to 1/2" as specified for TA, and TB and the improvement was dramatic.

[ctinker]

Very helpful. Thanks. Will ask my chap about that too.

[XPAGnut]

Could be in need of a simple adjustment. What steering box have you? The VW conversion is quite popular and results in the need for greater travel of the steering wheel. If the box is quite flat on top it is original. A variation on the original is a Tompkins kit, which makes adjustment a bit simpler; sort of like adjusting a valve lash instead of the need for (simple) removal of a shim from under (flat) top plate.

When the original is a bit out of adjustment there no longer is a sort of "notch" in the steering box that assists in straight ahead steering. Pics show original box with flat plate removed, second is a Tompkins kit that goes in place of flat plate and shims, last pic (smaller) is VW box. Then the first pic gets repeated lastly due to technical difficulties.

tomkins.jpg (16.32 KiB) Viewed 7911 times

vw.png (84.3 KiB) Viewed 7911 times

[ctinker]

I had it rebuilt a few yrs back by Mike Fisher of Walberswick UK so I think the bishop cam is OK. I am going to have the toe is checked first. Thanks for the pics. Never came across the Tompkins kit. Might ask my local supplier NTG if they recommend it!

[ctinker]

I had it rebuilt a few yrs back by Mike Fisher of Walberswick UK so I think the bishop cam is OK. I am going to have the toe is checked first. Thanks for the pics. Never came across the Tompkins kit. Might ask my local supplier NTG if they recommend it!

[XPAGnut]

The shims in an original box that generally need occasional sorting go between the housing shown, and top plate not shown above. Would not be surprising if a freshly rebuilt one simply needed a paper thin shim (one shim of any number of varied thicknesses) removed after a few hundred or a thousand miles, and after that not nearly as often.

[ctinker]

Actually there is slightly too much tightness in the box. When I go round a Roundabout I have to pull the car back to driving straight! Maybe I should add a shim and loosen it all a bit?

[stephen stierman]

If the steering wheel does not return on its own, than it is too tight, add a shim, the steering in these cars should not be stiff and heavy. Keep something in mind, almost all of these cam and peg boxes have a small degree of lost motion on center. The steering should be set up so the high point of the cam is on center, this keeps it to a minimum. But.....the car itself should maintain a fairly straight line going down the road without the driver fighting to keep it going straight. This is NOT the fault of the steering box, but rather a suspension issue, toe in, bent axle, any number of issues can affect this. Folks use the VW box and say it works wonders, the VW box has a good deal less lost motion being a recirculating ball type and drivers find it easier to keep the car in a straight line, but this doesn't mean the underlying problem has been corrected. With less lost motion it is just easier to keep it straight. When the car is set up properly a reasonably adjusted Bishop's Cam box will work pretty well also. If you set the toe to 1/4" and are not happy, try 1/2" and see what happens. Mine drives quite well, not a Miata mind you but pretty decent. When the car and the driver are about the same age, allowances must be made.

[ctinker]

Thanks and again v helpful. Yes, I am only two years younger than the TC and I have had it since I was 22 when young men still drove these vehicles!

[stephen stierman]

We are still young, but not as young as we once were............

[dirk w dondorp]

Hi Cristopher,
Told you so, there are many aspects on the TC and its steering ;-))
I beat my 1946 TC by three years ; Do feel like a fine old car with the parts gradually wearing out, but I'm not complaining!