Great stuff here all! Lorne, smashing in depth analysis and history and again I find myself accepting the fact that The Morgan front end will always have its issues, it's old design yet an independent suspension system! AND FLAWED yet that's why we bought the trad isn't it. We love the old fashioned feel it gives us and as Lorne says again, a well serviced and correct system cannot be bettered very much yet it really can empty your wallet and the service element is still needed on your updated mod, or another unnecessary wallet emptying experience comes along. So come on all you who seek the best here...... learn about the function of the standard system and learn how to look after it yourself. Again I remind you of H.F.S.'s mantra when he designed his cars. An owner can look after this himself with a jack and a few simple tools and up until 2019, oh yes! 110 years we have been able to do that!
Richard is again so right in the requirements of the steering rack. The spring loaded nylon damper function being correct is vital as this holds a tension between the rack movement and the outer tube assembly. this prevents a too light a steering allowing kick back through the steering wheel and even a rattle or judder at the same. It is purely a friction device and not an adjuster to achieve a closer mesh between the pinion gear and rack.
I believe it should have a service protocol, probably best undertaken when a gaiter needs replacing. So many trads have steering issues directly related to just this one element, so as Richard suggests, read these previous threads that he has indicated. Some you find have mistakenly made an adjustment to this damper by tightening the adjuster, viewing it in totally the wrong way and making their steering even worse. Now here's the biggy! If through the nylon element jamming and the oh so regular find of lack of lubrication within the rack you get some wear at the keyed face of the nylon plunger the rack inner rod can start to rotate as steering direction constantly changes in normal driving. This then relies on the track rod inner attachment followers to apply pressure to the outer tube edges of the slot as the rack element tries to rotate within the outer tube wearing that slot and eventually you will hear a clicking or even a banging as the followers can move up and down in the slot. Not a desirable outcome as a rack here has a large price tag. you can re machine the slot and add larger followers but you will probably need a machine shop to do this for you! This of course for the non hands on of us only applies to cars with rack and pinion steering not steering boxes. I am a bit of a loner when it comes to my Morgan, but through local club association it should be possible to get the hands on to help the don't knows and create a closer relationship for more with their cars. I'm afraid this will have to happen as yes, even the garages can't provide the knowhow to the same level as they used to.
