Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Rack and Pinion

Hello all, I'm after opinions/experience/advise following mot failure of steering rack, on my 2003 Plus8 (Jack Knight) which on removal and inspection has cracked underneath, and appears terminal.
Firstly, has anyone converted to the Classic car developments power steering set up, and has a spare rack for sale?!
Secondly, is the rack tube repairable/serviceable (Quaife/MMC) economically?
Thirdly, does the power steering conversion detract from the Trad experience, or transform it for later, less agile, years?
Lastly, is the Wolf Performance 2.9 turn lock to lock mod. a viable option for light competition/mainly road use?

I have the electric power steering on my 2014 Roadster from MMC before they fell out with the supplier & copied it. It works just fine.
The UK agent who was very helpful when I had a problem that was related to MMC's wiring is:-

Mr Mike Waters
�

Address
EZ Power Steering UK

The Moorings. 33 Teignmouth Road, Teignmouth, Devon.

TQ14 8UR

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E-mail �ezpowersteeringuk@aol.com
Telephone �Mike Waters . (0044) - 01626862804
Mobile �07967 439596

I like it but Cooperman who has the later MMC copy system has an on / off switch. It really helps at low speeds.

Thanks John for the input.
It looks as though your system utilises the existing rack and pinion; PAS is certainly something I may consider for my own comfort at a later date.
At circa £2400, the Classic Car Developments hydraulic solution supplies a new rack, which is initially what I am after, because mine broke! The question is whether it is better to invest now in hydraulic PAS, forfeiting the car's originality but perhaps future proofing it's driveability as I age, or replace like for like as near as dash-it (The Quaife rack is the only option now), and have the option later of EPAS, or full hydraulic conversion and retain the "new" original as spares.
Recent personal circumstances have taken a big swipe out of my savings, hence "fishing" for a spare rack languishing on the shelf of any other HPAS converts. With MMC monopoly over the Quaife rack, it's fair to say new won't be cheap, and given the business is driven to supplying new CX cars rather than supporting older models/parts, it may be better to consider a modified unit by e.g Wolf Performance, and pay the mark-up that way in the hope that a smaller specialist will have put more into QC and their own reputation!

I can't help on the rack availability , it is just not a spare that is in my cache.

The only advice I can give is about the ratio. If you want to drive the car on the track at all, then the quicker the steering ratio the better, my old +4 had the long drop arm from the steering box which gave about 2.7 turns lock to lock. Yes it will be heavier at parking speeds (but nothing like as heavy as the old cars were before the advent of steering bearings and r & p) BUT so much better once moving. Therefore I would recommend going down the Wolf Performance route with Cain.

It could be worth a call to Terry Foxon re potential parts to repair / replace what you have.

https://geeltd.co.uk/gee/

Maybe worth giving BHM a call too for best advise.

Try calling Classic Car Dev and ask what they do with the removed redundant racks, as I doubt most owners would want the old one back ?

The MMC PAS uses a motor attached to the column to give assistance, so retains the original rack (so no use to you) and the racks are badly matched and far too slow for EPAS anyway, the later system has no speed sensitivity - hence my on / off selector

Thanks for your responses everyone. That's good advice Andy. and may be my top option.
Thanks Paul, Terry is my goto 'dealer' in these parts and I'll be there first thing tomorrow.
Rich, BHM 'sold' me the car, and if Keith was still on hand they'd be my hotline- I must get down and see them when I'm next in Kent.
Jon, that's also a worthy call, even if just to find out what does happen to them; not that I imagine it's a high turnover for them?
I'll keep you posted. hopefully I won't be directionless for too long! At least the MOT was all good otherwise.

I can only comment on the EPAS. It does not detract from the trad driving experience, but of course it detracts from the trad's originality, if that really is worth retaining. The +8 is front heavy, with rather fat tyres - and consequently with heavy and rather sluggish steering, as is (was) my Roadster, altough less so. Installing EPAS was a revelation, I have not regretted it one single day. The biggest benefit is spirited driving or long journeys on ordinary country roads - which is what I mostly do. Even before installing I always got along when parking, although heavy - just kept the car in motion. And on highways the unassisted steering was ok anyway, due to the speed. But on country roads I unexpectedly felt the real advantage Much safer, easy to adjust the car's position on the road, much more precise, far quicker reaction to unexpected ocurrences. A lot less exhausting, I can easily go several hundred km without getting exeedingly tired. Highly recommendable in my opinion, and not only for the elderly.... It comes at a price, though. As for originality, of course I would not put an PAS in a Bentley Blower, but really - the Morgan is no classic car. At least my 2004 is not - it has the look of a classic but is rather modern (at least engine, front brakes and gearbox, suspension and chassis is another matter) under the skin. So I do not consider another modernisation - as the PAS - sacrilegeous.

Thanks all. To update, I have sourced a second hand rack from Terry Foxen at G.E.E. As a bonus, it appears to be a lower ratio rack, so 2 birds etc Hopefully back together tonight, and MOT by the weekend.