Steering not self-centering

[Robotstar5]

I reckon they've set the tracking up as computer recommended, and really you need a degree of toe in or something to load up the rack and centralise the wheels.

That's where a good alignment place comes into it's own, I took a Freelander for tracking after I'd changed the TRE's, they set it slightly different to the manufacturers specs as through experience they found it worked better.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Just replaced both upper ball joints, no difference
According to the printout the tracking has been set to 1mm toe in either side, so I may experiment and set it slightly further in, just to see if it feels any different. Before I had it set up I did experiment with it using string lines but nothing I did made any difference. Now I know it’s already toeing in at least I have a baseline setting which I know I can easily revert back to.

 

[minimutly]

Is it actually tight around centre, or just not self centering? Self centering comes from castor, ie the lower balljoint being forward of the upper - has the car had a bump - did it allways do this?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Is it actually tight around centre, or just not self centering? Self centering comes from castor, ie the lower balljoint being forward of the upper - has the car had a bump - did it allways do this?

No evidence of any accident damage but that's not to say it hasn't ever had a bump. I've had the car about a year, it was sat for 8 years before I bought it.
If I'm driving in a straight line and turn the wheel slightly either way (I would guess at anything less than 10 degrees) it will stay where I put it, not return to dead centre. If I'm coming out of a bend the wheel will only centre up to that 10 degree-ish point, I then have to manually centre it.
Looking at the alignment sheet, the caster on the left side is less than the right, L - 3 deg 14', R - 4 deg 38', so maybe that is the issue, though I'm not sure what can be done about it as it's not adjustable.

 

[Melvyn Best]

Seems to me it should have more castor especially as the front end is fairly light?

 

[Melvyn Best]

Fully adjustable lower suspension arms are available ,for a price, that eliminates inherent steering https://www.mgocspares.co.uk/product/h171/arm-susp-assy-btm-adjustable-mgf-tf

This is a welding forum so perhaps you could knock something up?

 

[minimutly]

Mmmm, I wonder if the metro and mgf ones are different, and someone fitted metro ones instead?

 

[Johnnybravo]

Needs more caster.

 

[dobbslc]

Have you tried swapping front and rear tyres?
Not sure if they are different sizes on an MGF so maybe you can't.
On my boys Aygo the steering ECU went wrong and the steering wouldn't self centre on it, second hand ECU and it's been ok since.

 

[dobbslc]

Needs more caster.

Let the rear tyres down

 

[Blobber]

Whats the toe in toe out settings??

 

[minimutly]

No evidence of any accident damage but that's not to say it hasn't ever had a bump. I've had the car about a year, it was sat for 8 years before I bought it.
If I'm driving in a straight line and turn the wheel slightly either way (I would guess at anything less than 10 degrees) it will stay where I put it, not return to dead centre. If I'm coming out of a bend the wheel will only centre up to that 10 degree-ish point, I then have to manually centre it.
Looking at the alignment sheet, the caster on the left side is less than the right, L - 3 deg 14', R - 4 deg 38', so maybe that is the issue, though I'm not sure what can be done about it as it's not adjustable.

This is not normal for a T or TF, that I can remember. Rover products have never had much castor, compared to German cars, and I'm no expert on actual numbers, just what they look like on lock, but both my MGTs had decent self centering - too much on a lightweight front end could cause the tyres to ride on edges, thereby losing grip?
How far out of spec is the castor?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Needs more caster.

The caster is not adjustable.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Whats the toe in toe out settings??

-1mm each side

 

[Wozzaaah]

Have you tried swapping front and rear tyres?
Not sure if they are different sizes on an MGF so maybe you can't.
On my boys Aygo the steering ECU went wrong and the steering wouldn't self centre on it, second hand ECU and it's been ok since.

They are different sizes, 185/55 front, 205/50 rear.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Fully adjustable lower suspension arms are available ,for a price, that eliminates inherent steering https://www.mgocspares.co.uk/product/h171/arm-susp-assy-btm-adjustable-mgf-tf

This is a welding forum so perhaps you could knock something up?

Thanks but I have no intention of throwing that sort of money at it, the car only cost me £500.

 

[dobbslc]

They are different sizes, 185/55 front, 205/50 rear.

I thought so, my mate had one years ago, he's into Lotus cars now

 

[500e]

Lot of info on recalibrating the steering on MG sites

 

[Wozzaaah]

Lot of info on recalibrating the steering on MG sites

The steering does not need "recalibrating".

 

[jsf55]

2 lengths of ali angle left over from a project, 2 bungees and 2 tape measure, i also use my laser level on the edge too see how it looks on the rear tyres, i have a wider track, but you could do that off the side wall