Tompkins Steering Kit

The Tompkins kit was originally developed in the late 1940’s in an effort to reduce the major cause of friction in the TC steering box and at the same time provide for an easy and convenient means of adjustment. A Tompkins kit will not cure problems related to worn or defective parts in the front suspension, king pins, or wheel bearings, shock absorbers or tie rod ends. Proper alignment of the front and rear suspension attachment points and the condition of the rest of the suspension components are critical.

TC’s did handle and steer extremely well when they left the factory many years ago. TC’s today can be restored to their former glory but this does require that all aspects of chassis setup are truly correct.

The basic function of the Tompkins steering kit is to provide an adjustable bearing surface for the upper end of the steering box sector shaft. The original MG design was such that the ‘lever” of the sector shaft slid or more accurately was dragged along the underneath of the top cover plate as the steering wheel was turned. As the cover plate, sector shaft, and steering column worm gear wore, increasing amounts of play would develop at the wheel. This necessitated the removal of one or more adjusting shims from under the original top cover plate. The Tompkins kit eliminates this major source of friction and at the same time makes adjustments for wear quick and easy.