MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering colum play

Replaced the (USA)steeringcolum on my 1975 midget as there was a lot of play on it.
Replaced it with a secondhand one which also has little play but is much better then my old one.

But as with most steering colums the plastic bit inside the colum that serves as "colapseble" is gone.
Searching on the internet and here in the archives Ive found out that that can be replaced with a melted glue procedure as described in this thread:

https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=97&subjectar=97&thread=2009102113453319206

and:

https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&access=51658145103060&mode=archiveth&subject=97&subjectar=97&thread=2019100818451725389

As I dont have that equipment anybody knows a company who can do that?

Ive seen a bearing on the top of the steeringcolum where there is alos a little play, anyone ever replaced that or knows a partnr for it?

Mine is a LHD USA 1975 steering colum so could internaly be a wee bit different then the RHD colums

A de Best

My original colum where 20 years ago I solved the play isue by welding a blob on it but thereby making it no longer colapseble...

So many years later im a bit wiser and looking to keep the colapseble bit :)





A de Best

in the top there is a ball-bearing





A de Best

By taking it apart Ive found that there is also a similair colapseble bit on the top of the colum





A de Best

Anybody experience on restoring this type of colum or know a company who can do this?
A de Best

Memory working slowly on saturday... :)

Did have the 1500 steering rack restored by Kiley Clinton.
Will give them a call to see what they can do/suply for this

https://steering-racks.co.uk/
A de Best

This looks similar to the arrangement on the MGB. I had the same issue and heard about that repair to the collapsible bit. On mine, I seem to recall doing something with a hose clip on the shaft at the top to take up the in/out movement.

As to the top bush, this is just a sleeve of plastic. On my '72 it's black, but on later cars I think it's white. If you look on the Sussex MG site they've got pictures of them all. Mine was worn, but I was disappointed to find that even after replacing it there was still play. However, not difficult to do, once you've got the wheel off.

Then I replaced the one at the bottom. Again, plastic, and that didn't make much difference, either. It's a shame that these aren't made of phosphor bronze, or a more robust material.
Peter Allen

IIRC the collapsible part was injected with plastic to secure but leave it collapsible. I've heard of using golf Ts glued in or plastic knitting needles, also glued in.
Rob
MG Moneypit

Oilite is very easily available, either as ready made bushes or in bar form to turn your own, supposing you have access to a lathe. Sadly I no longer have.
(Edit: meant to be a response to Peter's post about bushes. Doesn't really help you Arie - sorry).
Greybeard

Thanks for your thoughts gents.
In the mean time found more of others having the same issue

Here the melt glue procedure described on a mgb colum:
https://www.mgexp.com/article/easy-mgb-steering-column-repairs.337

And (only now...) found this in the archives here also about a 1500 colum:
https://mg-cars.org.uk/cgi-bin/or17?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=97&subjectar=97&thread=201511091427043454

I guess ill need to buy a glue gun and some melt gue/nylon
But then stil need to find the replacement ball bearing in the top of the midget column...
A de Best

The U.S. collapsable steering column wears poorly. On both the 1971 Midget and on the 1970 B, I have had to mend the columns and avoid heaving the steering wheels around.

I chose to drill the columns and use hardware store rolled pins to secure the two pieces. This no doubt disables the collapsable function, putting it on par with UK models. There was no airbag anyway and it is probably a pretty quick and certain death should there be a major impact. Be sure that there is not slack that has worked its way between the portion that pinches to the rack and the firewall piece prior to drilling and pinning. I had to work with the two pieces with the pinch bolt loose to get this right.

The bearings at the driver's end and at the firewall are thrust bearings. I lubricated them and pressed the third piece of the column (under the cowling) in tight before drawing it down towards the firewall end. These efforts made a huge difference. The clunks are gone and the steering wheels doesn't wobble in one's hands as before.

It's junk really, but once repaired, the steering is quiet and tight enough to make a difference.

Glenn Mallory

Great info Glenn!
didnt know there are two bearings in the top column but now you told me it makes sence there are two.
I need to take the column more appart then ive already did now to get to the bearins and see what the condition is...

I gues MG didnt build there own columns but had a supplier building them and dropped them off at the factory where MG build in the cars?
A de Best

Some of the adaptations required to meet U.S. safety and emission standards seem to have been a challenge for BL.

If you use roll pins to secure the piece from the rack to the upper piece from the firewall, you can then loosen the pinch bolt on the rack and draw the column down to take up slack. This is not all the work that needs to be done to eliminate play in the inside portion of the column but it will result in an improvement.
Glenn Mallory

Arie, I do the repair using epoxy resin. Easy. Pour it in and let it set. Still retains shear properties that allow the column to collapse when needed.
Paul Walbran

Glen, not a bad idea that pinchbolt, easy fix but kinda has the same effect as my weld blob on my last colum: no more colapsable. ;)

Paul, do you have a brandname/type of epoxy resin you use so I can use the same or the dutch equivalent of that product?

A de Best

You can't use pins, golf tee's knitting needles etc. The inner column is not drilled and therefore will not pass through one side to the other. The original collapsing/shearing material was injected.
I repaired mine with Gorilla glue which when cured expands & creates a collar like the original intention
Nigel Axtell

Thanks for the tip on Gorrilla glue.
Just checked and Gorrilla melt glue is available here in Holland.
Now need to find the right melt glue gun.
A de Best

Arie
See attached image. This is the stuff I used. It dispenses through the nozzle like treacle.
They do it on Amazon. You may be able to get it locally in a hardware shop or DIY store. I know Gorilla do a number of products now


Nigel Axtell

Thanks Nigel,
You didnt use a melt glue gun, you just poured this in the holes on the outer shaft?
A de Best

Yes that's right. It does "ooze out a bit. But once it starts to cure, it then expands. Once fully cured I cleaned it up with a craft type knife
Nigel Axtell

I've used that glue for other things and it does hold well. Depending on where you use it, you may have to trim some excess like Nigel did. And it is a bit slow coming out of the nozzle and you probably need less than you think since it does expand.
Martin

This thread was discussed between 29/01/2022 and 25/02/2022

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.