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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering column passing through bulkhead

Evening all, hope we are well.

Resto is still ongoing, bodywork feels a bit like painting the Forth Bridge. By the time I get to the end, the first bits I did will be rusty again! ha ha.

Anyway, something has sort of been bugging me for a while and I haven't been able to work out the answer from parts catalouges etc.

My car is a '76 with the collapsible column. It is obvious that it bolts to the underneath of the footwell lid at the top of the column. It is also obvious that it attaches to the rack at the bottom.

What happens where it passes through the bulkhead? Is there another bush? A rubber grommet? I refuse to believe that it is only attached at the top, but there was nothing at the bulkhead when I dismantled the car (well... there were some wooden wedges jammed in the hole!! clearly these weren't original).

A picture would be good if anyone has.

Thanks guys and gals (sorry for waffling!)
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

On the A series engines there is simply a large rubber grommet that it passes through.

HTH

A.
Andrew McGee

Its a sort of "bellows" seal - about an inch and half long maybe with bellows type ribs. Normal grommet type fit into the bodywork but a loose fit around the column.

Its quite clear in the Moss parts catalogue.
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

Bellows.... that's a fair better description of what I meant!
Andrew McGee

Thanks gents, yes it is obvious when you know how!

Still seems odd to my mind that it is only supported by two wee bolts at the top though. Oh well, I guess nobody else in the history of midgeting has been troubled with this so I shall plod on!

Cheers,
Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

That steering column is one of the reasons why you REALLY don't want a frontal collision in a Midget. You have a four foot lance, which starts just behind the front of the car, aimed straight at your chest. On my 1966 it isn't even collapsible. And just to add to the fun, it isn't well bolted down so will break free quite easily. Magic!
Mike Howlett

This thread was discussed between 11/04/2012 and 12/04/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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