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 column problem - HELP!

Hi all,
Sorry about the dramatics but this came out of left field.
OK - its a mk III midget 1275 & on SORN. I thought I was just about finished with the resto - only job remaining - a slightly soft brake pedal.
This caught me out.
I have spent the day doing the pre MOT checks & I was checking the steering wheel. All looked good and I gave the wheel a tug to check as I finished- I nearly wet myself when it came out about an inch. There is NO side to side or up & down motion just the inner column coming out towards you.
Is this normal? ( somehow I don't think so !!)
I guess the PO forgot to put something back in to lock the inner column in ....question is though WHAT could it be?
The steering wheel turns the wheels with the inner steering column either IN or OUT & all points between ( as it were) so it all seems connected. It doesnt feel floppy or wobbly - it just comes out - HELP!!
MOT is booked for next friday so REALLY grateful for any suggestions.
cheers colin
colin frowen

is the column to rack pinch bolt fitted and tight? if yes, then it is probably the collapsible joint part way down!
Mick - still wiring!!

sounds like a collapsible steering column so that it limits damage to the driver a little when in an accident

Colin it would help if you were able to put your vehicle profile up so that you don’t have to remember to put what model you have and which year

Click on the ‘view vehicle profile’ on my post go to bottom of page and follow link to instruction – that’s if you want to – you can also add a photo
Nigel Atkins

Colin,

First check that the pinch bolt at the foot of the steering column is in place and tightened up (it actually goes through a groove in the steering rack spigot.

If all O.K at the bottom it would appear that your steering column (which is of the collapsible type) has collapsed !
It a safety feature for collision damage - the inner consists of two sections that telescope - and are held togther by plastic moulded pins - theese shear on impact etc.

If you dissamble the steering column you can replace the plastic pins with something similar.

R.

richard boobier

Must learn to type and faster !

R.
richard boobier

I was just adding something similar to my post when I got timed-out

I also add, this can happen when someone tries to take the steering wheel off so follow this video with the precautionary use of a good penetrating/releasing fluid like Plus Gas (not WD40 unless that's all you've got this time as it should be necessary anyway)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwf2BDC5DMo&feature=plcp&context=C4a0463dVDvjVQa1PpcFO-ZpLC-nqLvvn7wo4LoFmrDUDqUzlYFDc%3D
Nigel Atkins

If all else fails, I have some spare steering columns.

daveo138 at yahoo dot co dot uk
Dave O'Neill2

as mentioned, little plastic plugs in little holes in the outer join the inner on (column is in 2 bits, one slides inside the other shearing the plastic pins in the event of a crash)

Normally what's happened is that the pins have sheared while someone's taking the wheel off, or as simply as pushing the car backwards with the steering wheel (that's what did dad's ones in)

You could fix it with aluminium pop rivets through the holes, these should be soft enough to shear in an accident but hard enough not to shear in normal use.
Rob Armstrong

I have a 1500 76 Midget and had the same problem about 4 years ago. I find the reference to “shear pins” a bit misleading. I took my steering column out. Where these pins appear to be, the out column has two holes (one either side). However, the inner column does not have any corresponding holes. I.e. so that a pin can be passed through both sections. What I did find was that the inner column was waisted (narrower?) where it lined up with the holes. When I took it apart there was what appeared to be the remnants of the shearable material. It looked like nylon or plastic. I suspect that this was injected during assembly/manufacture of the column, the liquid plastic filled the waisted area & extruded out the holes of the outer column.
When I repaired mine, I put the column back together and filled the void up with ‘Gorilla’ glue. It expands slightly on curing. I ‘topped’ it up two or three times before it went completely off as it is quite liquid. I did put some masking tape over the bottom hole to prevent running straight through.
Its been rock solid since then & passed 3 mot’s
Hope that helps
Nigel Axtell

I just welded a blob in the hole. I'm sure it won't collapse as easy as plastic, but hey, I'm not planning to test!
Alex G Matla

I've fixed these using the plastic sprue from an Airfix model kit (or similar)
David Smith

I wondered if a hot glue gun would do the trick, but Nigel's Gorilla glue sounds good.
Dave O'Neill2

This thread was discussed between 23/03/2012 and 26/03/2012

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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