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MG MGA - steering wheel hub paint?

I want to refinish the hub of the steering wheel on my '57 roadster which has about 60% of its surface still with paint on it, which is very thin and dull. Has anyone else painted theirs, and if so did you take the wheel off and if so how? And what paint did you use? I assumme it should be black, but should it be glossy, satin or a flat finish?

Thank you.
brucep

Hi Bruce. To remove the steering wheel, you first have to remove the round MG emblem at the center of the wheel. It is retained by betal clips and can be gently pried out of it's bore. Once the MG emblem is out, you need to undo the large nut that retains the steering wheel to the steering shaft. The Steering wheel hub is splined to the shaft. Sometimes the steering wheel can be easily pulled off the shaft by hand, and sometimes it needs to be (gently) tapped off the splines. The steering wheel hub is aluminum. You will need to strip off all of the paint first, using a fine wire wheel in a dremel tool, or using a paint stripper chemical. Once the paint is removed, the aluminum needs to be sanded with 320 grit wet and dry sandpaper. This roughs up the aluminum so paint will adhere. You then need to spray a few coats of zinc chromate or epoxy primer onto the aluminum hub. (Ordinary red oxide primer will not properly adhere to aluminum) Once the zinc chromate or epoxy primer is thoroughly dry, you can spray the finish coat of paint. Two part enamel, or epoxy paint would be suitably durable and glossy. Hope this helps. Glenn. PS While it is not stock, the hub looks very nice with a polished aluminum finish. The hub can be polished with polishing paste, so that it gleams like chrome!
Glenn

Thanks Glenn,

How do I get that big nut off? Do I need to buy a socket just to do that? I'm interest in the polished aluminum hub. Do you know of any pictures of one that I could see?
brucep

Hi Bruce. You could likely get the nut off with an adjustable wrench inserted perpendicular to the hub. Will email you a photo of the polished steering wheel hub. Cheers, Glenn
Glenn

I see it. It's nice. Your car look nice too. Thanks.
brucep

Hi Bruce. Actually the photo is of my friend, Terry Jones MGA 1600 roadster. He just finished a 5 year restoration! Cheers! Glenn
Glenn

Bruce:

Moss sells a socket for the steering wheel nut.

Regards,
M.D.
'57 Coupe
M. D.

Bruce,

check your eMail. I send you two pictures of an MGA with unpainted (not chrome polished) steering wheel hub. I'think it looks great.

Robert
Robert Mueller

This thread was discussed between 05/04/2006 and 10/04/2006

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