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MG MGB Technical - '72 Steering Column Bushes

Hello, I need to replace the upper and lower bushes on my UK spec 1972 B. These are the black plastic ones. I've replaced the top one in the past (not that long ago in fact), but it together with the lower one is rather worn. Before I take it all apart has anybody any tips on how to replace the lower one. I've searched in the archive, but can't find anything that exactly describes the process. Thanks.
Peter Allen

This may help, based on the experiences of several people:

http://www.mgb-stuff.org.uk/scolumn2.htm
paulh4

Great. Thanks, Paul. I had a suspicion that the lower one might not be that straightforward! Bit cheesed off that the top one wasn't replaced that long ago, and has few miles on it.
Peter Allen

I did this repair today.

The findings in the attachment Paul posted were spot on. The top bush is easy to do once the steering wheel and indicator stalk has been removed.

As to the lower bush....exactly as described: the outer dimension of the bush is too large and the inner too loose. The bush won't go over the lip on the steering lock boss (the picture with the arrow). My reluctant solution was to take a very thin slice out of the bush, say a couple of mm. That seemed to close it up enough to get a good rubbing clearance on the inner and with a bit of judicious tapping I managed to push it into the outer. This can't be right, unless there's some technique that none of the correspondents, or I, have mastered.

Disappointingly, the top bush has about the same rattling fit as the old one (can it be the shaft has worn rather than the plastic bush?)! The bottom one though has now taken out most of the play. In a previous era these would probably have been made out of phosphor bronze.



Peter Allen

This thread was discussed between 19/03/2020 and 23/03/2020

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.