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MG MGB Technical - Steering Column Squeal

I have been reassembling my steering column tonight, having replaced the top and bottom bushes.

I soaked the bottom bush in graphite oil - once I had found some - before fitting. Upon fitting the inner column, I now have an horrendous squealing noise coming from the upper bush when I turn the wheel.

Should the upper bush be lubricated at all?

(Low quality) video here...

http://s214.beta.photobucket.com/user/daveo138/media/Video0002.mp4.html
Dave O'Neill2

Years ago my steering column would squawk as though I were
squeezing a pair of geese every time I would turn the steering
wheel.

1) lubing the horn hub brush got rid of one goose.

2) the plastic steering column cowl was rubbing against the
steering wheel hub. Removing the cowl and shaving the
affected area got rid of the other goose.
Daniel Wong

No horn or cowl on Dave's column, in fact no car.

I take it it is the upper bush that's squealing? What material is it? But in any case I can't see oil or grease hurting anything.
PaulH Solihull

It's the plastic/nylon bush. I did try some oil and it didn't seem to help.
Dave O'Neill2

Silicon grease, or ptfe spray?
John Bilham

Dave,

Seem to remember problems with same bushings - think I had to ream it as it was too tight to even fit column in at first.
Thats why I didn't bother with the midget one !

May still have the spare bush in the workshop - will have a look next time i'm in there.

Regards,

R.
richard boobier

Update.

I tried some silicon grease tonight - still squealing.

I took the nylon bush out again and examined it. There seemed to be quite a sharp edge where the split is, so I chamfered it slightly on the inside - not quite as drastically as the illustration below - and the noise seems to have disappeared.


Dave O'Neill2

Good tip. That's one for me to remember when I do my own
steering column.
Daniel Wong

That figures, and is a good tip.
PaulH Solihull

Thanks for the update.
John Bilham

This thread was discussed between 13/11/2012 and 17/11/2012

MG MGB Technical index

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