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MG MGB Technical - Steering Wheel Symmetry

Apologies for using big words so early in the morning, but I have a big, well little problem.

My memory is probably playing tricks, I think the social workers call it False Memory Syndrome.

My memory tells me that when I took the key out of the ignition lock, the steering lock more or less clicked into place, with perhaps a slight jiggle of the weel, but nothing significant.

Now, having the whole steering caboodle off, the steering wheel seems to want to lock at an angle to 6 o'clock, more like 8 o'clock, or 4, cannot quite remember, sitting here away from it.

To get that 6 o'clock down position on the wheel, the road wheels have to be parked at say 2 or 10 o'clock.

The steering wheel is an LE three spoke alloy, a Motolite??, so has spokes at 10, 2 & 6 o'clock, if that helps my explanation.


Question is, is this situation normal, and

if not, what could we have possibly done wrong in putting it back together again.
Jack

If you are saying that originally the steering locked with the wheels in the straight-ahead position, but now that you have removed and replaced the column it doesn't, then the implication is that the column inner turned while the column was out which unless you are sure you kept the key out of the lock the whole time is not surprising.

On refitting it will mesh with the column UJ in as many positions as there are splines, unlike the rack-shaft which has a cut-out for the bolt and only goes back in one position. The wheel fits to the column in as many ways as there are splines, and the turn-signal resetting cam twists to any position.

If it bothers you disconnect the column shaft from the UJ with the wheels in the straight-ahead position, turn the wheel with the ignition key out of the lock until it locks, refit it to the UJ, remove and refit the steering wheel, and adjust the turn-signal cam to the correct position.
Paul Hunt

The steering column has been stored with the lock off, due to painting etc, so you are probably correct in saying it may have moved.

We removed the rack rather than the column, seemed easier because we had a tough time getting the column bottom seal to bed in, and allow enough spline thru the bulkhead to join with the UJ.

The rack has that slotted bolthole, so we found no adjustment, hence my question.
Jack

Jack, you posed the question is your situation normal, and I for one would also like to hear what is the normal position, notwithstanding the informative response from Paul Hunt, so far.
Greg

Further examination of the steering column determined that it also has a slot thru which the bolt passes, in the same way the rack does.

The fact that both ends which go into the UJ, had this limitation surely means that

'On refitting it will mesh with the column UJ in as many positions as there are splines...'

cannot be true for this late 1980 version of the car.
Jack

Well, that would be different to the earlier cars (which memory now reminds me had a groove all the way round the column shaft as opposed to just the notch on the rack shaft) and such must mean that the column can only go back in the same relative position as it came out!
Paul Hunt

I should also have said that any difference in locking position now can only be due to how far each track-rod end has been screwed onto its track-rod.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 05/04/2004 and 09/04/2004

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