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MG TD TF 1500 - Upper Steering Column Removal

I'm going to replace the leather steering column excluder, the crome helicoil and clamp/nut. I read in the archives the following:

"remove the clamping nut from the telescopic adjustment clamp and extract the clamping bolt. thia allows the wheel to be extended to its full lenght and the helical sleeve to be pulled toward the steering wheel..exposing the flat retaining key. remove the key and the steering column will slide out."

This sounds way too easy, and certainly easier than pulling the wheel. What pitfalls am I likely to encounter along the way? Thanks for any input.

Larry
L Karpman

Just be sure to spray some PB Blaster - rust remover - on your steering wheel nut and anything else that is right there. Be sure to take the bolt all the way out as it sits in a shouldered depression. Use a very small tip flat head screw driver to remove the small key that is in the column under the clamp spring.
J Delk

Larry, it really is deceptively easy. I know some T Drivers who never completely tighten the clamping nut, and use the shouldered depression as a stop. They have an infinitely telescoping wheel. Those of us with large thighs (I'm your typical 205 lb 6'3" guy, so I resemble that description) drive with the wheel extended completely. You get used to the low machanical advantage caused by your elbows being always bent. These sure aren't Alfas!

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Anyone else have their up/down adjustment 'slip' over a week or so? I am always having to undo the nut, raise the shaft/wheel and tighten it again. I drive with the wheel fully in and fully raised! As soon as it slips it starts to ratte and clunk on left corners!
gblawson - TD#27667

Thanks Dave. I just figured with my luck I wouldn't get the key out, or if I did I couldn't get it back in again. Hate to have a disabled car in the garage :-)
L Karpman

OOps, thanks to you too Jeff.
L Karpman

OK, it's done, and yes it WAS easy. Easy once you see the "key" is an oval block pressed into the column, and not a thin strip you imagined. Easy when you finally find the indent in the lower column for the clamp bolt because it was a bit too dark in the garage and the flashlight batteries were dying. Easy when you finally figure out how to get the small end of the curled cover (which is loathe to expand) over the upper shaft. Other than that - piece of cake :-)


I also wanted to install the leather steering column draft exluder, but there was no way that diameter lower shaft was fitting the much, much smaller diameter hole in the draft excluder. Guess I'll have to contact the folks I got it from.

Thanks to all that gave direction and advice.

Larry
L Karpman

Larry,

Go to a hardware store and buy a flourescent trouble light. You won't regret the purchase.

dave
Dave Braun

"Go to a hardware store and buy a flourescent trouble light. You won't regret the purchase."

I have two. Seems the wife had a greater need at some point and put them out in the shed - somewhere :-)
L Karpman

This thread was discussed between 16/10/2006 and 17/10/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.