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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering Column Squeal

I posted this on the MGB board, but things can be a little slow over there and as the steering column is basicly the same, I thought I'd try it here too!


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

Sorry dave

I cant find the video...what is the name of the video???

but what a great collection of photos...i enjoyed looking, but the photo of you humping the tree was a bit much....hahahaha

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Dave,
That's one nasty squeal.
If your top seal is the same as mine (71 1275) i.e. felt, then it too needs to be soaked in oil prior to fitting. If it's the later type which I think are plastic I'm not sure if they need lubricating or not.
Hope you get an answer otherwise there's always the NEC at the weekend where you're bound to bump into a few souls who may know the solution!
Jeremy
Jeremy 3

If it moves ..oil it,

if it doesn't move..salute it, or paint it if you are a civilian.
JB Anderson

It is the plastic bush. I did try some oil on it, but it didn't seem to make any difference.
Dave O'Neill2

my six pen'orth: I've had the wheel screech against the plastic cowl on my '66. Sounded like a banshee! Banished with a sqirt of silicone spray...
David Cox

Update.

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

perhaps it was (can't think f correct term or description so -) a rough edge to bush

or the bit of grit/muck/swarf/obstruction fell or flushed out when you took the bush out this time :)

whatever, great easy solution and a good result








unless it starts again :)

Nigel Atkins

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

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