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MG MGA - Steering Column Bushes

I'm rebuilding my steering column and was experimenting with the felt bushes and noticed a thread a few years ago about some machined delrin bushes with O rings in the OD. Todd C in the US made them (apparently not Todd Clarke). Does anyone know if anyone is making them now?
If the answer is no would anyone be interested in acquiring some if I had some made?

Thanks

John
John Francis

Hi John,
I bought a set of those bushes you spoke of. Now i can't find them! I'd be interested in a couple of sets if you can get a good price. As i recall the Delrin (Green?)was self lubricating etc.

regards
Colin
C Manley

I got a set and find they work very well. No issues in 4 years. I haven't been able to locate a contact for "Todd C." Picture attached.

Jim

Jim Ferguson

John I sent you a email
Cliff(SC)
Jones

Hi John,

I have a set in my car, they are fine although I seem to recall there were a number of design changes and it would be worth confirming what the final design was.

Regards...JB
John Bray

Perhaps it would be worth compiling a list of those of us who would like to buy a set in case you are able to contact the person who originally offered them. After 4 years, there are probably enough people who need them to be worth making another run. At the very least, it may be possible to get drawings of what the final design was, so that we can have more made. I know I would be in for two sets if they became available.
Del Rawlins

So far no luck in tracking Todd down.
Jim from your photo were the bushes with the O rings split longitudinally like the right hand one. If not did you rely on the O ring compressing to get the bush past the lip on the column tube?

John
John Francis

John:

I've been procrastinating at doing my steering column felt bushings, so I'd be interested in a set, if the price is reasonable.

Glen
Glen Perchie

me too
Vin Rafter

Jim, -- I hope you don't mind that I snatched your picture to post on a web page along with what I know about the plastic bushings. See here:
http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/steering/sr206.htm
Barney Gaylord

Barney, just had a look at the info on your page. It wasn't Todd Clarke that was making them. It was a fellow by the name of Todd Conrad in Indianna. His email address at the time was todd.conrad at konradyplastics.com, although that address now seems to be invalid.
Andy Bounsall

Okay, thanks, that was a quick fix. I will try to find current contact information for this guy.
Barney Gaylord

John,
I can highly recommend the plastic bushings that Todd produced. I installed a set in my 59 roadster and the fit was perfect without the fiddling over too thick felt bushings that some others report on this BBS. The steering column has lost its former sloppines and I can steer with one finger if I wish!
Tom Heath

The plastic bushings work fine for me but I agree with Barney the felt works ok too and it is cheap.

Todd C was on this board when he last sold these bushings. I will try to find the instruction sheet that came with the bushings and post it. I think it had some information. It's somewhere in this mess.

Barney, you are welcome to the images. Here is another one. Top, bottom and middle bushings.

Jim

Jim Ferguson

Jim

On the photo isn't the order Top, middle and bottom across. I assume the split one has to be fitted at the bottom. The one in the middle of the picture won't go past the ident in the tube even with the O rings I guess.
John Francis

If we are putting together a group for possible orders I'm in (mine is an adjustable shaft)
Chris Velardi

I was very interested when this all started, but didn't get off the pot. If anyone can get this going, I will be interested again.
Mike Parker

Ok I'll draw them up sometime and get a set made to try. It may take a while because I'm in the middle of a complete rebuild. I will keep you posted.

John
John Francis

Well at last I have had the bushings made. Photo enclosed. I have tried them in the column with the shaft but without the O rings and they seem ok although I have probably underestimated the size of the tube at the lower end (problem measuring past the lip). The O ring should centre it up OK. the split in the lower bush makes it easy to get past the lip on the bottom of the tube and it pushes up past the the ident in the tube to remove the bottom bush. Hopefully the O rings will arive soon so will know whether they work OK.
After some research decided to make them in Homopolymer Acetal (Delrin) but not glass filled. The glass filled is very hard to get hold of and is expensive even though its stiffer and has a lower coefficeint of expansion.

John


John Francis

I found the instructions for the bushings by "Todd C".

Images are in a previous post.


Jim

Jim Ferguson

Any sort of update on this? I'm going to be putting my column back together soon, and it looks as though I'll have to use the felt bushings.
Del Rawlins

Hi Del

I have assembled my bushes into the column on the bench with O rings and they seem to work well but I have not tried them in the car. The lower bush is slightly looser in the column tube than I had planned but the O rings hold it in place and the shaft turns ok without any tightness. They assemble really easily. The slot in the bottom bush allows the bush to compress within the lip on the bottom of the tube and the O rings will pass through as well.

I had just two sets of bushes made which cost me £90.
I know that at £45 a set this is quite expensive and a lot more than felt bushes but the price would be a bit less for a larger batch. I was going to wait till I had assembled them on the car before selling the second pair just to make sure they work OK.

Other pictures to follow when partially installed.


Best

John

John Francis

Lower bush going in.

John Francis

Upper bush going in. Just pushes into place.

John Francis

This thread was discussed between 11/10/2009 and 28/01/2010

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