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MG MGB Technical - Steering column clearance

Just taken the original but now ailing alternator out of my 71GT and noticed that the steering column is awfully close to the chassis.

I can't see daylight between them as it's fairly gunked up around there, but the is a slightly polished ring on the column. How much clearance should there be? As far as I know the car has not been pranged.

The UJ has a slight clunk if you wobble it about but it's not worn enough to let the column move significantly. Any thoughts?

Dave.
Dave Smith

Dave,
On my 1970 GT it is very, very close indeed.
Neil
Neil Lock

Dave
They are all like that. You could try loosing the rack and pushing it towards the N/S (just the play in the holes) Jim
j soutar

Thanks for the info, never had a really good look at it before so was just wondering!

Dave.
Dave Smith

I've heard of folk haing to lightly dress the chassis rail with a hammer to prevent rubbing.
Mike Howlett

"You could try loosing the rack and pushing it towards the N/S"

The rack to cross-member bolts are shimmed and the column adjusted to get correct alignment between the two. Get that wrong and you will cause rapid wear of the UJ and rack pinion bearing.
Paul Hunt 2

In Australia there is a requirement to have 1/8th of an inch clearance. I had to do some VERY heavy duty dressing of the area to get this. The car had been in an accident at some stage and the shaft was rubbing hard. The metal is very thick just there so unless you have the engine out of its engine compartment, don't try. You really have to swing hard. Just above the engine bracket and a little inside is the problem area.

You could try loosening the cross member bolts, then levering the cross member against the body rail as you tighten them up again. There is a small amount of play there. Perhaps 1/16th of an inch, which might be all you need. You will need to also loosen the steering rack bolts while this is going on, then tighten them up again later.
Peter

Having cleaned the gunk out from between the column and the chassis I'd guess I had about 1/16th clearance. I think the light polishing came from the gritty muck. As it's all solidly mounted around there and the gap is unlikely to close up I think I'll leave it as it is (not broke, don't fix it)...
Dave.
Dave Smith

This thread was discussed between 18/05/2007 and 27/05/2007

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