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MG TD TF 1500 - Steering Column Rattle

There is a serious rattle arising from the steering column 'outer' tube in its clamp.

The tube is supposed to be firmly clamped on the engine side of the firewall to a fixing on the firewall. However the tube is quite loose in the clamp.

Access to the head of the bolt, on the inner side and the nut on the outward face is extraordinarily restricted. Certainly it needs fixing before it drives me nuts (!).

Does anyone have a solution in terms of style of spanner or other exotic tool to tighten the fitting, or solution other than dismantle much of the bodywork, to resolve it?
Ian Bowers

Hi Ian,
Can you just wrap something around the tube perhaps? Some sort of "padding" tape? Forget the clamp.
Just an idea,
Ed
efh Haskell

No special tools. Just a wrench and socket. But you should probably take the time to inspect the felt bushing while you are down there.

Do you have all the proper spacers in there?
Christopher Couper

Make sure the tube has not slid downward an inch or so. The very end (that contains the bushing) is larger diameter than the rest of the tube, which is the part that is clamped. George
George Butz III

is this the clamp we are talking about?
The length of the distance piece is critical. If too long it wont clamp.

Jim B.

JA Benjamin

That is exactly the one Jim.

The car is, of course, RHD, so there it is amidst all the clutter of fuel pipes, and a load of cables.

The lower bush housing (the fatter bit) which is at the end of the tube is below the clamp which is up against the bulkhead. Does that suggest the outer tube has slipped down below the clamp and needs 'hauling' back up again?

The lower bushing felt is either absent or badly worn (adding to the rattle), but that is a separate job, for now.

I think you have cracked it; many thanks.
Ian Bowers

Looking at the photo, and the clamp that goes around the tube - there do not appear to be slots where the bolt goes through. Is the clamp in its lowest position, so the slots project downwards?
R WILSON

Problem solved with a little heaving and twisting; many thanks for your inspiration.
Ian Bowers

That heaving and twisting is sort of standard with old cars like MG's. Glad it worked out for you.
Christopher Couper

This thread was discussed between 31/05/2018 and 01/06/2018

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