Good Morning MG World,
Work proceeds on my LHD California 71 B Roadster.
Now that the carbs are off I've noticed quite a bit of free play in the
steering mechanism.
It's very odd but the reason for the play seems quite clear.
(I am hoping that it is just that the steering column has not been replaced
properly by the previous owner)
In the Leyland manual there is a picture on an energy absorbing steering column
and this looks just like mine.
It shows the bulkhead fitting and the steering column inner rod passes through
this unit ("toe plate" if I remember correctly).
The play in the rod occurs around this "toe plate" - there is a platstic
collar on the steering column with ball bearings inside it which rotates. If I
understand this correctly then this should be flush up against the "toe plate"
- but it isn't it's too far down into the engine bay and hence the play.
It looks to me like the column should actually be raised to remove this gap but
I'm not sure whether this is something that can be adjusted.
My questions are:
1/ Can the column be raised ?
2/ Is it possible that the wrong column is fitted and that is why there is a
problem ?
3/ The Leyland manual shows a special alignment tool for setting up the
steering column - will I need this if I adjust the column height or is it just
used when a new steering rack is fitted.
4/ Is it normal to have the energy absorbing column on this year of vehicle ?
5/ Is this a straightforward adjustment (I think it may be).
Thank You,
Louis Mehr,
Manchester,
England
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