Hi Louis,
I advice first to renew the U joint; this had play and this job is the
easiest part.
The column I cannot advise.
What I found during the restoration of my '71 BGT is, that there was quite
some play at start.
I revised:
the U joint between column and rack - less play
checked and revised kingpins
checked and renewed frontwheel bearings
Now there is almost no play. Sheer little to no play is the remainder, which
is quite acceptable to have the car passing the test.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Hans
'71 BGT
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Louis Mehr (EML) [SMTP:Louis.Mehr@eml.ericsson.se]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 11:02 AM
> To: 'mgs@autox.team.net'
> Subject: HELP ! Steering column free play
>
> 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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