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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering Column

Further to my previous query regarding broken shear pins - 76, 1500. Does the steering column have to come out to replace them.
Nigel Axtell

don't think so, Nigel. But it might be a bit of a fiddle turning the steering until the pins line up with a line of access. It might be easier still to just swap the compete column, I have a spare one here if you want, email midget1380 at btinternet dot com
David (davidDOTsmithAT stonesDOTcom)

Actually the "shear pins" are plastic injected while the whole assembly is nice and hot. best thing to do if you are concerned abot safety is to remove the column and heat it up with a propane torch untill nice and hot but not red. It should be just as hot as a hot gue gun gets. Then place it in a carefully hand crfated jig to preserve alignment and allow hot gglue to enter from one side only. Now the next step is to ensure that the column is the right length for the car. Once you set it to the correct length take a preheated hot glue gun and inject it into the holes on one side of the collapsable joint. When it cools it should be good and solid. whats more, you have actually enured that the column is the correct length. If you get one from a junk yard you will probibly end up with one that has been accidentally collapsed somewhat. it is very easy to collapse them upon removal. i myself have trashed one or two by trying to pry apart the jopint between the column and the rack. Good luck!
S.A. Jones

On the ones I've seen there is only a pair of holes to align so the column is effectively fixed length and no adjustment is available
David (davidDOTsmithAT stonesDOTcom)

Looking at the column in the engine bay there is what appears to be 2 pins/bolts about 6" apart on the upper section of the steering column - the section that now moves back & forth about 1/2" or so. Am I right to assume these are the shear pins?
Nigel Axtell

David is right in that technically you cant adjust the length (normally) it is set by the factory using injected plastic. The problem is that over the years it can become slightly collapsed, and if the pins are sheared you will have to try and put it back as it was. What is more critical than making all the holes line up correctly is ensuring that the column is the correct length. I cannot be certain that those holes were drilled precisely with the total length in mind. I have never seen a photo of the tooling used for making these. However, a nw defunct website that used to sell a number of neat little bits for MGB's also offered rebuilt columns nd he detailed the steps he took.
S.A. Jones

Nigel - yes. Thinking about it, because you need to punch out the broken bits, it will be easier to remove the whole column first. Then separate the inner from the outer. If you don't do this it's hard to get at the inner bits as they are hidden by the outer. Unless you are flukey and get it perfectly aligned like it was before it broke.
David (davidDOTsmithAT stonesDOTcom)

This thread was discussed between 21/10/2009 and 22/10/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.