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MG MGA - Adjustable steering

Anyone have a solution to a stuck adjustable steering column? Woodruff key is removed, clamp removed and that puppy won't budge in or out.
David Holmes

David, mine was also stuck solid. I had to remove the shaft from the tube and then apply light heat after soaking in penetrating oil for a couple of days. I used an old steering wheel to pull on and clamped the shaft in my bench vise.
Bill Young

David,
Take a very close look at the sharp toothed splines where the two shafts mate. If the vehicle was struck on a front wheel during a colision, while the wheel was held from turning the joint can jump one half a spline. This means it is mated point to point within the joint in stead of point to groove. Mine is in this condition and nothing so far has made it move. I anticipate a future replacement of both pieces. Hope you have just a bad case of rust. Its had to believe that such a thing can happen but my splines are wound in a spiral by some unimaginable force.

Safety Fast!

Jim Haskins

1953 MG TD
J. M. Haskins

Bill and Jim Thanks for the advice. Bill, I removed the shaft and put it in the vice. A few careful persuasive taps and it was free. Jim the adustable shaft is tweeked but not as badly as yours. There is a slight bend hardly noticeable until you are in the last third of travel in the column but that slight bend is causing the shaft to bind.It is bent rather than spiraled. Given the fact that the shaft was most of the way in when I started it was tightly bound. Free now and unless someone uses a hammer to adjust the column all should be fine. Many thanks.
David Holmes

I have the same problem on my 1962 MGA. It has been stuck quite some time and I have not tried to anything other than pulling. But after reading what you have done ant the hints, I am planning to try the pulling the shaft and puting in a vise. Ride on.
Eddie Davis

Glad it worked out Dave.

Off the subject, I replaced a damaged non-adjustable shaft with an adjustible shaft to give the A one more 'option'. I soon concluded I liked the wheel position on the non-adjustble shaft [forward, closer to the dash] better than any availible with the adjustable shaft which puts the wheel too close to me. I eventually removed the 'spring cover' to enable a position as close I would like. I prefer the non adjustable varity.
Steve Meline
Steve Meline

Super advice on the vise...glad it worked.
It would be a shame to have to let the vehicle get struck on the opposite front wheel during a colision, while the wheel is held from turning...so the joint can jump one half a spline back to the correct position.
Jon Bachelor

This thread was discussed between 07/07/2005 and 09/07/2005

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.