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MG TD TF 1500 - steering stiff after column rubber bearings instal

I just installed a rubber bearing set on the flange on my steering column. The 6 rubber bushings were shot and the previous mechanic left the washers off the top.

Now I find that the steering, which was very easy and loose before is stiff. I can still steer it, and it is much better at high speeds (no vibration, no drift) but at slow speeds (30MPH) I notice that the steering wheel tends to stay in the direction I put it. If I move it 1/4" to the right for example, it stays there and doesn't naturally go back.

Is this just new bushings, or are the bolts too tight ?
Will it loosen up naturally ?

Thanks,
Larry
L Ayres

My steering is not unlike that and it hasn't been touched (in 20+years). Not at all 'stiff', just stays where you put it. Mine had been very low on oil (one thing I didn't check when I got it running) and I filled it up about a month ago.
gordon lawson - TD 27667

Larry, if you are using the original type bolts through the rubber pieces, they shouldn't be to tight as they are stepped and will tighten to the correct length, and allow some shaft alignment through the rubber bushings. If someone replaced these with regular bolts then I guess they could be torqued down enough to compress the rubber bearings and cause a slight cocking , or misalignment of the flange, thus causing a binding when turned?

Along this line of thinking, you might loosen the three clamp bolts, loosen the steering column clamp and turn the column a few times to let it self-align, and then snug the bolts back?

Dallas
Dallas Congleton

I think the car has the original stepped bolts. Since I didn't tighten the nuts until they stopped against the wider metal part, I guess they can't be over-tight. In fact it may loosen up when the bushings seat themselves and I may need to tighten them fully to the stop.

The steering rack turns very freely.
Larry Ayres

This thread was discussed between 06/07/2006 and 07/07/2006

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