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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering column shortening

I have shortened a late collapsible steering column on my sprite and just wondered if anyone knew what the plastic type material is that is poured in to make it rigid but not permanent, incase of an accident.
Or do I just drill right through and bolt it back together.
Any thoughts or experiences
Dave
D Pratt

I use 2 pot epoxy resin for the job.
If you can't make that work, drill through and insert a plastic dowel. That would shear as designed in the case of an accident. The dowel doesn;t take steering loads - that is taken by the matching inner and outer sections.
Good source of plastic dowels: Wife's knitting needles, come in a range of size and one will be just perfect to match. :-)
Paul Walbran

agreed; alternative source of plastic peg is the sprue from a model kit.
David Smith

I used Gorilla glue, did it about 6 years ago. Gorilla Glue expands as it cures. Worked a treat
Nigel Axtell

The plastic pins are meant to shear on impact.
Gorilla glue would eliminate that feature.

As long as you don't need it (don't crash), that's fine.



Norm

Norm Kerr

The reference to “shear pin” I think is misleading. I have a 1500. My column became loose a few years back. When I took it apart there were no pins. The inner column is “Wasted” The outer column has two holes (opposite each other) and is lined up with the “wasted” part. I suspect during manufacture a liquid Nylon type substance was injected into the holes & filled up the wasted section & filled the holes on the outer tube which would give the shear pin effect.
The only way to achieve the desired effect is to adopt the same or similar process, by injecting a glue or substance that will set and fill the outer holes
Nigel Axtell

Modifying a steering column....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Ayrton_Senna

Rather you than me !
Malc Gilliver

Here's another one of my 'library' pictures that shows what Nigel described above.

Dave O'Neill2

Thanks for the info guys
I have taken the column apart now and it has two collapsable sections 1 at the bottom and 1 near the top that is covered by the outer sleeve
My new dilemma is I need to shorten the shaft by about 300mm
1. I can push both collapsable sections into the outer shaft and refix them the shaft is no longer collapsable like my frog
2. I could cut the shaft remove 300mm, internally sleeve and re weld
My issue here is once put back together in the outer sleeve I can't see the weld and over time (you know where this is going)
My life is in your hands. Lol
D Pratt

300mm seems an awful lot. What are you doing with it?

I would be tempted to shorten the two inner sections by the required amount and reassemble as per original. It would then still be collapsible.
Dave O'Neill2

I would keep it collapsible too.
As for welds, there are quite a number of welds done in safety critical places all over the car. How about for starters the ends of the axle tube - which supports both wheel bearings and braking loads, and the chassis outriggers that support the lower inner front suspension, or the wishbone itself. So welds do happen in critical places during manufacture, and sometimes they need to be done in the course of maintenance or modification. The key thing is that such welds are done properly. That's when to hand the job to someone with the right sort of welding ticket and experience, and then get it properly tested afterwards.

Paul Walbran

I needed a different steering column on my kit car and managed to 'parts bin' it.

So instead of an MGB column I have an SD1 column 5/16" spline - connected to a TR7 steering UG 5/16" to 3/4" back to the MGB rack 3/4" spline, but no modified bits.

If you need to take 300mm out, I'd start looking at Metro / mini / MG F/ MGB columns not cutting and shutting.

If you have a large breaker near by have a look at the BMC / BL / Rover Group cars and select parts there, the DD section on the SD1 looks similar to the late Sprite one.


I take the view, if the brakes fail, suspension collapses, wheel falls off, at least I get the chance to choose what I hit (within limits) but if the steering fails, then you are a passenger !
Malc Gilliver

This thread was discussed between 12/10/2013 and 16/10/2013

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