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MG TD TF 1500 - How pressing down retainer and anti-rattle spring

The shift lever's retaining ring has popped off. The spring is very strong, and I’m not strong enough to press it down along with the retaining plate. Even with a helper and two pairs of pipe pliers, we didn't succeed.

How did you manage it? Or is the spring simply too strong?
W_Mueller

It's been decades but I believe I use a couple of C-clamps. Hope that translates OK. I used some small wood blocks between the clamp and plate and then tightened a bit on each one, moving it down a bit at a time.
Christopher Couper

Thanks Christopher

- that gave me an idea. I used kitchen worktop connectors. However, upon closer inspection, I began to have slight doubts about whether the anti-rattle spring should really be compressed that tightly. It looks like it’s bottoming out.




W_Mueller

I rarely digress from original fittings, however replacing the original round section retaining ring with a 'modern' Circlip makes for a far easier fit up.

Rob Grantham
Rob Grantham

I had a snap ring like that. The transmission was supposed to be overhauled, and the bungler not only lost the ring but also broke a piece out of the mounting point. Luckily, I still had a replacement for the remote.
W_Mueller

It looks like a new retainer plate- if so is it thicker than original? Is the spring new? If new, the wire diameter may be too fat and it is indeed binding. I don't recall having trouble with that, but has been years ago. George
George Butz III

The retainer might be a tad thicker—but that’s not a bad thing, since the old one had been worn down by the spring. I also tried using a rectangular spring, but it kept working its way out of the retainer. For now, I’m keeping an eye on whether the rattling becomes excessive.
W_Mueller

This thread was discussed between 11/08/2026 and 15/08/2026

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