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MG TD TF 1500 - Steering Column Felt Bushings

I am restoring my TF. Has anyone ever come up with a "modern" bushing for the column, or still using felt? (Will admit my 25 restoration that the felt is about the same loosness as when I installed)
Keith Murphy

hello, i think the felt works fine if installed properly and lubed, but i did replace mine with ones i made up from home central vacuum PVC. tom
tom

I use a piece of leather from an old belt.
Bruce Cunha

Keith,

I rarely deviate from the original fittings on my TF's
but the felt bushings are an item that never seem to do a satisfactory job.Nothing worse than sitting in a newly restored TF and being able to move the inner steering shaft up and down within the outer sleeve.

I had bushes turned up in the lathe using a Teflon based product(white)that is self lubricating.I think a product from the Lubron range would do the trick.

The bushes were made up for both the lower and upper steering shaft housing.I 'split'(cut through) the bushes like was done on the originals to make fitting easier.

TF's can be difficult to restore to high standards-this is one of the more rewarding jobs!

Rob. Grantham
R GRANTHAM

I'm with Rob. I used some sheet teflon of the corect width and length and the ends cut at an angle to overlap. Havent had any problem with it in nearly 30 years. Delrin would be another very good choice. Cheers - Dave
David DuBois

Keith -- Check the archives I seem to remember that there was a thread a while ago where someone mentioned that he was using a needle bearing assembly at the steering wheel end anyway.
Cheers,
Bob
R. K. (Bob) Jeffers

I have had great luck with the felts. The ones supplied for the past years are rather tight and hard to install, but never seem to wear. Obviously the teflon would be better if you could find or make them. George
George Butz

Felt, nylon, deltrin? I am very interested in replacing the felt on our 51 TD. Just can't stand the looseness in the steering column.

As a novice, I would appreciate some help in installing the felt. Anyone in the Atlanta area familiar with this procedure?
Dave Lackey

At the top of the column, remove the column adjusting bolt and slide the clamp/spring out of the way. It may be easier to remove the sliding shaft with the wheel- to do this, remove the oblong shaped key (uncovered by removing the clamp) and sliding the wheel out. Pick out all of the old bushing. Soak the new one in oil, squeeze excess. Then start working the felt in bit by bit. A small screwdriver works well. Reassemble. The lower bushing: remove the three screws and nuts and slide the bushing retainer plate down the shaft. Same as above- remove and replace bushing, reassemble. George
George Butz

Thanks, George.

Sounds like a must-do this weekend or next depending on when I have the grandbabies over to help!!!

Cheers,


Dave
Dave Lackey

Bob
As I recall the needle bearing assembly was for only for the TCs.

BTW I can not keep the felt from comming out of the top, I keep a set of small screwdrivers in the tool box just to put it back about every six months.

Tom
T. L. Manion Thomas

This thread was discussed between 25/07/2006 and 27/07/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.