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Steering wheel resistance

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Steering wheel resistance
#1
  This topic is about my 1972 MG Midget MkIII
scotty1998 Avatar
scotty1998 Scott Gibson
WATKINS Glen, NY, USA   USA
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1972 MG Midget MkIII "The VB Weller"
My steering column and system seems pretty normal to me with no play or slop. Turn the wheel and there is a direct reaction at the rack, so good news. My question is that if you move the steering wheel left and right it feels like there is resistance in the column somewhere (up by the dash), like there's a bad bearing or something. It also makes a crunchy noise like the sound of gravel. That got me thinking that there is some kind of damage in the column itself up near the ignition. While I was at a friends house, his '79 has a steering lock. My '72 does not. Should it and if so, could that be what the noise is all about?

By the way, directionals work fine, and ignition key works fine.


1972 MG Midget MKIII "The VB Weller"
55,400 Miles
Watkins Glen, NY

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#2
ACW270 Avatar
ACW270 Karl Thompson
Cambridge, -, UK   GBR
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1965 MG Midget MkII
Depending on which model, the top of your steering column is supported by either an oiled felt bush or a plastic one. If you have a felt one, the column top has a hole for fresh oil to be added. If a plastic one, it may have degraded over time and should be replaced. Replacing a felt one is a bit of a nightmare but there was a post on here a while ago on how to do it. This web page details which cars had which type of bush:

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/shop-by-model/mg/midget/steering-suspension/steering/steering-column-wheels-sprite-iv-midget-iii-1500-1967-79.html

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#3
scotty1998 Avatar
scotty1998 Scott Gibson
WATKINS Glen, NY, USA   USA
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1972 MG Midget MkIII "The VB Weller"
Thanks Karl. It looks like I have the later 1275 (GAN5) so I don't have the felt bushings. Looking at Moss's site, I don't see a replacement listed for plastic though. Just the lock/ignition mechanism which seems to be where the sound is coming from. Perhaps its in there? Anyway, it doesn't seem to be inhibiting the driveability of the car so as long as its not a safety issue, I can live with it.


1972 MG Midget MKIII "The VB Weller"
55,400 Miles
Watkins Glen, NY

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#4
ACW270 Avatar
ACW270 Karl Thompson
Cambridge, -, UK   GBR
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1965 MG Midget MkII
I am seeing the plastic bush as item 11, part no MGP1050B.

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#5
refisk Rick Fisk
Frankenmuth, MI, USA   USA
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You guys are looking at two different Moss catalogs. Moss Europe and Moss USA are two very separate and very different companies in many ways. smiling smiley

In reply to # 4787931 by ACW270 I am seeing the plastic bush as item 11, part no MGP1050B.

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#6
ACW270 Avatar
ACW270 Karl Thompson
Cambridge, -, UK   GBR
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1965 MG Midget MkII
Thanks, Rick. The link at #2 is to Moss Europe's site.

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#7
scotty1998 Avatar
scotty1998 Scott Gibson
WATKINS Glen, NY, USA   USA
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1972 MG Midget MkIII "The VB Weller"
yes, I was looking at the US catalog which didn't have a part option. Weird.


1972 MG Midget MKIII "The VB Weller"
55,400 Miles
Watkins Glen, NY



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-22 09:38 AM by scotty1998.

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#8
refisk Rick Fisk
Frankenmuth, MI, USA   USA
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The Moss USA catalog pretty much sucks when compared to the Moss Europe catalog. Just my opinion. smiling smiley

In reply to # 4787940 by scotty1998 yes, I was looking at the US catalog which didn't have an option. Weird.

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#9
scotty1998 Avatar
scotty1998 Scott Gibson
WATKINS Glen, NY, USA   USA
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1972 MG Midget MkIII "The VB Weller"
Not going to disagree with you Rick. Why the difference?


1972 MG Midget MKIII "The VB Weller"
55,400 Miles
Watkins Glen, NY

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#10
refisk Rick Fisk
Frankenmuth, MI, USA   USA
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The two companies are actually totally separate companies run by different people. Moss USA used to own Moss Europe but they sold it in 1993.

In reply to # 4787946 by scotty1998 Not going to disagree with you Rick. Why the difference?

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#11
scotty1998 Avatar
scotty1998 Scott Gibson
WATKINS Glen, NY, USA   USA
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1972 MG Midget MkIII "The VB Weller"
All about what they normally keep in inventory too I suppose.


1972 MG Midget MKIII "The VB Weller"
55,400 Miles
Watkins Glen, NY

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#12
littlecars Avatar
littlecars David Bassett
Nashville, TN, USA   USA
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1963 Chevrolet Corvair "Cheeto!"
1965 Chevrolet Corvair "Ski Team Transport SOLD!"
1965 MG Midget MkII "Buffoon --- SOLD!!!"
1966 MG Midget MkII "Swiss Cheese...SCRAPPED"    & more
Your 1972 Midget SHOULD have a steering lock. If you don't have to push the little thumb button to release your ignition key, or there is no resistance to pulling the key out, someone has messed with the shroud behind the steering wheel or your steering column. Also, in 1972 they may have already started using the collapsible column which has a series of plastic or nylon sleeves which deteriorate over time. Further down the column as it enters the engine bay.

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#13
scotty1998 Avatar
scotty1998 Scott Gibson
WATKINS Glen, NY, USA   USA
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1972 MG Midget MkIII "The VB Weller"
I do have the little push button to get the key out. Truth be told, I don't believe it locks but I may have had the key in while trying. At any rate, it seems like the plastic bushings are definitely rotten. The steering shroud also flops around behind the wheel. I'm assuming that isn't supposed to happen either?


1972 MG Midget MKIII "The VB Weller"
55,400 Miles
Watkins Glen, NY

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#14
zeearteest Avatar
zeearteest Gold Member Ron U
Great Falls, MT, USA   USA
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1972 MG Midget MkIII "MarGarita"
2009 Mini Cooper "Gary"
Hi Scotty,

I also have a '72, and the shroud on mine is just flat loose. Our pothole roads here make the shroud sound like a one-man band. I loosened the steering wheel shaft mounting bolts under the dash to get to the shroud, but the PO had stripped the mounting screws for the shroud, which was also broken. I've been looking for a shroud, but one of our members here has 3-D printed several. I'll try to find the link for you.

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Re: Steering wheel resistance
#15
JAMADOR Avatar
JAMADOR John Amador
Spring, TX, USA   USA
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1975 MG Midget 1500 "Midge"
Mine [1975] has the label for the steering lock button, but I have no button nor steering lock.


1975 MG Midget 1500 - Midge
Work in Progress

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