Steering Column Bushing Repair

[1965_MGB]

Greetings All,

I wanted to let anyone know that is having some issues with a loose steering column know a great place to have it repaired.

Gerry at gem-enterprises.net just replaced the 42 year old bushings in my MK1 column with some great replacements. He is working on a replacement for the original felt lower bushing with a hard plastic bushing, similar to the upper one.

I sent him a rusty piece of junk that I pulled from a junkyard, and got back a nicely cleaned and painted unit.

I can't believe what a difference these new parts make.

 

[Steve_S]

There has been a lot of debate lately on various forums regarding felt versus nylon. While either will do the job, I have found that the felt bushings tend to last longer than most people own their car. In fact my '65 MGB still has the original felt in it with very little play after 310,000 miles. Removing the rack and modifying it to accept delrin bushings would make an improvement over worn-out felt, but it's much easier to simply replace the felt!

I'm not knocking Gerry's products by any means - I'm sure they are of good quality. But I can have my car back on the road in one day and for only a few dollars when the time comes to replace the felt. In fact I have the rack out for the first time in its life right now and plan to rebuild it this weekend. The engine bay had to be stripped for paint anyway so what the heck! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

I was considering installing Todd Clark's delrin bushings in my MGA rack (similar to early MGB) until I saw a post by Barney Gaylord on the UK BBS regarding the subject. Here's a clip from his post...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Sometimes old tech is not so bad. I'm not sure nylon bushings would last 17 years without getting brittle from age and breaking. I suppose it's worth a try, as the parts are cheap enough either way and easy to replace, just not sure it's worth the bother to fix something that's "not broke".[/QUOTE]

 

[tony barnhill]

Gerry's good people & does a great job...I use him also

For some reason, he always has problems logging on here...he'll usually try for a bit & then email me about it....he had problems again last week....think its something in the way he's trying - or he's got his password et.al. wrong

 

[Ed Kaler]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]For some reason, he always has problems logging on here...[/QUOTE]

Actually Tony, as his neighbor & a friend, I am pretty sure I know why /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif!!

Oooops!!!! Wrong gent!! Sorry, folks!

Ed