11 replies to this topic

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between the '70s/early '80s outer steering column with the felt bush and the late '80s/'90s column with the plastic lower bush is apart from the overall length?  A side by side photograph would be really helpful. 

[Magneto]

I don't have a pic, but I can tell you they don't work with each other.....the lower part of the earlier outer column is made differently - there's a ridge in it to hold the felt that won't allow the later style plastic bush to work with the late style inner shaft. When I needed an inner shaft for a 73 I took a later model and had it machined to match the original, so I could use the felt lower bush. I may have a pic of the two inners tho, lemme look....

 

The upper shaft in this pic is the early style, the lower is the later style that uses the plastic bush. The shiny area on the upper is where the felt rides, to make the newer style work (lower shaft) I had that area machined down to match, then used the felt bush.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Thanks Magneto although there aren't any pictures!

 

I had a major problem with my inner column (early type) so obtained a replacement which happened to be a late type.  It wasn't from Minispares but on the page where they sell theirs it states:  "Fits 1985 on cars but can be used for earlier steering lock type cars by using later bush and cutting the outer column down to size at the bottom."

 

I did this and all seemed well except it now appears to have excessive play in the lower bush.  I wondered if the internal diameters were different at the bottom or if there is some other difference causing this. 

[Magneto]

Sorry, I have had trouble posting pics to this site.....I'll try again but it sounds like you got it mostly sorted....

 

Nope, still can't post the pic, says it's too big even tho it's only 167KB

 

If you go to this thread on the US site - Restoration Mini - I have the pic posted and a description of what I did....

 

http://restorationmi...p?topic=1177.50

Edited by Magneto, 23 January 2019 - 04:49 AM.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Not really sorted as I still have an unacceptable amount of play in the lower bush despite the bush being new. 

 

On the outer column there was a ridge to stop the felt bush disappearing up the column.  To fit the later inner column, my old outer column had to be shortened which meant cutting just above the ridge to give the correct overall length and allow the new plastic bush to be inserted.  This seems to be what Minispares were saying here:  http://www.minispare.../FAM5285MS.aspx

 

However there is now no ridge which means the new plastic bush can move up the column.  I am wondering if the newer type of outer column (which I should be using with the inner column I now have)  has a ridge to keep the plastic bush in place and whether it possibly pushes the plastic bush against the thick part of the inner column when installed expanding it slightly and taking up the clearance. 

Edited by unburntfuelinthemorning, 01 June 2019 - 06:17 AM.

[Magneto]

I dunno, I don't have any later columns around to look at, all mine are the earlier style.....maybe the later outer column have a ridge too, just located further up? That's why I machined the new shaft to match the old, so I wouldn't have to deal with the difference in styles and construction between the old and new designs.

 

In my case the reason I had to change the inner shaft was that someone stripped the threads on the steering wheel end and the wheel was being held on by a slather of JB Weld over the nut! Scary stuff.....

Edited by Magneto, 23 January 2019 - 04:56 PM.

[Spider]

We had what I think is the earlier type fitted in our late Mokes.

 

I had to replace the inner on a build for a friend a few years back and we got a new shaft from Mini Spares, but it seemed to only suit a shorter outer. I've not seen these in the flesh, so I'm unsure as to exactly how these were arranged.

 

I fitted it up by machining the lower end of the new inner and then turning up a bush from HDPE - I've never liked the felt bushes, they just don't have much longevity. After turning the bush up, I split it to fit it over the shaft.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Well I've gotten hold of a late style outer column.  It has a ridge in it a similar distance from the end as the early column had but it has an additional ridge which looks like it engages with the plastic bush somehow. 

 

I've given it a fresh coat of paint so once it's dried I'll see what happens.  As it's now the correct outer for the inner column I have hopefully all will be well.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Now I've sussed out posting pictures it'll make life somewhat easier.  Here's a picture of the bottom end of the late style column with the lower bush next to it for perspective:

 

 

It's all back together again now and seems alright at the moment - but it did last time I did this job!  We'll see how long it lasts this time.

 

I don't like the way the outer column is only supported at the clamp.  A second way of locating it at the bottom end of the column would seem like a good idea possibly tieing it into the pedal box. 

[Ethel]

Wouldn't want to make it too rigid, it could serve as a spear in a shunt. With no collapsible column, we rely on it and the wheel bending, helped by the bus driver attitude.

[Spider]

Wouldn't want to make it too rigid, it could serve as a spear in a shunt. With no collapsible column, we rely on it and the wheel bending, helped by the bus driver attitude.

 

In our part of the world, they do in fact classify the way the Steering Column Assy in a Mini folds up as a Collapsible Column

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Wouldn't want to make it too rigid, it could serve as a spear in a shunt. With no collapsible column, we rely on it and the wheel bending, helped by the bus driver attitude.

Yeah that's a good point.