[Mgs] Steering rack removal (1980 MGB)

[Peter Schauss]

Once I have the u-joint loose, will I be able to pull the steering
column without
removing the lower radiator hose?  What about the radiator?

Thanks,
Peter Schauss

On Thu, Apr 19, 2012 at 7:41 AM, Paul Hunt <paulhunt73 at virginmedia.com>
wrote:
> You have to fully remove the clamp bolt from the UJ.  It sits in a notch of
> groove in the shafts and is part of the alignment of the two shafts, and is
> why the alignment cones need to be precisely engineered.
>
> If it still won't budge then try wedging a screwdriver or something in the
> slot in the UJ to open it up.  You do need to be careful with the later
full
> energy absorbing column as it is all too easy to shear the nylon inserts if
> the is too much force applied along the length of the column.  It's force
on
> the upper half that is more likely to shear them though, the lower half is
> pretty firmly located in the outer.
>
> PaulH.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>>
>> I removed the bolts which hold the steering arms to the kingpins and the
>> four bolts which hold the steering rack to the frame and loosened the
>> front
>> pinch bolt on the u-joint.  Before I quit last night I soaked the splines
>> with penetrating oil.  Is there any trick to getting the lower steering
>> column out of the u-joint?  I don't want to use too much force for fear of
>> distorting the collapsible upper section of the column.