Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi Everyone,

I’m back with another challenge, the final major piece of the car before most everything is off and I can start stripping paint,
I’m struggling to remove the steering column. I’ve removed the steering wheel, loosened the top screws holding the column in place and loosened the bolt at the bottom of the column.

I was expecting the column to pull out of the rack but it’s being very stubborn to come out to the point I’m thinking I must have missed something.
Once that’s out I can remove the rack relatively simply I think!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Stewart

You say that you've loosened the bolt at the bottom of the column. You need to REMOVE it completely
Other than that - and the top fixing that you say you've removed - the column should come out. You might have to give it a knock to help release it off the splines?

Hi M.M.,
Thanks for the confirmation.
Yes, bottom bolt out and top screws/caps loosened, so I think I’m almost there, just a little gentle hammer help perhaps.
I didn’t want to go that route without confirmation and find there’s a hidden bolt or something.
Thanks again.
Stewart

I would probably completely remove the 2 screws through the top bracket as well but continue to support the column at the correct angle so there is no pressure on the splines at the bottom. The, as you say, a sharp tap or two should release it from those splines. It's clearly been removed before as it isn't covered in that blue paint!

Your 3rd photo appears to show the bolt removed, but we can't see the hidden side.

The Workshop Manual (section J.2) does state to 'remove the clamp nut and bolt...', the reason being that the drive has a waist to it, to accommodate the bolt passing through.
. .
If the bolt is removed, it can only be 'Stiction' holding it.
A gentle tap of a large flat blade screwdriver into the slot should help.
Just a little, don't go driving it right in, you're just trying to free it's grip on the splines.
Remember it might have been tightened by a Gorilla many decades ago.
Your clamp does appear to show signs of a previous use of the same technique around the slot
.

Thanks for the reply, I’ve tried as suggested and still no luck.

I removed the bottom cover and gasket and tried tapping the shaft at the bottom which I assumed was the steering column base but no joy.

More pictures attached showing hopefully more to aid with further suggestions (please).

Stewart

Ah, I completely misunderstood the sentence about the clamp and bolt. I thought it was the clamp at the base of the column but looking at the diagram it’s something else entirely.

“ The Workshop Manual (section J.2) does state to 'remove the clamp nut and bolt...', the reason being that the drive has a waist to it, to accommodate the bolt passing through.”

I’ll go back over the weekend and have another try.
Thanks again.
Stewart

I appear to just be confusing myself further!

What I thought was the solution was just the distraction of the damper housing at the rear.
And of course I’ve been reading the instructions and diagrams for the MM & Series II and of course mine is a 1000.

I have read (several times!) the J.J.1 section and think it will just have to be a little more work on the column to pinion bracket at the bottom to disengage the splines as the bolt and nut are out.

A job for tomorrow!

Stewart

It's sticking in the splines; hitting the pinion is not going to help. Wrap a belt around the lowest portion of the column possible and give it a damn good tug. Maybe add the weight of a lump hammer in the loop of the belt to overcome inertia.

Stewart291TMM wrote: ↑Sat May 10, 2025 5:57 pm I appear to just be confusing myself further!

What I thought was the solution was just the distraction of the damper housing at the rear.
And of course I’ve been reading the instructions and diagrams for the MM & Series II and of course mine is a 1000.

The instructions in any section of the manual that are multiple letters, such as JJ, are just a supplement to the original section, i.e. J.
All steering columns require removal of the Nut and Bolt and then disengagement of the splines... just as I described a week ago.

I see no sign of any penetrating oil on this clamp and there's clearly crud in it.
Soak it in some suitable fluid and then open it up using a large screwdriver blade.
You can see where it's been done before!
For all you know, some dipstick in the past decided to put a locking fluid on the splines.
Get that gap opened up!

Thanks for the additional advice and clarity Phil,
Maybe I’m being a little too tentative, just didn’t want to mess it up. I’ll make this my Sunday morning job this weekend. Thanks for the help.
Stewart

Good luck. I find jobs where something is stuck and requires force quite scary. I never know whether something will break; either the car or me.....I have joked over the years that my car, Xavier, is a vampire and that is why he seems immortal. He has had enough of my blood over the years!!

Stephen

Finally, it's done!

Turns out sometimes you just need a bigger hammer!

Steering column and rack removed, onwards with a few smaller bits and bobs to remove, and then a September appointment with a full body chemical paint removal!

Happy Days!
Stewart

Stewart291TMM wrote: ↑Thu May 15, 2025 8:31 pm Finally, it's done!
Turns out sometimes you just need a bigger hammer!

And the confidence to use it....

I'll even excuse you mixing me up with Phil yesterday, as he's such a knowledgeable guy

geoberni wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 9:53 am
And the confidence to use it....

I'll even excuse you mixing me up with Phil yesterday, as he's such a knowledgeable guy

Hi Geoberni,
Apologies for the mix up and thanks for the advice, as you say it is all about the knowledge and confidence!
I’ll post some more updates as I progress.
Thanks again.
Stewart