Hi,
I have some play in the outer steering column so I'm going to try and oil the felt bush and replace the top plastic bush. I don't really want to be pull the whole column out and mess around with re-aligning etc. The top bush looks fairly easy to replace- take the indicator assembly off and pull the bush out, lube up new one and squeeze it in.

My question is, how does everyone oil the lower felt bush? Is it as simple as removing the steering wheel and putting oil down the column, or do I need to pull the outer column up and somehow oil the felt from the bottom? if so how does everyone get oil up the bottom of the column?

Any help is much appreciated.

I'm reasonably sure you can't replace the top bush without removing the shaft, so you might be out of luck there... the bushes are split and need to be rolled up a little bit to push in to the outer. It's a very snug fit

removing the column isn't anything to be scared of, you'll probably find that this is one of those jobs where it seems like the easy way to do the job is the hard way, and doing it properly is actually the easy way

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I've heard that some people replace the felt bush with a plastic one.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

I've read some UK forums and some people state to remove the top plastic bush and put oil down to oil the felt which is where I came up with that. I can do basic mechanic work but I don't want to be removing the column from the rack and come un stuck trying to re-align it. If I were to remove the column and not move anything then it should align back up correctly shouldn't it?

Yes. Set the wheels straight ahead. When you remove the bolt in the pinion clamp at the base of the column you'll see the pinion shaft has a recess for the bolt so it will only go back in one way. Makes it fairly easy to align the splines correctly (see below).

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

GSV1127 is the felt bush at the bottom of the column. It is not usually lubricated during use - only when first installed. The oil leaks onto the carpet.
It is meant to be soaked in a heavy grade of oil overnight before fitting. It ends up being an awful mess but persevere. There is a nylon version NAM8563 for Mokes but I don't know about these.
Both top (nylon) and bottom (felt) bushes are very easy to fit BUT ....PLEASE be absolutely SURE you have the bottom pinch bolt engaged through the groove seen on the steering rack pinion spline - HYL3758 in Winabbey's illustration. This connects the steering wheel and column with the steering rack's pinion.
Otherwise the steering column and the steering rack can separate = disaster.
I have a small collection of GSV1127 felt bushes (bought when I thought they were the rack damper bush). Let me know if you want one - I'll never use the ones I have!

Thanks for the replies. I managed to pull the outer column up slightly and the felt was very dry and almost fell out the bottom. I got soil oil into the bottom half and shoved it back up there to keep me going while I place an order for bushes. Amazing how much less play is in it already!

The picture of the small shaft sums it up.... I thought the inner column goes onto the steering rack not the little shaft first.

Cheers

replace the bushes. you won't believe how good it is after you do it.

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