Well, I need to replace the top bush in the steering column.

How do I remove the brass ring for the horn?
Any tips?
Can I do it in the car?

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Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Sorry, don't know.

But good to see you're not doing what I did. Thinking the ring was part of the horrible aftermarket boss on the mysterious column I had lying in the shed, I cut it off with a Dremel. Very effective method, but of course now that I know it's an essential part, difficult to refit. Turns out they're no longer available.

Maybe use a bearing puller?

I've never had to do it on an early car, but I do note that originally they were fitted with a felt bush, so it may not come off to allow for replacement bushes of the newer type. The old felt bush wraped around.

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The fingers on the top end of the slip ring grab into a shallow groove in the plastic insulator underneath, but apart from it should just pull off. The fact that four of the fingers on mine were broken off even before I got to it leads me to believe it's probably a very tight fit.

So.....

Do I just force it off? Won't this damage the wire for the horn?

Can it be put back on easily?

_________________
Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

No, that shouldn't damage it. The wire ends in a brass terminal on a spring, which contacts the slip ring - it's not permanently attached.

I would think that it would be as easy or difficult to get it back on as it is to get it off. Probably a bit easier, since the springy finger bits won't be working against you. I can't really say for certain, since mine's in two pieces, and will be glued back on if I can't think of an alternative.

If it jams, force it.

If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway

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An excellent motto.

But in this case, it'll be difficult to replace - you can't buy the slip rings new.

After posting this I went out into the garage and I actually realised that I did this same job 6 years ago and I kept the brass ring and the plastic bits, so if it breaks I have spares hows that for a quality memory

_________________
Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Haha, memories aren't designed to last six years. If you get as much mileage out of one as a bar of soap you're doing well I reckon.

If nothing's busted once you've fitted your new bush and you feel like selling your spare slip ring bits, send me a PM.

So, I did this yesterday. It was a very easy job. I did it with the column still in the car.

The brass ring, with a bit of twisting and a good tight grip slides off, and then I just had to fish the old bush out (this was a little tricky without removing the inner column. Then just reassembled. The new bush took up all the play. Happy Days!!!

Simms PM Sent.

_________________
Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au