18 replies to this topic

[BigDave99]

Hey all

Am doing my Sus soon and changing the cones to Smootha ride ones, I have heard you can do the job without a cone compressor. Is that true? What do you have to do differently? Is it ridiculously harder without the tool?

Sorry for all the questions

Thanks in advance

Dave

[cooperdan]

The back yes, But the front no chance, you do need the tool...

they cost much anyway...

[bluesprite]

I've been wanting to do it on the cheap too and from what I have read you could make your own out of a threaded bar but because it will end up under tension then you have to use a hardened bar which either costs nearly as much as the dedicated tool, or is a lot of hastle to harden one. The other option is find someone local that will lend you one, or someone that will post one under the condition that you post it back when done!

[BigDave99]

Cheers guys, sorry posted a bit hastily before doing a bit of searching. A lot of people have said you can do it by jacking up the front to release some pressure and then breaking the trumpet, which is ok as I will be changing to hi los.

[bluesprite]

as long as you can get the new ones in afterwards then I don't see why you can't just cut out the old cone. Mind your fingers!
I wouldn't have thought you'd be able to adjust hi-los enough that you'd be able to just push the new cone in but I've never used them so I don't really know.

[minisam92]

hard enough with the tool pal wouldnt even bother trying with out pal

[Ryan L]

Agreed, it's a tricky enough job with the cone compressor.

I changed to hi los and from memory had them adjusted pretty low to get them in up front. This was with a compressed new cone fitted.

[minimat]

I got the tool from minispares for £15,can't get cheaper than that unless you make one but prob not worth the bother for that price,first time i fitted new cones i couldnt believe how much i had to compress them,was a bit worrying,don't even think about trying without the tool or it will all end in tears!

[oltonlad]

it is very dangerous (and stupid) to even try to attempt to remove the front trumpets without a cone compressor, and you have to take extreme care when using a cone compressor, i know someone who fractured his arm when he used a cone compressor and he hadn't screwed it in far enough, it let go with disasterous results, it is a big no no doing front suspension without one.

[bcjames]

As above, buy the tool, and buy a quality one at that!

Mine sits in the bottom of my toolbox, I pull it out occasionally for suspension work, and the cost has long since been forgotten.

[oltonlad]

i normally use sykes pickavant tools for stuff like this, ok they arent cheap but its better than ending up in hospital!!, i bought a sykes pickavant brake flaring tool and always used sykes pickavant since, the quality is second to none.

[CLM]

I have removed trumpets without a compressor, the spring doesn't really have much more extension then it has at full suspension droop with the rebound buffer smashed flat. Granted this was with old used squished cones however it did have the longer knuckle being a spi front end. Putting it in that way would likely be impossible but I managed to slide out the pin which let the arm down on the rebound buffer then using a pry-bar to gently and carefully lift it over the rebound buffer. Unlike a coil spring it wont jump out and extend another several inches, a cone is just only so long. Don't do this with new cones though! As for dangerous, no where near as dangerous as many other types of work that is performed on cars, if you are mindful of the dangers and be careful it can be disassembled.

Chris

[Tang3rine]

I have the same problem, i have the compressor tool but my 38 year old cones don't have a thread in them that the tool can bite into, My thinking was just release as much pressure as possible then take at the trumpet with Mr angle grinder

[jaydee]

I've been wanting to do it on the cheap too and from what I have read you could make your own out of a threaded bar but because it will end up under tension then you have to use a hardened bar which either costs nearly as much as the dedicated tool, or is a lot of hastle to harden one. The other option is find someone local that will lend you one, or someone that will post one under the condition that you post it back when done!

I've seen it in flash, it is made of a old steering rack rod...to be honest, buy a proper cone compressor, makes the job far easier and safer.

[JustSteve]

Anybody thinking of using an angle grinder:

You cut throughthe trumpet, which will still have pressure on it.. As you cut through it will collapse onto your cutting disc. The angle grinder will jam, your arm will let go, the angle grinder will eat straight through your face. If you are lucky to survive, you probably won't be able to drive your mini again anyway, as you will likely be blind, or have serious health problems.

Don't try and skimp for £20. Buy the tool, keep you and others safe. I'd say that shanging cones is a pretty dangerous job. I nearly lost my fingers the first time I changed them. This was through not using the correct tool, and the threads stripped.


Be safe!