15 replies to this topic

[MiniVespa]

Hey all, I've got me a 1973 Mini, Canadian spec (LHD), 998, and am located in Florida, USA. Hopefully you guys can help a yank out with my suspension woes.

So today I was attempting to remove my front rubber cones. I'm replacing them with SRacer coil springs and hi-los. I ordered a standard UNF cone compressor from MiniSport (which is complete rubbish by the way). When trying to fit it into the cones from the top, I simply could not get the tool to thread into the cone. I tried for at least 30 or 40 minutes with no luck. Tried both sides. Gutted.

I have already replaced the rear cones with the coils, so I thought I may need the metric tool. After all, the cones are probably newer than 76 and metric, but I didnt take that into account when ordering the tool. I test fitted the UNF tool to one of the rear cones and it fit nicely.

So, I dont really want to order a new tool. Shipping to the states takes quite some time but the tool is cheap in the UK. A compression tool is 70 quid in the states and I hate to order one just to take the stupid cones out and never use the tool again as springs will be on the car.

How the hell can I get these blasted cones out of the car without a compression tool? Ive considered taking a hacksaw to the trumpet and cutting it in half and then giving it a couple wacks with a hammer and heavy flat head screw driver but I'm a bit afraid that there is loads of pressure in them, even with the car jacked up.

Can anyone shed some light on what I am to do here? I don't want to end up with suspension shrapnel in my hands or face (or neighbors car) if I am to bang the cones out. There has to be ways of doing it as I'm sure people have cross threaded them and had to remove them some other way.

Cheers!

[Skortchio]

I had a similar problem when switching my rubber out for springs too, if the SRacers are anything like Minitastic then they're slightly larger than a rubber cone so you'll have to employ this approach anyway...

Remove the top arm.

:)

That's all. Will give you the space you need to (with some skinning of knuckles) remove the old cone and trumpet and get the new spring in place.
It can be a bit of a fiddle holding it all still while reassembling the top arm but it's doable and a bungee or similar through the coil to hold it up out the way while you work can help.

[MiniVespa]

I had a similar problem when switching my rubber out for springs too, if the SRacers are anything like Minitastic then they're slightly larger than a rubber cone so you'll have to employ this approach anyway...

Remove the top arm.

:)

That's all. Will give you the space you need to (with some skinning of knuckles) remove the old cone and trumpet and get the new spring in place.
It can be a bit of a fiddle holding it all still while reassembling the top arm but it's doable and a bungee or similar through the coil to hold it up out the way while you work can help.

Thanks mate, so you removed the top arm and the cone and trumpet came out without any compression on the cone needed?

Was there any precautions or things I need to know beyond what the haynes book of lies tells me? Any pressure from the top arm?

[xrocketengineer]

You are going to need the metric compressor any way for the new springs. I have one and I am in Merritt Island (I will be there tomorrow since I am travelling right now). PM me if you want to borrow it.

Ivan

Edited by xrocketengineer, 31 October 2012 - 03:00 AM.

[MiniVespa]

Ivan, thanks for the offer. I actually sourced a Metric compression tool from a local guy here in Pensacola!

You mentioned I will need it for the springs? Its my understanding I can put the springs in and then the hi-los at their lowest setting and bring them out once in place? No? How would I manage to put the compression tool on any part of the springs (NOT rubber cones)? Through the threaded hole in the spacer?

[Skortchio]

Thanks mate, so you removed the top arm and the cone and trumpet came out without any compression on the cone needed?

Was there any precautions or things I need to know beyond what the haynes book of lies tells me? Any pressure from the top arm?

When you jack the wheel off the ground with the damper unbolted, does the rubber cone become loose? If it does then you won't need a compression tool for this job.

By taking out the top arm, you give yourself a ton of extra room. For a little more you can take the lower bump stop out too (flat one), I didn't need to myself.

As for tips, buy a couple of top arm rubbers in advance. They're pretty thin and have a habit of falling apart when you move them, better to be prepared. Get some new knuckles while you're at it (cheap too) and give the knuckle seat a good clean up / grease.

And grease everything, inlcuding repacking the top arm via the nipple once you're finished.

Re the cone compressor, the kit you linked appears to have a thread tapped in it for the cone compressor. Which is handy if you have access to one. Spacer will be lowest rememeber, to allow the tool to compress the spring against the subframe.

But I will say this, it's not uncommon to need to remove the top arm to reassemble the suspension anyway even with a spring compressor. If you have access to one, try it without first - less to undo!

[xrocketengineer]

I installed the same "red" springs on mine but with the original trumpets and I had to use the compressor. As a matter of fact I had a hard time with the right one. I had as much load as I dared on the compressor and the trumpet would barely fit. I did not remove the upper arms either.
This is what it looked like with the engine out at a later date after the installation.

Edited by xrocketengineer, 31 October 2012 - 03:08 PM.

[mini1000]

I just made my own tool, I didn't know either if there were going to be metric or inperial so I bought both threaded rods and return the one I didn't need, you can just buy the threaded rod from a brofasco or similar distributor.

[dklawson]

I bought my threaded rod from McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com). Almost anything you can imagine is available from McMaster and they sell to anyone with a credit card.

As was shown in Xrocketengineer's post, the blue collar is not a spacer, it is a spring seat that goes at the bottom. The trumpet or Hi-Lo rests in the recess of the blue collar just like the metal entrance collar on a traditional rubber cone. You may get by without the 14mm rod when installing springs with Hi-Los.

[998dave]

Hey all, I've got me a 1973 Mini, Canadian spec (LHD), 998, and am located in Florida, USA. Hopefully you guys can help a yank out with my suspension woes.

So today I was attempting to remove my front rubber cones. I'm replacing them with SRacer coil springs and hi-los. I ordered a standard UNF cone compressor from MiniSport (which is complete rubbish by the way). When trying to fit it into the cones from the top, I simply could not get the tool to thread into the cone. I tried for at least 30 or 40 minutes with no luck. Tried both sides. Gutted.

I have already replaced the rear cones with the coils, so I thought I may need the metric tool. After all, the cones are probably newer than 76 and metric, but I didnt take that into account when ordering the tool. I test fitted the UNF tool to one of the rear cones and it fit nicely.

So, I dont really want to order a new tool. Shipping to the states takes quite some time but the tool is cheap in the UK. A compression tool is 70 quid in the states and I hate to order one just to take the stupid cones out and never use the tool again as springs will be on the car.

How the hell can I get these blasted cones out of the car without a compression tool? Ive considered taking a hacksaw to the trumpet and cutting it in half and then giving it a couple wacks with a hammer and heavy flat head screw driver but I'm a bit afraid that there is loads of pressure in them, even with the car jacked up.

Can anyone shed some light on what I am to do here? I don't want to end up with suspension shrapnel in my hands or face (or neighbors car) if I am to bang the cones out. There has to be ways of doing it as I'm sure people have cross threaded them and had to remove them some other way.

Cheers!

Why not find out the thread size, and get a long bit of studding, sharpen the end to a point, and get a cuple of nuts and washers for the other end?

[MiniVespa]

sourced a metric compression tool locally so gonna give it a go tomorrow

[Dusky]

I installed the same "red" springs on mine but with the original trumpets and I had to use the compressor. As a matter of fact I had a hard time with the right one. I had as much load as I dared on the compressor and the trumpet would barely fit. I did not remove the upper arms either.
This is what it looked like with the engine out at a later date after the installation.

Sorry to bump this thread :)
But how high did the mini sit with the coil springs and the standard trumpets?Any chance you got some pictures? :)
Many thanks!

[xrocketengineer]

 

I installed the same "red" springs on mine but with the original trumpets and I had to use the compressor. As a matter of fact I had a hard time with the right one. I had as much load as I dared on the compressor and the trumpet would barely fit. I did not remove the upper arms either.
This is what it looked like with the engine out at a later date after the installation.

Sorry to bump this thread :)
But how high did the mini sit with the coil springs and the standard trumpets?Any chance you got some pictures? :)
Many thanks!

 

Here are the pics:

 

Before:

 

Rear arch:

 

After:

 

Rear arch after adding two washers (about 0.170 in) between the trumpet and the knuckle joint:

 

Washers:

[Spider]

Thanks for sharing the photos rocketman.

 

Dusty - there you go mate, now you have your answer!!

[Dusky]

Thanks for sharing the photos rocketman.
 
Dusty - there you go mate, now you have your answer!!

My life is complete now! :) :)