40 replies to this topic

[DTXDave]

With the new Moulton cone in place inside the subframe tower, and the compressor tool screwed into it, if I put the outer sleeve on the way you are suggesting, there are no threads coming through the top of the sleeve on which to get the big nut and washer onto.

This is the tool:

http://www.minisport...TOL07004MET.jpg

DTXDave

[THE ANORAK]

Well your link is not working for me so i went on the mini sport web site and.....

what an absolutely f###### c### web site


after typing in a part number the damn thing cant even find it, that's just mini sport for you

anyway, i looked in the catalogue and i have to say, that tool is not worth the money you paid for it and to be honest i would be very reluctant to use it. if that small washer is all that's taking the pressure of the cone, then it really needs condemning and should not be sold

due to the problems your having, it's clearly not long enough to be used with the tall smootha ride cones and i would contact mini-sport and ask why they sold it to you with the cones when it clearly is not up to the job ... wan####

dont bodge it, get yourself a proper tool

Edited by THE ANORAK, 02 December 2007 - 12:37 PM.

[DTXDave]

I totally agree, the tool is pants. However, we managed to do the job today although I do not recommend that anyone else uses this tool from Mini Sport.

For those using the search feature of this site: Do not use the Mini Sport suspension cone compression tool.

A few notes about this job:

1. Getting the upper suspension arms off was a pain. Luckily, only one rubber seal had gone on one side as I had only one spare left from a rear radius arm overhaul.

2. With the Adjusta rides at their lowest setting, the gap between the wheel arch and wheel is huge! With both wheels back on the floor and the car having been driven around the block, this height dropped a little, but not much. The geometry is out and I have to turn the steering wheel slightly to the left to go in a straight line. Will the suspension settle and drop some more soon as the car is due an MOT in about 2 weeks and it looks really high?

3. I have Adjusta rides on the back which I fitted ages ago and they have settled lower so my headlights now point upwards. I think I need to raise my back suspension to level the car. Did you have to do this?

Thanks for your help mate. It was very useful. I've given the compression tool to my Dad to modify as he can make tools, although I will give Mini Sport an earful tomorrow. The one Mini Spares sells looks a little similar. Where did you get yours?

DTDave

[THE ANORAK]

yes mate, the front suspension will settle. i would say a bit more in the next two weeks.

give it a bit longer, say two or three months, and you may even need to wind the front up a bit. i did.

just raised my rear end up this weekend after fitting the cones at the end of the summer, so it takes a bit of time


glad you agree on that tool being naff, and glad i spent the extra pennies on the other one

keep us informed on how you find the ride please, quite a few people seem interested in how theses cones perform.

i got my tool from mini spares, but i think they do two, mines the more expensive one, 660330 i think

Edited by THE ANORAK, 02 December 2007 - 09:17 PM.

[DTXDave]

Will do.

As always happens with Mini's, when you start one job, you find more that needs doing. We had to weld new metal in the wheel arch where a little hole had appeared, service some ball joints, and clean up a few bits.

Right now I'm ordering new parts from Mini Spares. The MOT is in 2 weeks and I don't think it'll pass as is. I don't think you get free re-tests anymore so the first one is the one that provides you with the list of what you need to fix.

Thanks again.

DTXDave

[taffy1967]

I had a free re-test on mine last summer and I had about 2 weeks to get it sorted.

[DTXDave]

Well I wound up the rear suspension an inch or so to level the car, and so that my headlights weren't up in the air. I then drove the car into work.

My daily commute is through twisty country roads, then on an A road for a bit, then town roads, so I could really test out the suspension. I took it easy because the handling was different and the car was a lot more 'bouncy'. It leaned into corners a little more than it used to, but not too much.

There's about a 3.5" gap between the top of the 12" tyres and the wheel arch, so I hope that will come down soon by at least an inch. It just looks.. too high for a Mini in my own opinion.

Driving over rough roads and speed bumps is a lot more smooth. We have these small speed bumps in the car park at work and the car just bounces over them now. Before, I used to feel everything through my butt, my legs, and the steering wheel.

Oh, I did phone Mini Sport this morning and they put me on hold for 10 mins! I was on a mobile so I hung up and called back and got another guy who did the same thing. I'll call again when I'm at a desk phone so I can surf while listening to their hold music, and not at 25p/min.


DTXDave

[Quizzy]

Remove rebound bump stop?

[Quizzy]

Remove rebound bump stop?

[Mini_Magic]

I'm doing this on mine at the moment, thanks for the advice everyone.

I removed the rebound rubber on mine but there is still not enough room to get everything in.

[THE ANORAK]

good old mini sport

[ginigwunkle]

i used a two/three foot pipe on the cone tool using the standard length tool was no goodas you cant compress the cone enough

make sure the tool is initialy screwed in enough, atleast 6 full turns so it doest slip/ strip the thread!

[DTXDave]

I phoned Mini Sport up and the guy that answered said that they'd never had anyone call up to complain about a problem with the tool, but that he'd go and talk to the guys in the repair shop. Anyway, after two minutes he came back and said that yeah, they'd had a problem using it on certain Mini's and the solution was to cut off about a quarter of an inch from the sleeve.

Now I don't know about you but I don't own any cutting tools, especially for solid steel.

Anyway, I pointed out that by their admission the tool is not fit for the purpose it was sold for and they've agreed to refund the cost of the tool plus the cost of returning it to them.


DTXDave

[Mini_Magic]

make sure the tool is initialy screwed in enough, atleast 6 full turns so it doest slip/ strip the thread!

What can you do if you were stupid enough to not follow this advice?

Also, do you find that the Smootha Ride cones take a while to settle? Mine have been on for about four days and the front still sits a bit too high, causing the handling to be a little strange.

[THE ANORAK]

yes, they will take a while to settle

dont worry, after a couple of months you'll be raising them up a bit