5 replies to this topic

[stevewes]

Hi all, I've been looking for an answer to this with no success so apologies if it's been asked before...

 

I'm fitting new rubber cones and knuckles all round on my car.  Rears went in no problem, fronts not so much.

 

I've got the new cone in location and compressed, and the top arm refitted (with knuckle attached), but haven't now got the clearance to get the trumpet in place and located onto the knuckle - obviously the new cones have a lot more height than the old (which I suspect were as old as the car).

 

So do I keep on tightening the compression tool (which is already feeling pretty tight but I need about 2cm more clearance to get the knuckle into the end of the trumpet) - is it possible to over tighten and damage the cone (or the tool, or myself)?

 

Or do I take the top arm back off and try to fit it with the arm / knuckle / trumpet assembled off the car - which is what I tried first but the knuckle just kept popping out of its socket at the slightest provocation as I tried to locate the arm in the sub-frame.

 

Any suggestions on the correct process or advice on how tight to safely wind up the compression tool?

 

Thanks in advance!

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

You can go pretty tight with the compressor as long as the thread is properly engaged in the cone,  it can feel like something's going to break though.  Using oil on the moving parts of the tool helps to reduce friction and allows more compression of the cone.

[Chris1275gt]

Hi
Agree with above but if all else fails there is always a set of hi/lows and wind the nut as small as they will go and they will fall into the sockets then adjust to the correct height.

[mini-mad-mark]

Are you putting the trumpet onto the knuckle first then putting it "under" the cone - It sound like you are trying to fit it to the cone first? In which cas you will be way too low to get the knuckle into the bottom of the trumpet

 

You have to kind of lean the knuckle forward, (but take it easy as if you pull it too far forward the gaiter will pop off and its a pain to fit back on with the top arm in situ) then put the trumpet onto the knuckle,  then lean it back under the cone.

 

Oh and just in case - you have removed the rebound buffer to allow the top arm to drop down as much as possible?

 

Sorry this is one of those things that needs a video explanation as the words don't really describe the technique

[darkrider]

I put the cone in then the trumpet and then the upper control arm. Jacked the whole thing up and then shoved the knucle in, it seems to work fine!

[Cooperman]

Have you removed the small rubber 'down-stop' which sits under the top arm. If not then that is the problem.

The trumpet should go in with the top arm fitted.