9 replies to this topic

[P91MER]

Was meant to ask this weeks ago before my car went to rover, but just haven't bothered, but when i go over harsh potholes with the nearside wheel its as tho it goes bang, like the sus is bottoming out. So thought i'd take a pic of how close it is to the bumpstop, which i am pretty sure it is hitting. to see how close it is!

now is that close or what!!




The car isn't lowered as you can see by the standard sus cone, all i can think of is a worn knuckle, as it looks quite flat, but what shall i do? i have heard some people removing the bump stop/cutting it down. what sort of gap is usually there??

I know it makes no odds to the ride height, but i am running Gaz adjustables.

ta
Rich

[Wil_h]

That is quite close, and it has been hitting it. the marks on the end of the bump stop show that.

However, I'v just been out to look at mine and the stops are constantly touching the bumpstops at rest, and I dont get a bang, ever.

It's more likely that something onthat sode of the suspension is lose. Baslljoints or toparm bearings ar a favorite.

Thanks for making me look at mine by the way, I need to think about it being that low.

Cheers

Wil

[dklawson]

If you're getting a pronounced "bang" you probably have old rubber cones which have shrunk quite a bit. (Yes... the nylon cup in the arm could have worn through and lowered the car... but you didn't mention suspension groans and squeaks). If the rubber cone has collapsed or shrunk you're car will settle quite a bit lower and if you are still running stock shock absorbers, the shocks can bottom out. The bottoming shock absorber is a hard mechanical stop as opposed to the rubber bump stop.

[siggy]

How have you taken the photo. With the wheel on and on the floor?

Siggy

[Woody]

it is possable that it is lowered even with a standard trumpet , in the olden days we used to cut the alloy trumpets down to lower the mini , and add washers to raise it (between the trumpet and knuckle)

[P91MER]

yes, photo is taken with wheel on, on full right lock, and not jacked up..


The car is only a 96' and was completly standard apart from a maniflow exhaust, so pretty sure it isn't lowered.

Do you think it is an idea to cut the bump stop down?

Rich

[The Matt]

No, cutting the bump stop down will not eliminate the problem. The problem would seem to be with either a knackered cone, goosed knuckle or a combination of the two, the banging will more than likely be a bottoming out noise coming from the shock absorber. This is caused by the shock absorber being allowed to go through all of its travel and not being restricted by the suspension cone.

Cutting the bump stop may seem to give more clearance, but this will not prevent the possible damage to the shock absorber that could be caused by repeated bottoming. Not really sure of a way of checking the condition of the cone. :erm: Maybe measure the height of the base of the trumpet from a fixed point on the subframe?? Without having a look at it, I couldn't say for certain what the problem is, but my gut feeling would be that the cone is worn. Could this be caused/promoted by running the shocks too soft?

[siggy]

Whats it like when the wheels are straight ahead?

What clearance have you got from the tyre to the wheel arch (photo please)

Is it the same both sides?

Siggy

[Jackman]

Sorry for bringing the thread back to life saves me creating another one, i seem to have the same thing with mine, its not hitting the bump stop but it is the same distance away, when driving i do hear loud bangs due to pot holes and the front of the car is quite low. Here is a picture of the side of my mini when i got it, its a bit lower now than it was then, what parts would need replacing if somthing had gone. Its all standard stuspension.

Thanks

Jackman

[Pavel]

Replace the knuckle joints and while you're at it, check your cones. If they seem rather squished then replace those too! knuckle joints - 3 pounds each (1 needed for 1 side). Cones - 25 each was it?