9 replies to this topic

[jakepalmerd13]

HI Guys i currently i have been working on replacing the front rubber cones got the driver one done, and just about finished up the passenger side just about to put the press plate back on when BANG! the rubber cones fire off the compress tool. Now my issue i can not get the compress tool to screw into the cone i think the thread is gone. any one got any idea of how i can get it out or preferably get the pressure plate back on??

[Mr.P]

mine did the same yesterday, I took the cone out and wacked it in a vice, then gently persuaded the compressor tool back in, checking that it was very square, this worked - I did remove the odd shard of metal from the threads of the tool first..

[sonikk4]

Sounds like the thread has stripped on either the tool or the cone. You may be able to clean it up with a tap and die set but if its really bad you will probably need to replace both items. The metric thread is quite a coarse thread and is strong so you may not have had the tool fully engaged.

[jakepalmerd13]

i can not seem to get the cone out as i can not move the upper arm as the bearing douse not wont to come out. the compression tool is not damaged, it seem to grip the cone but slip as soon and you apply pressure.

[sonikk4]

There is another option but this is more drastic. I had an issue with a twin bolt subframe where the compressor would not engage in the threads. (very old cones and rusty threads)

I could have tried to beat out the top arm pin but this could have created issues (somebody had already tried this and bent over the threaded end of the pin). I ended up cutting the aluminium cone and then chopped out the last bit of it. Heavy handed!! Yes without a doubt but it worked and both sides had to done like this.

I was lucky as this is a spare subframe so was worth having a go. Fitted to the car you will need to be more careful.

[jakepalmerd13]

Thanks for the input

At the moment the hi-lo is in there not a trumpet, and i would not like to cut the out and i can try and unwind the hi-lo but i doubt i would still be able to get it out. I can try to beet the pin out but it at the moment it douse not want to budge. Is there any way i can get the pressure plate on the bearing?

[sonikk4]

Try and wind the Hi lo in as far as possible. it may loosen up enough for you to be able to fit the plate. It depends on how old your rubber cone is really.

[Gremlin]

With the aid of a long crowbar or scaffold pole, pivotting on an axle stand positioned as close to the car as possible, lever up against the bottom of the top arm to act against the forces on the top arm pivot bolt from the rubber, this will ease the removal of the top arm pivot bolt and allow the top arm to be lowered under control. Don't forget the lock plate on one end of the pivot bolt

*Don't forget to remaoe the bumpstop rubber from underneath the top arm to allow the arm to drop further

Edited by Gremlin, 28 March 2013 - 04:18 PM.

[jakepalmerd13]

OK i have try get the bearing bolt out no joy it just wont move can not get enough leverage to get the bolt out and i have wound down the hi-lo as far as they go but still can not get it out, the upper arm has no rubber stop on it and it not connected to the hub and is a low as it can go. real a bit stuffed on this one :S the last thing i wont to do it cut the hi-lo out.

[Wakey-Dan]

I had this problem last year. As much as you dont want to, you will have to force out the top arm pin to remove the top arm. If its seized the way i know mine was, it had to come out for 2 reasons.

1. To get the cone out

2. The top arm needs rebuilding using a top arm repair kit.

You will have to use sheer brute force and a sledge hammer and some ingenuity to do this. I used a ball joint fork tool around the head of the pin, replace the nut so the fork creates a wedge and millimetre by millimetre moved it out by whacking the fork with said sledgehammer. Once it comes out far enough that the fork doesnt create a wedge anymore you will have to pack it out with something and continue . I used some 1" x1" flat bar with a hole drilled through the middle big enough to slide onto the pin. Ill be amazed if you can remove the cone without removing the top arm.