9 replies to this topic

[blues]

Help!!
just putting a rear subframe on my daughters mini (City 1989) . i have come across a issue when re-assembling the radius arm and cones. Its seems that the cone is holding back the radius arm from settling in its correct position so when the wheel is fitted the road height to too high. The shock absorber is nearly fully extended. I jacked up the radius arm but it only goes so far before lifting the complete car
Any ideas?
Cheers Chris

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[Jordie]

cone sat correctly. is part of an old cone stuck to the subframe that you havent noticed when fitting the cone.

otherwise is the knuckle joint fully home?

[jeffm5150]

+1 on the knuckle joint. Make sure the shaft (non-ball) part of the knuckle joint is fully inserted into the suspension arm before raising the radius arm. I had a misalignment of the knuckle joint once and it had a similar result.

[blues]

thanks for the suggestions. This a new rear subframe. Everything seems in place but will dismantle again tomorrow. Fingers crossed!!!

[KernowCooper]

Remember if everything is assembled correctly the ride height on new cones is a lot higher until the cone rubber settles in, see others here who put new cones in with a high ride height

[mk=john]

Did you use new cones? If so, as already suggested the car will sit initially higher, and it will take some time to settle to the correct height. But as always, checking to make sure the knuckle on the strut is correct inserted into the radius arm.

[tiger99]

I am guessing that you have renewed the knuckle joint, as you should do every time there is major maintenance in this area. (You don't want the cup wearing through, as they do, resulting in a scrapped arm.) The new cup more often than not does not seat fully in the arm at first, possibly due to trapped air behind it, or just because the nylon cup is slightly oversize for the hole to make it a tight fit. Ordinarily it sorts itself out as soon as there is weight on the wheel, so raising the arm with a jack, maybe up and down a few times, will most likely sort it out.

If the subframe is out of the car, or its rear mounts are undone so it can be lowered, you can use a cone compressor, as you would at the front, to compress the cone slightly to help get things together. You should not have to, but I needed to once, just a length of threaded rod, as there was no need to apply the huge amount of force needed at the front, maybe about 1/4" compression of the cone. When it was all assembled and the car bounced a few times, it settled nicely at the correct ride height.

The other possibility, if you have used a non-genuine subframe, is that it has been made wrongly, and if so the supplier is entirely liable, so take it back and demand a full refund. If they refuse, Trading Standards is the next place to go.

[blues]

OK thanks everyone. Yes the subframe is a non genuine one (Mini Spares) but i did measure up some of the key areas but i am using the existing cones. I have fitted new nylon cups. I think i will tackle the other side and see if i get the same result.
Should back under the car tomorrow. Trying to get it ready for the Pride of Longbridge Ralley on the 13th April

Thanks

Chris

[blues]

ok then the other side is fitted and no issues. the other side is still sitting about a 1 1/2 inches higher. could be the cone?

[Cooperman]

It could be that the cone has not fully seated into the register on the sub-frame.
You could drive it a few miles, including over a few bumps, to see if it settles With a 5:1 ratio on the rear, if the car is 1/2" high the suspension cone, strut, ball, knuckle line is only 0.1" too long that side.