44 replies to this topic

[dave20046]

Having an absolute nightmare with my front suspension trumpet, the ball is seized into the cup. I've actually sawed the trumped in half and took the top part out ive ripped the rubber off it and I could see where the cup should have been full of grease it was full of sandy, dusty rust bits. So I blew and scraped out as much as I could see and sprayed it with posh wd40 stuff wriggled it round as much as I could. Pulled it every direction tried levering it out but no good so I've just left it in a huff and filled it with wd40 to work overnight ...hopefully. I'll have to grab some big molegrips from work and have a whirl with them. Can't beleive it though ......
....well that was yesterday, got my big molegrips and yes the wd40 had loosened it considerably in now moves round in the joint reasonably freely. But I've pulled and pulled at it with these great molegrips, got a really good grip on it. but it just wont come out. Any idea anyone ?

Try to get pics in a bit when I've calmed down and stopped being mardy at my mini...

Edited by dave20046, 14 January 2008 - 08:40 PM.

[Bungle]

have you tryed removing the top arm ?

[liirge]

I had this problem try using a universal ball joint seperator or a piece of metal with a v on the end, and hammer it at an angle upwards pushing the trumpet upwards, when you think the ball has come out a bit, try using a metal bar, and jimmy it behind it from the side, and whack that with a hammer, or using all your force to try an lever out the joint.

Edited by liirge, 14 January 2008 - 08:50 PM.

[dave20046]

have you tryed removing the top arm ?

No I didn't want to resort to that until I got really desperate - is it possible that the ball joint is really old and has worn through the nylon cup thus wrecking the top arm as minispares threaten?

[dave20046]

I had this problem try using a universal ball joint seperator or a piece of metal with a v on the end, and hammer it at an angle upwards pushing the trumpet upwards, when you think the ball has come out a bit, try using a metal bar, and jimmy it behind it from the side, and whack that with a hammer, or using all your force to try an lever out the joint.

Hi thanks I'll try this just have to get my hands on a uni-ball joint splitter. At the moment I'm pulling with all my strength with a pair of moley's but I keep flying backwards comically.

[Mini_Magic]

To be honest, if you're fitting new cones then it's alot quicker and easier to remove the top arm. I leant that the hard way.

[dave20046]

Something else has just occured to me after seeing the old style knuckle joints and also reading someone elses thread I have bought these knuckle joints for my hi los http://minispares.co....aspx?pid=36103 (probably not the one described but it looks identical as the one pictured) this is probably a ridiculously stupid question...either way or it atleast proves I'm stupid for asking it. But is the knuckle joint pictured both a ball and cup in one? As I reused the old cups in the back (left them in) and just chucked those knuckles pictured onto the ends of my hilos and put it in place....
...apologies if those ramblings don't make sense

[langers2k]

If the knuckle is still attached to the trumpet, you can try putting a strong metal bar (I used a long screwdriver) under the end of the trumpet and then on top of the upper arm. Pull the bar up and it should pop out!

If not try cutting away the top of the knuckle cup so it can come out easier? Blow touch may help as it will melt the cup.

[Jammy]

Are you trying to do this with the whole assembley still on the car? I assume at least, if the answer to my previous question is yes, that you've removed the rubber donut?

[langers2k]

But is the knuckle joint pictured both a ball and cup in one? As I reused the old cups in the back (left them in) and just chucked those knuckles pictured onto the ends of my hilos and put it in place....

Yes, it is a ball, cup and gaiter...

If you left the old cups in you would have needed to remove the cups on the new joints and then sealed it with the gaiter.

If you left the knuckle joint as it is, and also left the old cups on then this is bad. You will need to remove the rear trumpets again and remove the old cups.

[dave20046]

But is the knuckle joint pictured both a ball and cup in one? As I reused the old cups in the back (left them in) and just chucked those knuckles pictured onto the ends of my hilos and put it in place....

Yes, it is a ball, cup and gaiter...

If you left the old cups in you would have needed to remove the cups on the new joints and then sealed it with the gaiter.

If you left the knuckle joint as it is, and also left the old cups on then this is bad. You will need to remove the rear trumpets again and remove the old cups.

*Men's danglies*!!!!!! Thanks for your reply . What a numpty

[dave20046]

Are you trying to do this with the whole assembley still on the car? I assume at least, if the answer to my previous question is yes, that you've removed the rubber donut?

Yes jammy sorry if the OP wasn't clear. I have removed the rubber doughnut and sawed the trumpet so theres just like the lower third of the trumpet left in. I'll go take a photo.

[Jammy]

You managed to get a new cup into an old one? They are exactly the same size?! Its likely you've damaged both of them, so I'd look at getting a couple of new cups.

[langers2k]

Are you trying to do this with the whole assembley still on the car? I assume at least, if the answer to my previous question is yes, that you've removed the rubber donut?

Yes jammy sorry if the OP wasn't clear. I have removed the rubber doughnut and sawed the trumpet so theres just like the lower third of the trumpet left in. I'll go take a photo.

If you are putting new cones in, you will need to remove the upper arm. I am doing my suspension at the moment and after removing the knuckle and trumpet I couldn't get the old cone out, never mind a new one in!

Taking the arm out is easy (although fiddly), on the pivot arm undo the rear most nut, then undo the little (7/16ths) bots on the front. Once you do this, the pivot will slide forwards and the arm will fall out. If nothing else it should be easier to work on!

[dave20046]

You managed to get a new cup into an old one? They are exactly the same size?! Its likely you've damaged both of them, so I'd look at getting a couple of new cups.

Yeah thinking back it's unbeleiveable ,but all the info I had on the subject must have been out of date or obviously not meant for the knuckle joints I bought. Yeah makes sense that I've damaged both and chances are its going to be a real bugger to sort this one
And I still cant get the front ones sorted!