86 replies to this topic

[karl & his cooper]

1989 Mini City E

The problem - Drivers side front suspension keeps dropping

Caused by a small bump, into another car. subframe appears fine as the distance from the cente of the rear wheel to the front are pretty much the same for both sides.

What Ive done: New rubber cone as old 1 was deformed
Trumpets fine
oil\air shock is fine
Upper suspension arms fine.

After doing the work and taking it off the jack and not putting any additional load onto the car I could easily get a fist clearence between the arch and the wheel. After loading with a short drive with 2 people can only get a 3 to 4 fingers width gap.

Really gutted. Please help. I can have it jacked up and get any photos \ compare sides to help woth your responses.

Eagerly awaiting your replies,

Karl & poorly Phoebe!

[Big_Adam]

You put in a new cone, might still be settling. If you have adjustable suspension/cone/trumpet then you can sort it.

[karl & his cooper]

Its way beyond settled Adam, it touches the wheel on the arch on a bump in road...its sunken past being settled.

I have standard suspension

Attached Files

•  clearence_on_bad.jpg   225.74K   9 downloads

[karl & his cooper]

Anyone please I am desperate. I have 1 week before I need to take the mini on a mini holiday!

[THE ANORAK]

it look to me as if somethings damaged somewhere, may even be the part of the top arm that the knuckle sits in.

i may have some spare suspension bits in the shed if you need them, I'm not sure what they are like but your welcome to them if your desperate, im sure i have some top arms.

and I'm not too far from you

take it all apart, well the wheel off at least, and see what you find, lets go from there

[karl & his cooper]

it look to me as if somethings damaged somewhere, may even be the part of the top arm that the knuckle sits in.

i may have some spare suspension bits in the shed if you need them, I'm not sure what they are like but your welcome to them if your desperate, im sure i have some top arms.

and I'm not too far from you

take it all apart, well the wheel off at least, and see what you find, lets go from there

Thanks Anorak, you came to my house once for some bits?

I have had the arm out and the knuckle cup replaced along with the new cone.

[THE ANORAK]

yes i did mate

take the wheel off and take some pics of the top arm, shock etc.

lets see if we can spot anything wrong

[Ethel]

Check the subframe turret mounting rubber. check the clearance between the top arm and bumpstop to determine if the fault is with the cone or trumpet. You should really replace rubber cones in pairs cones.

[karl & his cooper]

Check the subframe turret mounting rubber. check the clearance between the top arm and bumpstop to determine if the fault is with the cone or trumpet. You should really replace rubber cones in pairs cones.

The cone I didnt replace is about 2 months old....I put 2 new cones in a while ago. Im a student got to economise lol

Ive got a hunch.... could height loss be caused by subframe mounting point....will attach a comparision pic....

Annorack will get pic 2moro lot of effort to get wheel off in dark

thanks all

[Tomf]

It could be down to settling as mine went down from being able to get a fist in the gap to being able to just get one finger in the gap...

[karl & his cooper]

It could be down to settling as mine went down from being able to get a fist in the gap to being able to just get one finger in the gap...

sinking straight away a load is applied and after a lil bump....to good to be true. think theres the devils work at play not sinking! lol

Does anyone know what colour wire is sidelight +ve for a 1989 Mini city E?

[karl & his cooper]

Ok this thingy looks a lot diff to the other thingy!
Pic of dodgy side

[karl & his cooper]

here

Attached Files

•  dodgy_side.jpg   77.2K   27 downloads

[DaveRob]

Is it just me thats confused by that picture. I thought we were going to se top arm.... but that looks like the Teardrop.... agreed that their looks to be something wrong but a pic of wheel off and covering the hub / top arm / bottom arm would be helpfull. by the way I have some spare top arms / tie rods / bottom arms etc etc if you need.... but lets see what the problem is first.

Rob

Edited by DaveRob, 27 July 2008 - 06:55 AM.

[Sprocket]

Economising + cheap cones = colapsed suspention

Buy genuine every time, if they dont say dunlop or Moulton on them, dont by them!!