86 replies to this topic

[karl & his cooper]

Has the front end been rebuilt with new panels? It is always possibly these wer badly aligned when welded on and that that corner is wrong.
This obviously woldn't account for the smaller gap between top arm and bump stop though which can only really be down to cone/trumper/knuckle joint/top arm or damage to the subframe around these components

Last summer I had a full new front end but this was all nicely aligned and done, the new repair wing fitted into place with not to much hassle and we made sure it was all aligned. When its jacked up before loads placed on the suspension it all looks fine so tis not bodywork. I will strip the suspension down tonight and get photos. The top arm is 2 months old and looked fine when I stripped all the suspension down on saturday.

[karl & his cooper]

Stripped it to find a cone looking like this!!

http://i250.photobuc...08/100_0257.jpg

Where the cone sits on is fine and flat to,
http://i250.photobuc...08/100_0259.jpg
http://i250.photobuc...08/100_0258.jpg

Now what? I REALLY AM STARTING TO HATE MY MINI >

[Dan]

I phoned my local mini specialist garage and I said what would they do, they said they would just fit some HI-LO's on the front and adjust them till its better... I know it doesn't find the true cause...but what you think?

I think you should tell us who they are so we can all avoid going there.

What shape is the trumpet that fits into that cone? Did you check the shape of the new cone before you fitted it?

[karl & his cooper]

I phoned my local mini specialist garage and I said what would they do, they said they would just fit some HI-LO's on the front and adjust them till its better... I know it doesn't find the true cause...but what you think?

I think you should tell us who they are so we can all avoid going there.

What shape is the trumpet that fits into that cone? Did you check the shape of the new cone before you fitted it?

Well I aint the sort of person to drop names but Ilive in Northampton and I only know of 2 specialist mini places...

The trumpets fine, all level no buckles. he cone was perfectly fine as well.

[karl & his cooper]

Right new cone and adjustable suspension trumpets coming....

Whats going wrong

[Dan]

It looks like the trumpet wasn't seated on the cone properly when you dropped the suspension load back onto it. So when you dropped the car it was pushing the trumpet sideways and letting the suspension collapse. I would have tought if that happened it would be far more likely to damage the alloy trumpet than the steel cone platform though. It's an odd problem.

[karl & his cooper]

It looks like the trumpet wasn't seated on the cone properly when you dropped the suspension load back onto it. So when you dropped the car it was pushing the trumpet sideways and letting the suspension collapse. I would have tought if that happened it would be far more likely to damage the alloy trumpet than the steel cone platform though. It's an odd problem.

Ok ready for my action plan Dan ?

Fit new cone and adjustable trumpet (keep trumpet same size as fixed size for mean time)
Check that the cone keeps seated as we uncompress cone

Little suspension test (pushing on wing) if ok proceed to a little drive down the road
Get out and check to see if the cones still seated
Check ride height.

IF ride height has dropped but cones seated, adjust the trumpet to give better clearance and then take to a garage that has a ramp
and some basic mini knowledge?

[Dan]

Sounds good. Remember to measure from the spring seat for setting the trumpet height and not from the base of the trumpet.

[karl & his cooper]

Sounds good. Remember to measure from the spring seat for setting the trumpet height and not from the base of the trumpet.

Spring seat?

[GraemeC]

The flat area that actually sits against the rubber spring rather than the protruding boss that goes inside the spring.

[karl & his cooper]

The flat area that actually sits against the rubber spring rather than the protruding boss that goes inside the spring.

Pictures/diagram please?

[THE ANORAK]

yeah, looks like the cone was not seated properly when you let the pressure off and it all got twisted up

just make sure the cone is the right way up small end downwards, not saying your thick or anything but some times these things are not so obvious to some.

best way to fit your adjustables is to set them to the same length as the standard ones and measure the "size of the exposed thread" then wind them down to their shortest position and fit them. let the pressure of the cone and make sure every thing is seated right.

then wind the adjustables out to the size you measured earlier and start from there.

the easiest way to get the trumpet length the same is to measure the exposed thread, but this doesn't help if your rubber cones dont sit even.

set them the same to start with, let it settle (at least a month) and then make any "leveling" adjustments.

dont *yellow human water* about trying include the whole adjustable in your measurements, just measure the thread

[karl & his cooper]

Ok thanks Annorak...but if I put the new trumpet in (set to standard size) and a replacement cone...and the suspension still sinks even though im 100% sure the cones properly seated (I know it has a flat surface ontop the side where bolt goes through) then what...surely somethings really really bad?

Also could the cone come out like that if something was a miss at the bottom...I dont see how as all the measurements from centres of axles either side collates as the same and the steering feels fine and the wheel hub area doesnt look buckled and the tie bar looks fine except from that subframe mount...

[THE ANORAK]

to be honest, i think you have found the problem. for the cone to be crushed like that, there is no way that the trumpet could have been seated properly inside it, it just wouldn't fit, try it.

try to push the trumpet into the bent seat on the cone, it don't fit does it ???? problem found.

the cone must have rolled on its side and the whole thing would have been wrong, just wrong

put the new parts back "carefully" and I'm sure it will be fine

other wise I'm coming over to sort it myself

EDIT: that bent bit is the seat that the trumpet should fit "INTO"

Edited by THE ANORAK, 29 July 2008 - 02:39 PM.

[karl & his cooper]

to be honest, i think you have found the problem. for the cone to be crushed like that, there is no way that the trumpet could have been seated properly inside it, it just wouldn't fit, try it.

try to push the trumpet into the bent seat on the cone, it don't fit does it ???? problem found.

the cone must have rolled on its side and the whole thing would have been wrong, just wrong

put the new parts back "carefully" and I'm sure it will be fine

other wise I'm coming over to sort it myself

EDIT: that bent bit is the seat that the trumpet should fit "INTO"

Haha Anorak Im not a nitwit lol I know where the trumpet sits and I know it doesnt fit...I just could of sworn when I was uncompressing it it was seated.... but now I have doubts if it was! Lol If it fails this time you can gladly come and have a look Im sure mum will even fuel you with tea or coffee and some big slabs of lush homemade cake that she knocks up! lol

Do you think its possible that the cone was seated in trumpet okay but came unseated from something being wrong/bent elsewhere? Like I said the physical evidence Ive seen so far shows things to be normal except that front subframe mount!

Thanks Anorak