Help guys! - Fitting suspension

[Ian]

Need a bit of help before I start to throw spanners around the garage!

Right, been in there for a couple of hours trying to fit the new hi-lows to the front end.
Now you know I have built everything up and bought new rubber thingies, the problem being I can't get the dam things to fit. I know the hi-lows will be a tight fit to the new rubbers but even if they went in straight away there's bugger all space to fit the other thingy into the hole on the top arm.

Hope you know what I mean with thingies and thingy!

Anyone done this job before?

[moke]

Ian, did you use a "cone compressor" to remove the old rubber cones/doughnuts?
If not, then you got away with not having one during unassembly becase the cones were probably flat. You're now fitting new cones? You need to compress them during assembly to get everything to fit.
It's been a few years since I did this job but I'm about to repeat the experience on my current Moke so I'm sure I will remember all sorts of other problems doing the job.
Dean

[Tim]

I had a Moulton Smooth-a-Ride kit fitted a few years ago. Jeez the boys complained about it afterwards. The front cones were a lot taller than the originals and they had a lot of trouble getting them into the subframe. They managed to get them in eventually but I think they had to use quite a large persuader. Once you get the rubber cones in you'll need to do them up really tight with a cone compressor (modern ones need a metric tread I believe) because they are pretty tall when they're new.

Tim

[moemoke]

have you wound the hi-lo's in so they are as short as possible,
undo the shocker and get the top arm as low as you can.
it was a long time ago but thats how I got mine to fit (I think)

[moke]

Yes, a Metric tread is definitely better.....UNF tends to slip in the wet.
Dean

[Terry]

Ian,

I suspect you are trying to fit them without a suspension compression tool, in which case it is impossible with the top arm already assembled as in your earlier photos. If you disconnect the arm from the ball joint and remove the top arm pin it might be possible to manage it without a  tool.

The cone suppressor is not your normal spring compression tool and you either need to borrow one or make one up.



The threaded end on the right drops down through the top of the subframe tower and into the thread that is inside your new donuts. Then you turn the top handle on the thread to compress the donut and give yourself the room to fit the bits in.

 Terry

Ps. All the previous replies were done in the time it took me to find the picture and upload...must be a quiet night on the telly

[Terry]

Ian,

The thread could be anything, The early cones were UNC and UNF and although I can't say i have come across a metric thread, it wouldn't surise me if a non genuine has its own thread.

Terry

[moke]

Ian, most of the compressor tools I have seen can be used on both UNF and Metric cones (The threads are 1/2" UNF and 14mm...I have never heard of a UNC cone). Metric cones were introduced in 1976 and if you bought the replacements from one of the main dealers, it was probably imported from the UK and is a Metric thread (unless it's from China....do they make cones yet?).
Anyway, you can make your own or buy one. Here's an example of a ready made unit http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?pid=36986
Dean

[Terry]

Ian,

Moke could be right on the UNC, maybe mine are metric, I just use whatever fits out of a choice of three or four threads I have.

Keep in mind if you are going to make your own, or use a someone elses, that because they are designed to be used in the Moke, you need to allow for the fact there is a few inches of bulkhead missing when the subframe is out of the Moke.

If you make one, make sure you make the thread is long enough to get through the bulkhaed, tower and clear the top of the master cylinders. If you use someone else's then you may need to use a spacer.

Whatever you do, make sure you thread it well into the donut and never put your fingers where they could get caught if it lets go. I have seen them fail and your fingers wont stand a chance.

Terry

[Ian]

Right then, it now seams that I need the rght tools for the job!

Has anyone got one I could lend for a weekend please?

I'd buy one but it would just be for this and then be useless!

Ian