problems installing rear shocks
Discussion
I am currently rebuilding my mini and learning along the way so sorry for my stupidity.
So I'm replacing my shock absorbers, unfortunitly pockets not very deep so have purchased the gmax set from minisport.
Tried to install the rears today but found that they just dont fit, they have a rubber bush with metal sleeve at the bottom, the sleeve is too small to go over the rear hub bolt/ mount, it goes on about an inch then the bolt expands with spacer which is fixed.
If anybody can shed some light on this it would be brilliant.
So I'm replacing my shock absorbers, unfortunitly pockets not very deep so have purchased the gmax set from minisport.
Tried to install the rears today but found that they just dont fit, they have a rubber bush with metal sleeve at the bottom, the sleeve is too small to go over the rear hub bolt/ mount, it goes on about an inch then the bolt expands with spacer which is fixed.
If anybody can shed some light on this it would be brilliant.
From memory I think it is much easier to do the lower mount before locating the top one. Close the shock absorber , make it it's shortest length. Make sure the hub stud is clean and greased and then offer up the shock absorber even if it is a bit horizontal and work it onto the stud. Turn the top of the shock absorber into the upright position and open it up so that the top locating thread goes through the arch bodywork. Using a soft mallet (!) ease the lower shock absorber bush onto the stud. Unless their is a manufacturing error in the lower bush internal diameter (pretty unlikely) then it should go on ok . Like many Mini jobs it looks straightforward until you do it for the first time.
The end of the pin on the suspension arm should be 3/8" diameter, and the sleeve in the bottom of the damper should be a 3/8" clearance to allow it to slide easily on with a bit of copper grease. Has the sleeve from the original damper got corroded onto the pin?
Make sure you fit large 'penny' washers to prevent the damper from sliding off over the rubber bush. The washer must have an outside diameter just bigger than the bush housing on the bottom of the damper.
Make sure you fit large 'penny' washers to prevent the damper from sliding off over the rubber bush. The washer must have an outside diameter just bigger than the bush housing on the bottom of the damper.
Perhaps the existing metal insert is stuck on the thread then.
I removed the old shocks and the rubber was stuck so had to rip it off and left and metal sleeve on the thread, I think this might be the problem then. I thought this was the issue and I have tried turning it with some grips but seems to be pretty stuck which made me think it was part of it. Any ideas of getting it off.
I removed the old shocks and the rubber was stuck so had to rip it off and left and metal sleeve on the thread, I think this might be the problem then. I thought this was the issue and I have tried turning it with some grips but seems to be pretty stuck which made me think it was part of it. Any ideas of getting it off.
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