Sitting Low

[Dodge318]

My 1998 mini is listing towards the offside front & I guess I'll need to replace the front cones? How much hassle is this job?

Ta

Steve

[Cooperman]

It may well be the knuckle joint - it usually is when one side is low. I would check this before buying new cones as you have to remove the top arms to get the old cones out and the new ones in, and even then it's a bit of a struggle.
All you need is a spring compression tool (also known as a 'tower tool'. These are available from Mini Spares, but make sure you use the correct thread centre spindle as the early cars had a finer thread than the later ones. I don't know the changeover date I'm afraid.
You just compress the rubber spring cone, take off the upper arm down-stop, remove the trumpet and take a look at the knuckle housing in the upper arm. It's a cheap and easy job and sorts out the ride height. The advice is really to change both sides if one has gone.
It should take about an hour each side if it all goes well, but sometimes it's difficult to get the old knuckle out of the bottom of the trumpet. If it is, heat it up with a butane torch and try to tap it out rom the top of the cone. Don't break the cone - they are cast aluminium.

[Dodge318]

Thanks, i'll give that a go - It is only low on one side.

This evening i've come across another interesting noise which sounds bad ! & i'm hoping someone can help out with. When coming off & on the power whilst in gear there is a loud "clunk / click" noise. Sounds like its coming from inside the cabin though, at the bottom of the steering column.

It seems that the noise happens when the engine might be rocking when it comes off and on the power - doesn't sound good! Maybe engine mounts?

Many Thanks

Steve

[Dino42]

It's more likely to be a broken top engine steady bracket, have a good look where the steady meets the body next to the master cylinders.