Suspension Cone knuckles...

Morning all, just in the process of overhauling the front suspension on OSR's Mk2. Need to replace the knuckle joints at the bottom of the suspension cones cos like most things on the car they're FUBAR. Confucius’ ubiquitous “Assembly is the reverse of removal manual #646” says that I need to compress the cone with the special tool 18G574B to get the cone and subsequently the knuckle out...years ago I had access to one of these 'wonderful' devices and it was a ball ache back then, these days I don't have the tool, are there any other less formal ways to get the knuckle???

Regards
Iain

Take the top arm pivot bolt out. Simples

Thought you might say that, certainly taken a look at the possibility however the engine mounts prevent the bolt exiting forward, body work prevents a rearward escape and even if the engine was lifted clear there is still quite some load on the bolt and with no room to swing an uncalibrated tap-o-meter I doubt I could move it and doubt even more that I could replace it.

Regards
Iain

Take both inner wings off.

Undo both big nuts either end of the pivot.

Then undo the two small nuts/bolts that hold the end plate to the tower and remove.

This then allows the pivot bolt to come out at freaky angles meaning you clear the engine mounts.

Don't forget to disconnect the top arm from the up-right.

Personally I wouldn't take this apart unless you know you have almost instant access to new trumpets or are fitting Hi-Lo's. My knuckles were welded in and then the trumpet fell apart. But I was fitting Hi-Lo's anyway.

Cheers, the knuckles look *~@!ed the rubbers haven't sealed properly and its rust rust and rust underneath, would be par for the course if the cones were gone and everything corroded in together!

Regards
Iain

Seized cone/knuckle joint may respond to heating from a blowlamp or two. If that doesn't work, heat again then spray the hot knuckle with WD40 - the thermal shock may do the trick.

Steel knuckle and aluminium cone i.e. dissimilar metals just right for electrolytic action (not rust), I have used a rod hammered down the cone to release the knuckle but usually results in shattering the weaker cone - good luck.

As aluminium expands quicker than steel or iron,a little gentle heat sometimes does the trick.Another way is gently tapping the bottom of the cone with a hammer on the back of the vice,around where the ball joint is pressed in,that shakes any corrosion out and loosens the joint.