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  Author    Some help with ride height  (currently 1,461 views)
Matt_Master
Posted on: May 5th, 2020, 20:27:19 Quote Report to Moderator
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Hello the forum. This is my first post (on any forum), so I hope I manage to follow protocol.

I've recently bought a DH Mk IV and would really appreciate some expert advice.

DH8403 is riding incredibly high, especially at the front where there is a good 6 or 7 inches of clearance. Mini forums suggest I need to buy a bespoke tool to remove the alloy suspension cones and then cut them down. Will this device work on a Mini Marcos? It's designed to brace against the bulkhead, and it sounds there are a lot of forces involved, which is making me nervous.

If anyone has done this job, which sounds fairly senior to a novice like me, I'd be very grateful for any tips. Even if it is 'take it to a specialist'.

Many thanks in advance,

Matt
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mike brown
Posted on: May 5th, 2020, 21:30:51 Quote Report to Moderator
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Yes the tool does work on a Marcos provided the hole has been drilled between the tower bolts (most cars do). From memory if you remove the bump stop and let the top arm go you can get them out that way too but you need to let the hubs go to do this. Don't forget there is a ratio of how much to remove and it's different for the back can't remember the numbers off hand but your only talking a few millimeters.
Mike
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John Dickens
Posted on: May 6th, 2020, 07:26:11 Quote Report to Moderator
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The special tool does work on a Mini Marcos although, as Mike says, you may need to drill the large hole in order to use it.

Th allow the top arm to drop down you need to remove the DROOP STOP. The small rubber block under the arm.

At the front the ratio is 3 to 1 so for every mm you remove from the alloy trumpet the car will drop 3mm. at the rear it is 5 to 1 so for every mm you remove from the trumpet the car will drop 5mm.
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Matt_Master
Posted on: May 6th, 2020, 08:57:07 Quote Report to Moderator
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Thank you very much Mike and John. I shall take a deep breath and give it a go!
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MPlayle
Posted on: May 6th, 2020, 13:39:13 Quote Report to Moderator
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As you have to remove the trumpets to shorten them, why not consider a set of hi-lo's?

Then as the rubber cones settle, you can adjust the ride height as needed or desired without all the disassembly.

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Matt_Master
Posted on: May 6th, 2020, 14:09:05 Quote Report to Moderator
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Thank you. I will look into it. Should I anticipate putting in new rubber cones at this point? I imagine the existing ones are pretty hopeless by now.
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Matt_Master
Posted on: May 6th, 2020, 14:11:03 Quote Report to Moderator
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Ignore me! Hi-los are an adjustable version. Sorry, steep learning curve for me.
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mike brown
Posted on: May 6th, 2020, 18:11:30 Quote Report to Moderator
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Sorry John is quite correct I meant droop stop not bump stop, brains clearly not working.
Mike
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Matt_Master
Posted on: May 6th, 2020, 18:25:23 Quote Report to Moderator
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Thanks Mike. All input gratefully received at this stage. Am going underneath tomorrow to see if I can work out what you're all talking about!
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John Dickens
Posted on: May 7th, 2020, 08:04:31 Quote Report to Moderator
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You need to decide whether you are fitting new rubber cone springs and actually fit them before you start cutting down the trumpets as they will affect the ride height.

Once you have removed, cut and refitted the alloy trumpets it will take a while and a few miles before it all settles down again so don't panic if it initially seems to still be sitting too high.

Hi-Lo's are OK if you intend to keep on adjusting your ride height. I had them on my racer so I could reset it for road or race use, but if your car is purely for road use you'll find that once you get it right you probably won't touch them again.
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Matt_Master
Posted on: May 7th, 2020, 10:20:26 Quote Report to Moderator
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Thank you John. I'll see what state the cones are in and take a view. I read somewhere that it is so critical to cut the trumpets square that it is worth paying to have them turned down on a lathe. I'm confident I've never cut a piece of metal square in my life. Any thoughts?
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MPlayle
Posted on: May 7th, 2020, 13:42:40 Quote Report to Moderator
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Cutting down the factory trumpets does not allow for raising the height when the rubber cones settle with age.

Quality of the rubber cones varies a lot now and some settle more than others and they also settle at different rates.

Agreed, once the cones have settled, you will not need to adjust a set of hi-lo's for a long while.  However, the rubber cones do continue to settle over time and you might find you want or need to raise it just a little.  Shortened factory trumpets mean much more disassembly to add washers (coarser adjusting) to lengthen again.  Hi-lo's mean no disassembly to adjust the ride height whenever you decide it is needed.

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Matt_Master
Posted on: May 7th, 2020, 17:56:25 Quote Report to Moderator
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Crikey. I'm still playing catch up. So does that mean if I install Hi-Los I don't need to shorten the trumpets?
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mike brown
Posted on: May 8th, 2020, 07:30:30 Quote Report to Moderator
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Hi low's are adjustable so you fit them at a set length then adjust to your desired height. If you get it wrong you just alter them. If your not confident cutting the trumpet's then hi low's would be best but obviously cutting is free and hi low's are costly.
Mike
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Matt_Master
Posted on: May 8th, 2020, 10:26:33 Quote Report to Moderator
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Ok, Mike, thanks. So Hi-Los will negate the need to cut the trumpets, and will replace the rubber cones, which I still need the compression tool to remove? I really appreciate everyone's patience. It's a new language to me at the moment.
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