4200, front upper wishbone ball joint

[GroovyBoovy]

Hello All


I am attempting to wind down my suspension to what should be a proper ride height. , I am unable to compress the front coils enough so I can wind down the bottom coil support thing, I have undone the locking nut, so next step seems to be remove the coil-over unit

A few good guides on how to do this, however, after removing the suspension sensor, I can get a 22mm socket on the upper ball joint, but there is no room to attach my torque wrench, or any other kind of wrench to undo it, are you soposed to remove the plate for hub holder? Or is there another way? Have I missed something?

Thanks
Rob

 

[Zep]

The upper ball joint assembly bolts into the upper arm. When I stripped mine, I unbolted the whole thing and left the ball joint attached to the upright.

 

[RichTaps]

Are you trying to lower the spring platform on the coilover? If so, I'm not sure why you need to compress the spring......you just need to turn the spring platform anti clockwise.

If you really want to remove the damper (bearing in mind the above) you undo the two bolts behind the upper ball joint to remove the upper ball joint from the upper arm, you do NOT need to split the ball joint.

Let me know if i've misunderstood here!

 

[GroovyBoovy]

The upper ball joint assembly bolts into the upper arm. When I stripped mine, I unbolted the whole thing and left the ball joint attached to the upright.

I see this now, I'll give that a go

 

[GroovyBoovy]

Are you trying to lower the spring platform on the coilover? If so, I'm not sure why you need to compress the spring......you just need to turn the spring platform anti clockwise.

If you really want to remove the damper (bearing in mind the above) you undo the two bolts behind the upper ball joint to remove the upper ball joint from the upper arm, you do NOT need to split the ball joint.

Let me know if i've misunderstood here!

Cheers, I am going to remove the ball joint from the arm, rather than try to split the ball joint.
Regards turning the spring platform, because of the limited space i can only turn it a small amount and the spring turns with it, i think the bush at the bottom of the shock will need replacing to, as seems twist around to much when i am trying to turn the spring platform.

 

[jasst]

Believe me, having done this you will struggle to move the collar without compressing the spring, and to do that I had to remove the strut, you may have better spring compressors than me , so might be possible to compress on the car. These are not like aftermarket coil overs where the spring goes pretty slack when jacked up, they are under great pressure, add to that the collars are prone to seizing and you will soon understand why removal is the best choice. And I just used ring/combination spanners, can't remember having any problems, granted you won't be able to torque it up accurately, but when you've been spannering for years you get a pretty accurate feel for it.

 

[GroovyBoovy]

I removed the coil over unit from the car then was able to wind down the bottom coil holder, then decided to remove it all to inspect it, doest look to bad but might end up painting the coils before putting it all back at the new height, having to do one side of the car at a time due to my garage size.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice

Rob

 

[davy83]

I have also done this and would not reccommend adjusting the height without compressing the springs. While it's certainly possible the two locking rings are not that tough and these threads get chewed up really easy, i have two gash shocks with seized adjuster rings.

 

[hladun]

All for a few pennies. The problem is that the adjustment ring binds on the rubber cushion. What Maserati should have done, and what you should definitely do, is add a washer (like the spacer ring on the normal shocks). You will then be able to turn the adjustment ring with the shock installed. It has to be installed for you to have any hope of setting the ride height and balancing the wheel loading.

 

[GroovyBoovy]

All for a few pennies. The problem is that the adjustment ring binds on the rubber cushion. What Maserati should have done, and what you should definitely do, is add a washer (like the spacer ring on the normal shocks). You will then be able to turn the adjustment ring with the shock installed. It has to be installed for you to have any hope of setting the ride height and balancing the wheel loading.

Interesting idea, do you know of a suitable sized washer that could be added in as i can see this would make for much easier ride hight adjustment with the units installed in the car?

 

[hladun]

Interesting idea, do you know of a suitable sized washer that could be added in as i can see this would make for much easier ride hight adjustment with the units installed in the car?

I'd probably just have a machine shop make them. The non-Skyhook shocks have spacers that might work but that's just a guess. Put some anti-seize or brake grease between the adjuster and washer to help turn it. You might still have to take some load off the spring (raise the car or use spring compressors).