Front strut install issue

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

Hi guys, really need some help here as I’m about to give up on this heap of shit.

Long story short, last week I had a weird noise, checked the upper strut mounts & they were ripped. Took the strut out to replace them, now I can’t for the life of me get it back in. It’s like an inch away from going in at the bottom hub.
I’ve changed lower ball joints on another mini before and it was a ball ache so want to avoid removing them on this car. Any tips? What am I doing wrong here? I’ve spent like 4 hours total on this and can’t get it back in, spring compressors on/off, tie rod etc are off. Any advice please?

Cv boot is leaking everywhere so I guess I’ve ripped that and it’ll need to be replaced too lol. Really fed up with this, YouTube vids look easy enough yet mines putting up a massive fight.

[u/Jtorsch]

It looks like the rubber brake line is routed incorrectly. It’s supposed to come in front of the shock. It might be causing the knuckle not to go low enough to get them together

[u/skyking27]

No need to disconnect the lower ball joint. Put the bottom of the strut on front bumper side of the steering knuckle and lever it in. You may need a prybar to help. Sand and lubricate the strut hole in the steering knuckle so it slides in easier. You can also buy a “steering knuckle spreader” tool to help open it up a little more.

Edit: Make sure the brake hose on the outside (rotor side) of the strut, and snug up the three nuts for the top mount more. Once the strut is started in the hole of the steering knuckle, I usually lift with a floor jack to get in the rest of the way.

[u/Btzj]

Read this if you haven’t already:  https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/MINI/37-SUSPEN-Front_Shock_and_Spring_Replacement/37-SUSPEN-Front_Shock_and_Spring_Replacement.htm

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/Btzj]

Cheers. They do reccomend removing the lower ball joints too. I did this on another mini & it was literally welded on, took me hours to get it out. Looks the same on this car so trying to avoid that

[u/WuT4ngClam]

I usually tilt both to one side and then with the motion of going back straight it falls in the hole.

Have you made sure you locating tab on the back of the shock is in the back end slot of the hub?

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/WuT4ngClam]

I can’t even get close to getting the bottom of the shock going into the hole let alone lining it up

[u/WuT4ngClam → u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

When I do it, it literally catches about 2mm of one side of the bottom of the shock shaft. Then by straightening it all (with all your might) it should locate. Then tap the hub gently with a hammer to have it sit further in the hub.

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/WuT4ngClam]

I see what you mean, the hub just doesn’t seem low enough for me to even get the shock close.. I need another inch

[u/WuT4ngClam → u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

Are you tilting the whole hub assembly to one side? It'll feel wrong pushing as far you need to. But I'm talking literally man handle the hub to a 45° angle, driveshaft/hub/disc/caliper included. Like, grab the disc with one hand, the hub with the other and twist them 45° to make the entry point more horizontal than vertical, then meet it with the shock.

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/WuT4ngClam]

I’ll go and give it a try now the rains stopped. Will report back

[u/WuT4ngClam → u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

I believe in you. Nothing looks wrong and it is possible. Just when you get it in, don't mash up the locater tab on the back because then you will be in trouble

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/WuT4ngClam]

I’ve twisted it over like you said & got the shock to go into the hub, although can’t get it to slide down into position. Where it’s leaning to one side it’s not budging in

[u/WuT4ngClam → u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

Get them muscles out, lad. Because you'll need all your might, or just someone to put pressure on the lower arm with a pry bar to give you more distance

Edit: you're so close lol

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/WuT4ngClam]

Honestly can’t get it to slot in properly… when jacking it up it goes lop sided

[u/hold_up_plz]

Did you lay them down side by side to make sure they are the same size?

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/hold_up_plz]

The top mounts? Yes they are the same

[u/Excellent_Mud_3811]

For me the passenger strut is the most difficult to reinstall. I spend some time cursing at it in July while doing the same job. Apparently the trick is to tilt the strut and the knuckle in direction to the front of the car. Once is kinda in the hole, then push.

[u/Comfortable_Ad_141 → u/Excellent_Mud_3811]

Got this far just struggling with getting the final push for it to slot into position. When jacking the lower hub it goes lop sided, can’t seem to get the final hurdle

[u/Excellent_Mud_3811 → u/Comfortable_Ad_141]

I know it took me a great amount of force to push into position. But only worked get I had it in the position I mentioned. I don’t remember which guy point it that out in a video. The other choice, since you need to replace the axle boot, just take the whole knuckle out.

[u/willprobgetdeleted]

Undo the top mount, slip the bottom in a bit, totally mount back in the strut.

[u/Zealousideal_Web_771]

Is the Axle nut off? Take that off and it will swing down more to get the strut bottom in place.

[u/Happy_Ishtar]

I think taking the lower ball joint off is your best bet here. I know it's is a pita if it hasn't been off in a decade or two.

I recently installed new coilovers, and with the height adjustment all the way down the install was a breeze, without taking the ball joints off. Maybe it's time to lower your car... ;)

[u/richardcx5]

I had exactly this same issue on mine a few weeks ago - in the end, I had to completely remove the lower control arm to get the hub low enough to fit the shock. Annoyingly, one of the ball joints got destroyed so badly I ended up having to buy a new arm.