MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Hydragas pumping

My F was running quite low at 34cm and had to pump her last Saturday. I used my own pump -as described on Dieterīs site- to set the car to 39cm -from wheel center to black tream-. That may sound excesive but my experience is that the car tend to "seat" at the correct height -36,8cm- in few days. I would like to know whether you people have experience the same. I have not found any evidence of leakage and today the car stands at 37cm. Mike
JM Vega-P.

Sounds like you have the correct technique. I don't know why but my F does the same, can't find a leak but over a period of months goes down. My local workshop charges me a small amount once a year and pumps it up when needed for the next twelve months.
Andrew W Regens

I had my car pumped up two years ago and have not noticed any major variation yet. The spheres contain fluid and nitrogen. A gas leakage maybe?
G. Jones

I was told (don't know if it's true) that the reason it goes down is because of gas leakage in the upper part of the sphere. You then have to put more fluid in the lower part and displace the diaphragm up a bit to regain the correct ride height.
Mike Howlett

If that is true, and may well be, then how do we know when all the gas is gone and only the fluid remains?
JM Vega-P.

As the gas is the compressing medium and the fluid acts as non-compressing but leveling we will probably all know and feel when this happends!
When the gas has left the sphere the ride will be awful. BUT isnīt there a fix with a nipple in the sphere to adjust pressure as long as the membrane is OK? Have seen something like that on track-cars...
JM, still remember my first visit to BA over 40 years back. Paseo de Colon (sp)and the "Baby Beefs",does it still exist in the old shape? / Carl
Carl Blom

Carl, Buenos Aires still there but have changed lots in 40 years. A very extended city that still try to keep the european touch. However and sadly every palace and mansion has become a five star hotel. I lived there for five years doing my resident training and my wife was born there. But after overseas training and back in Argentina we decided to live in a smaller city: Mendoza, 1.5 million, 1100 km west from BA in the Andes mountains, the 8th Wine Capital of the World. Now, "baby beefs steaks" you could get all around and very cheap indeed. Remember we have much more cows than population. Come to visit us anytime and you can teach me about the misteries of the hydragas system. Best. Mike
JM Vega-P MD

Following up on this thread, I checked my ride height which was 35 cms (2001 F). I have arranged for the suspension to be pumped up tomorrow so should I ask the garage to set the height at 39cms and be confident it will settle to 37 cms or do I get it set at 37cms and hope it doesn't settle? Advice please.
Robert Matthews 1

Mike, thanks for the "off topic" info !
Robert, it is so easy ,(if sometimes a bit messy!) to reduce the height by DIY, so 39 cm as a start is OK.
A match and a plastic soft-drink bottle is all thats neded to do the adjustment. There is info on different sites on "how to", if not found come back here...
Carl Blom

Hi all,

Just a thought...

Remember that changing the ride height will alter the toe in of the steering (especially if it's been tracked with the incorrect ride height), so it's always best to have the alignment checked after changing it. For that reason I wouldn't pump the suspension up too much or you might rub your tyres.

My local garage asked me to return 2 weeks later for them to recheck the height. It hadn't altered though and stayed the same until a taxi wrote the car off (when it altered slightly :-)
Keith

Thanks for answers - I had the car pumped to 37 cms and immediately felt the difference in ride comfort. The garage has advised to check the height after a day or two and if it drops to go back for another pump up.
Robert Matthews 1

This is a useful thread. My VVC suspension has been low for ages to the point where i am concerned that the back wheels may soon disappear!!!!!!!

I have booked it in later this month at my local garage mechanic. They say they can do it but is there anything (apart from the ride height spec) that they would need to know/have?

Thanks folks.

Jon Poole
Jon Poole

Well, the garage I used had a pump that looked like it dated from the early days of Metros or 1100s. Totally manual but it worked and was Ģ7.50 per side. So apart from the pump and a tape measure there isn't anything else needed. I was surprised at how easy this was. Have now driven about 100 miles and the suspension has stayed put at 37 cms. Takes a bit of getting used to when you view the stance of the car - I didn't realise what a difference a couple of cms makes to the appearance.
Robert Matthews 1

This thread was discussed between 27/11/2006 and 02/12/2006

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now