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MG MGF Technical - Hydragas to Spring: Possible?

I am really fed up with the hydragas system on my 1998 regular MGF. Had to pump the system at least three times a year and seldom sits consistently fine. Also two hydra units replaced so far. Have anyone at this stage managed to get a suitable method for conversion to springs? If so I would go for it.
Scott
Scott Alexander

I know that Mike Satur did Mike Cunningham's car a few weeks ago. I asked for details, but was told that it was going to be the subject of a magazine article. Someone on the MG-Rover.org site did the conversion himself. Speak to Mike Satur or post on the MG-Rover site.
David Clelland

The suspension on the TF was designed around MGF hardpoints, and the engineers had half an eye on MGF owners in years to come wanting to change to more conventional suspension systems.

Therefore, if you are prepared to swap subframes from a TF, you can fit 'dry' suspension from these cars. I haven't investigated this, but whilst it is a little more than "plug and play", it is certainly within the realms of an expert modifier.
Rob Bell

Good news Rob Bell however might be very expensive and perhaps not justified considering the present value of the car. A real and huge contribution would be to achieve the conversion on the original subframes -I understand that somebody did-.
M. Tucker

Interesting that there is now a conversion out there. Following the introduction of the TF this has became a theoretical possibility. Whether anybody would wish to do so is another matter. Having experience with both MGF and TF, my subjective opinion is that the original TF setup lost a lot in terms of ride without any real gain in handling. However, I understand that the MY05 TF solved that, which makes the conversion so interesting.

Plus point is that, I suspect like a lot of people, I do view the hydragas system with suspicion. I also have experience of the system sagging (most memorably that when I hit a bump on the very first Highlander I left a rain of sparks to entertain the driver behind as something metal made contact with the road ... eeek!) and there are a few reports of the spheres rupturing. Add in doubts about future availability of spheres and this may have to be the way forward.

One concern is that with the TF having greater torsional resistance then the MGF (about 20%?), it may be that the TF suspension setup may have an unpredictable effect on the MGF handling. I would also wonder if there would be a greater risk of fatigue damage in the same way uprated shocks require a welded plate.

Issue regarding present value of the car is a red herring IMO. This is very much the 'it is an old car so will do the minimum necessary to keep it going' thinking. While that applies to Mrs R's 10 year old Fiesta, with old MG's if becomes a Labour of love, not economics. Scan the classifieds for MGB's on sale at around £5~£10k having had much more then that spent on them. The same is going to happen with the MGF. Bottom line is that I suspect this conversion is where my money will be heading in years to come.

Chris
Chris Reeves

<Add in doubts about future availability of spheres...
I believe that is the the relevant matter on this subject.
Max klein

Scott, I've got the opposite problem having had it correctly pumped in february, I have had a 'Freelander' in this warm weather!
Charles

I believe the body in white is different on the front inner wings that has larger turrets to clear the springs on the front dampers.
Dave K

Damper mount geometry is different, granted, but nothing insurmountable. Using coil-overs, the subframes and suspension are all pretty self contained. But we're not talking plug and play. At least not quite.
Rob Bell

Am I really the only one who's had the job done? Yes, the job is feasible, and so far I'm very happy with the results. BUT, it didn't half cost (but still a decent amount less than a new TF) and Mike Satur said he didn't fancy doing another after struggling to dismantle my 10-year-old during one of the hotter weeks in June!
Basically the only mods that are essential are to cut a pair of roughly 3-inch holes under the front bonnet to clear the top fixings of the dampers, and to reroute one of the rear brake pipes (I had all the underneath pipes replaced anyway). I bought the Bilstein 'comfort' damper kit from MGOC and had pre-2005 springs fitted as these dampers were set up for these. The result is a ride that is subjectively very close to the previous (10-year-old) system, albeit with a bit more pitch over some bumps, having lost the Hydragas interconnection. I've got Avon ZZ3s 215/40 rear, 205/40 front on 16" wheels, and I'm waiting to give it a serious try on a track day. Meantime it seems pretty well behaved, with I'm fairly sure less tuck-in lifting off in mid-corner.
I should be updating my website pages on the car soon, so keep an eye on www.lejambonfute.f2s.com to see my full list of mods. (most people will reckon I'm off my chump, but I like it!)
M Cunningham 1

Dare we ask ... cost?

Comment about pitch is interesting, as that seems to be noticeable with pre-2005 TF's. Presumably a MY2005 setup would not exhibit this trait?
Chris Reeves

Another consideration might be to go for the Techspeed "4 nipple job" which isolates each sphere and therefore reduces the movement of gas.

It works really well and the handling is vastly improved.

Stu
Stu Dickens

Dare we ask ... cost? --
Bearing in mind there were quite a few reasonably pricey parts other than suspension (see the list now on http://www.lejambonfute.f2s.com), I haven't tried to calculate the cost of doing only the subframes. The whole shebang came in at a bit over £9k (gulp). I suppose if I had added in a zero-mile engine and new interior it would have been a fair bit more than just buying a new car!
The increased pitch movement is there if you look for it, but is not generally noticeable. Removing the front/rear connection by any method would have the same effect. I would expect Hydragas without the connection would give quite a firm ride.
M Cunningham 1

"Dare we ask ... cost? --"


Looking on Techspeed site

http://www.tech-speed.co.uk/road_car_preparation/general_facilities.html

About £315 but best give them a call to confirm this.

Yes the ride is firmer but if you push the boat out and go for there suspension package also you'll feel like your driving away in a different car..

A real transformation

Stu
Stu Dickens

I've been watching this thread for a while now and am really surprised that no one else who frequents the mg-rover.org site has pointed this out but...

There is a chap on there who has successfully done this conversion all by himself and kept the cost to a complete minimum.

Granted he works in a breakers yard but has stated that the conversion itself was not exactly difficult.

He goes by the handle "Slashformayor" as his real name is Kris and I had already nicked that. :o)

Here's a link to one of the threads he's started which lists his complete spec list. Some pretty impressive stuff I think you'd agree.

http://forums.mg-rover.org/showthread.php?t=139881

Kris.
Kris Ford

Judging by Mike Satur's comments about getting past all the 10-year rusted-up nuts & bolts, I'm glad I didn't think I could tackle it myself. It would probably have had to be low-loaded to a garage that knew diddley-squat about F's! Although my miles at 58k are not that high, I did have to use it for 3 winter months commuting 90 miles/day, so it collected more than its fair share of salt. Anyway, my commuting days are over, so I can go out when I please ;-)
M Cunningham 1

This thread was discussed between 24/07/2006 and 01/08/2006

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