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MG MGF Technical - MGF suspension failure

WE bourght a 1996 MGF (ex Singapore) early this year.After only a couple of months of fun the R/H rear Hydrogas unit split, meaning the steel casing of the unit. Thinking this was a one off event I fitted a second hand unit from a 2002 car. Today the L/H rear Hydogas unit split while my wife was driving home from work!! Has anyone heard of this before, is it a common fault. If so what does it say for the safety of the car (design)! After the first failure I sent a email to MGRover. No responce.Many thanks to anybody that can help.
Sholto

I've heard of them leaking before, in fact my Trophy had one replaced last year because it was leaking slightly. I've not heard of any catastrophic failures though. I'm sure someone here will know a bit more.

Not surprised you've not had a reply from MGR though - they seem pretty poor at this.

Cheers

Paul
Paul

They do occasionally fail, but it is very few and far between, yours may have been from a bad batch, try and find out why they split (corrosion?) and make sure the units at the other end are in good condition.
Will Munns

Vehicle is 6 - 7 years old, bought used, imported. Parts fail. Could be down to poor maintenance or inspection while in Singapore. They may not even be the original Hydrogas units. Failure is unlikely to cause catestrophic or major problems while driving. What exactly are you hoping MGR will do?
John Ponting

There may be a heat factor in the rare failure of the RH rear hydragas unit failing - as this is extremely uncommon here in northern Europe, but more commonly reported (but still rare) in hotter climes (mediterean, Austrialia etc). Usually once the problem sphere is replaced, the problem never seems to recurr.

LH rear hydragas sphere failure - I jest not, yours is the first I've heard of reported here. :o(

So this is a rare problem - and usually hydrogas spheres are very reliable and have exceedingly long life. My 35 year old Mini has its original hydralastic spheres (very similar technology) - and no problems :o)
Rob Bell

just to mention I had a RH rear hydragas failure 5 years ago... and that was just one year before the RH one failed. Both replaced FOC by Rover.
No other probs since then.
Fabrice

I've just driven back from South Wales during which the MG started behaving strangely. It's now slumped over on one side, so I suspect that I'm suffering from something similar.

Something to get sorted when I get back from holidays!
David

oops ! i wrote 2 times RH ! 8oP
I meant first the rear LH failed.
the second hydragas unit failure was the rear RH one.
Fabrice

Unlikeley to be temperature related. It is winter in the souther hemisphere at the moment and NZ has weather more akin to the UK than to Australia....Bloody cold, lots of rain and more snow than we Aussie ever see.
Phil Stafford

not in Auckland it isn't! Very nice at present, few light frosts, bit of rain, but a lot of fine top-down days thrown in as well. There is bu..er all snow here in the North, and not much in the South this year. Aus is doing much better as far as I know.
Neil Courtney

took the TF120 from Auckland to Tauranga in the weekend. Top down all the way until the last few kms back into Auckland, then the temperature dropped. Enough kms on the clock now to open it out. Had a LOT of fun on some bits of road, particularly climbing up the western side of the Kaimai Range. Two lanes going up, and what little traffic there was did not get in my way. Magic!
Neil Courtney

This thread was discussed between 05/08/2003 and 11/08/2003

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