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MG MGF Technical - Suspension Problems

Hi everyone,

The F continues to turn heads here in the DC area, however I think I may have a suspension problem. I have measured from wheel centre to wheel arch as per Dieter's guidance and find my measuremnts worryingly low. It is around 5-8 C temp here however I am measuring 300mm+/- 5mm all around. However driving it feels normal. The car is due at garage soon for Cat change (now arrived) - what should I advise the mechanic to look at or investigate - same garage who worked on the car before - US with lots of MG experience, but first time they have seen the F - so please keep it simple as I will be explaining it. I have the workshop manual which hopefully will assist them.

As ever many thanks

Elona
E J Davies

Hi Elona,
Go back to Dieter's website and look at the whole of the article indexed as Hydrgas-pumpe. At the bottom of the article after telling your garage how to do it, and with what, it lists the heights you ought to have. These do reduce with temperature at a rate of -0.6mm per 1 degree Centigrade below an ambient 17 degrees C.
It needs a suspension pump up! Keep turning those heads!
Charless

Hi Elona,

Try these websites they are fantastic help:

http://mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/suspension/howto_lower.htm

http://www.mgfcar.de/tracking/ebhoe.htm

They may be good print outs to take to your mechanics.

Keep showing off your MGF Elona!
Cheers Sue
Sue Wilson

It needs pumping up, as the others have said. The 2 points for pumping up are in the front compartment beneath the large plastic cover, up against the firewall.

I wonder if anyone in your part of the world has a pump and the fluid? It is the same as for the old Austin Metro cars, which you probably didn't get there. But if you can find a classic car garage that deals in old British cars, they may be able to help. The 1960s and 70s front-wheel drive sedans also had Hydrolastic suspension, and that pump will do as well. Here they were called Austin 1100 & 1300. I think in the USA they were known as Austin America.
Mike Howlett

Hi Elona, If your garage doesn't have the correctpumping equipment there is a cheap alternative available from a UK company which goes under the ebay name of littletool. You will find the pump listed if you follow this link
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Hydragas-Hydrolastic-MGF-Metro-1100-Suspension-Pump-/170566068272?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item27b687a830
I use 50/50 concentrated ethylene glycol (antifreeze) and metholated spirit.
Pete Cornell

Dear all,

Thank you for the advice and comments. All done F now at a decent ride height again. Simple pump up.

Seasons greetings.

Elona
E J Davies

This thread was discussed between 30/11/2010 and 16/12/2010

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