10 replies to this topic

[Safely]

Evening All,

Just about finished my Mk2 fitted with hydro suspension. At the moment the front is sat very low and the rear is high, to the point that on a very short drive the front wheels are touching the wings.

I have the helper springs in place and also have the shock absorber front kit as well. System was vacuumed and then pumped up with a Churchill pump to approx. 200 lb pressure.

Can any of you offer any help on how to get the car to sit more level? My first thought is put more fluid in (increase pressure), but any other help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Safely

Edit - looks like should be 280lb if anybody can confirm?

Edited by Safely, 22 April 2022 - 09:44 PM.

[Spider]

I'm not a Hydro expert but dabbled with it as well as looking after some customer's cars bar in the day.

I never worked to any particular pressures in the system, but ride heights.

 

If you find that the front just won't rise, or won't rise much and all parts are in good order, then swapping the bags front to rear often levels them out.

 

There was at least 2 different rear helper springs, fitting the shorter ones here will help.

Sadly, as the Hydro Units age, in a car, the rubber spring in them changes it's shape, much like dry rubber cones do and there's little that can be done to bring them back.

Pumping up the system really only changes the ride height and also pushes the rubber spring further out of shape.

[nicklouse]

Early cars were 260ish later cars were 280ish.

 

there is a company that car refurbish/remanufacture them.

 

I have read that some early cars did have a spacer on the front knuckle joint (brought back later on for the 12” wheels).

[MiniMadRacer]

Have you got the corerct top arms, I seem to recall Hydro ones are differnt to dry ones

[Safely]

Thanks everybody for your replies. 

The units have been refurbished by Ian and Dawn, so should be good.

I am using the original top arms, so I hope they are correct as they came with the car, but I will go and check against what I can find in the parts catalogue just in case!

I have fitted the original helper springs, so not sure which length they are, but will keep an eye open for shorter versions in the future.

Just about to go out and try 280lb, so will let you know how I get on.

Edited by Safely, 23 April 2022 - 08:11 AM.

[mab01uk]

 

Note: The Hydrolastic Rear radius arms are also different....

Edited by mab01uk, 23 April 2022 - 09:00 AM.

[mab01uk]

Drawing details below for making a 'Hi-Lo' adjustable Hydrolastic rear suspension strut to fine tune the rear ride height.

Diagram reproduced from Richard Pengelly/Bob Oliver's interesting 'CooperWorld' magazine article about setting up the Hydrolastic suspension on Bob's Mk3 Cooper S along with fitting a rear anti-roll bar and thus reducing Bob's lap times around Castle Combe by 2 seconds.

Edited by mab01uk, 23 April 2022 - 08:49 AM.

[mab01uk]

Technical article on Hydrolastic Helper Springs:-

https://mk1-performa...uk/pdf/hs-c.pdf

 

Hydro tips & tricks:-

https://mk1-performa.../hydroagain.pdf

 

"Spring Cleaning" Hydro units:-

https://mk1-performa...dro_service.pdf

 

Make your own Hydro Pump:-

https://mk1-performa...df/hydro-pl.pdf

 

Also lots of Hydrolastic info and history in this thread:-

https://www.theminif...it-gold-plated/

 

Edited by mab01uk, 23 April 2022 - 09:03 AM.

[viz139]

A quick way to id the front upper arms is the diameter of the bumb stop/ shock hole.  You would have had to drill out the hole to fit the larger bolt for the shocks. Have you the correct shocks and they are not at full extension.

[66Islandblue]

Drawing details below for making a 'Hi-Lo' adjustable Hydrolastic rear suspension strut to fine tune the rear ride height.
Diagram reproduced from Richard Pengelly/Bob Oliver's interesting 'CooperWorld' magazine article about setting up the Hydrolastic suspension on Bob's Mk3 Cooper S along with fitting a rear anti-roll bar and thus reducing Bob's lap times around Castle Combe by 2 seconds.

[66Islandblue]

Thanks for posting this drawing. Do remember what issue of "Cooper World" that was in? Would love to read the full article.