12 replies to this topic

[rhys-89]

Hi all I have recently bought a mk1 mini which is a project car! The previous owner decided it would be a gOod idea to cut through the suspension line on drivers side.



Looking at this pic and a quick look at my car my questions are

1. Can I get hold of a piece of pipe to replace drivers side or can it be patch together with rubber hose? Or toally replaced with rubber hose?

2. Does it have a fluid bottle on the system to check fluid ?

3. Can anyone provide me with any more info or pictures as tO how this system works as I only have the pic to gO by!

4. Is there anyone near lancing west Sussex with a hydrolastic pump for rental or help!?

5. Is the fluid topped up on the right Sid of the subframe and pumped up on the left? As I noticed on the bk of the rear subframe these two valve one like a bike tire and the other like bleed nipple I think?

Any help would be very much appreciated as I obviously need this sorted out to keep this car original!

[minikidx14]

Wouldnt recomend patching it, its under quite high pressure. The two sides are seperate and need to be pumped up seperatly. Dont think theres anyway to check the amount of fluid in it but why would you want to? you just need to check the hight on both sides

[minim@t]

Not sure but I think there called PirTex, I've seen them about on the roads there a mobile pipe/hose specialist, They might be able to replace the hose, but if your having one side done I'd do both,

The valves on the rear subframe are where you'd pump it up, most garages should have a pump, as this type of suspension was fitted to metros and works in pretty much the same way

Edited by minim@t, 03 January 2011 - 09:39 PM.

[rhys-89]

Wouldnt recomend patching it, its under quite high pressure. The two sides are seperate and need to be pumped up seperatly. Dont think theres anyway to check the amount of fluid in it but why would you want to? you just need to check the hight on both sides

Oh rite o ! like I said I don't no much about them is it quiet simple just like on the picture ? Just a single line from rear to front on each side ? How does the metal pipe convert to rubber hose where it fits to the suspension?

[Shifty]

Minispares do replacement pipes, either in steel or plastic. Not too expensive either, £25ish

I've just bought a pair for my Elf

[malcs_miniturbo]

if you get stuck im taken mine out and ive replaced the fluid and stays up just fine i think you can still get the pipes cant rember where i seen them mite be mini spares,the displacers on mine a perfect

[malcs_miniturbo]

shifty beat me to it doh

[minikidx14]

Wouldnt recomend patching it, its under quite high pressure. The two sides are seperate and need to be pumped up seperatly. Dont think theres anyway to check the amount of fluid in it but why would you want to? you just need to check the hight on both sides

Oh rite o ! like I said I don't no much about them is it quiet simple just like on the picture ? Just a single line from rear to front on each side ? How does the metal pipe convert to rubber hose where it fits to the suspension?

Yeah its pretty simple. Havent really worked on mine but everything i have done has been easy. I have a pump here but you should be able to find someone closer.

[minim@t]

Is it the rubber or the metal pipe/hose?

[tommy13]

The two Schrader valves you refer to on the rear subframe are where the fluid is pumped in. The right valve does the RHS of the car (front and rear) and the left valve does the LHS (front and rear).
There is no resevoir and the fluid is under great pressure so you cannot repair the pipe with heater hose, although I have seen it done ( with three jubilee clips on each end). The pipe can be repaired using compression fittings of the correct size.
You could possibly have rubber pipes made up by a hydraulic hose specialist, similar to the last Rover100's.
Many years ago a local firm made me a pipe for a Maxi from half hard copper tube using a pipe bender and a flaring tool for the ends.

[tommy13]

Just to add, it wasn't uncommon for people to inflate their suspension with compressed air just to get them to the garage to be "blown up" with the corrrect fluid. Fairly bouncy ride.
I must also confess to cutting new pipes in half so they could be fitted without fully dropping the frames. The owners were always informed and were usually happy to save several hours labour.

[rhys-89]

Thanks guys will take a look on mini spares

Here is my hOses they look like metal in pic

[62S]

Hoses are rubber, pipes are metal. The part you can see in the picture is the hose from the displacer that connects to a union that connects to the pipe.