wet to dry suspension

[coopers1968]

I know there might be already a topic or many topics on this but I need some questions answered by people who know it all
. im trying to figure out if my 1969 mini should be converted from wet to dry. I have to units which were on the right hand side of the car, which have a broken shaft that enters the rubber ball. I don't know if these can be repaired, would you? I am trying to keep the car as original as can be, but im finding it really difficult in trying to buy parts and fittings for wet suspension system.
whilst removing the suspension a couple of bolts snapped into my sub frame so had a lot of chasing and drilling going on!
so my other question is if I had to convert to dry, does anyone know if there are any full kits available? with nuts bolts and bushes and all?
thanks in advance.
regards
chris

[494TBBman]

I did this conversion many years ago on a 1969 Mk2 Mini 1000. I took advice from one of the big Mini parts suppliers, I won't name them, the advice was certainly incomplete.

It was a much bigger job than expected. From memory, the rear radius arms are different, front top arms are different, front suspension trumpets are different, can't remember about the rear ones.

There are no front top shock absorber mounts on my Hydrolastic car, so I got some of those, only to find on trying to fit them, that holes for mounting them were there, but no welded on nuts to secure them with. It was difficult to put nuts behind the holes to secure the mounts, but I managed.

You will also need 4 suspension donuts of course, and 4 shock absorbers, I used Spax adjustables.

I had a bit of a problem with the height of the front suspension, so I fitted Hi-Low's, they seemed to give me very hard suspension.

[Dr S]

Hydro units come up from time to time £50 to £100 or so. The struts are available second hand from mini mail. Think mine was a tenner.

The knuckles are the same as dry but only genuine ones seem to fit.

Post some pictures and we'll see what we can see.

Nick

[Spider]

Following on from Dr S's post, there isn't much for Hydro that isn't still available new. Personally, the ride of the Hydro is better than Dry and converting from Wet to Dry is of course do-able, but is a bigger job than may first appear.

I think you'll also find it considerably cheaper to stick with the Hydro than converting to (new) Dry.

The Front (upper) and Rear Arms are different and the subframes themselves need a bit of modifying as well as sourcing Trumpes (front and rear), Rubber Cones, Shocks etc.

[coopers1968]

]sorry for the late reply but i was at work, here under find pictures of both subframes, and also of the hydroelastic unit which the pin has come off, ( i dont know if its broken the pin or if its meant to do that). i also have a problem removing the shaft that goes into the rear hub, infact its still intact in the subframe. i wish to dismantle everything to take to sandblast and powder coat over the coming days.
if this hydro hub can be fixed, i would gladly fix it and leave everything as is. i have all original springs which are still in good condition.
thanks

[In the shed]

Get a set of pre 64 subframes and gear.. Fit... done.

[494TBBman]

Get a set of pre 64 subframes and gear.. Fit... done.

Don't forget the front top shock absorber mounts.

[Andrew1967]

Those pins should come out anyway but usually get stuck with age.

[494TBBman]

Those pins should come out anyway but usually get stuck with age.

I was thinking that, but it was so long ago I did the job (probably about 1977), I was not sure.

[Spider]

The Hydro Bag that has the pin out of it does look like it's had it, however they shouldn't be too hard to find, I've got a few dozen here if you are really stuck. The rest only looks like it wants a decent clean up.

[494TBBman]

I remembered a bit more, the Hydrolastic units are removed by twisting them, a sort of bayonet way. There are tabs in the Hydro subframe to effect this. If fitting dry rubber cones into a Hydro subframe, these tabs have to be bashed out of the way, not that easy to do on a front subframe that is still in the car. I used a cold chisel and hammer, subframe was not removed to do this.

[494TBBman]

Here is the Mini I converted from Hydro to dry. Pic was taken about 1980. Extensive work was done to the car, bodywork was terrible when I got it. Resprayed it with a burgess airless sprayer. Engine was 998,bored it out, rebuilt it, put in 998 Cooper cam, AEA630, Duplex timing gear, 12G295 Cooper 998 cylinder head, and changed the 1 1/4" SU for a 1 1/2" SU.

[InimiaD]

Regarding the front hydro units there is also a bracket that is bolted to the subframe which holds the hydro units in place.

[Dr S]

Is there? I've never noticed that on a mk2 changing units over? Where is it?

I assume it's one of those that goes missing over time

[494TBBman]

Is there? I've never noticed that on a mk2 changing units over? Where is it?

I assume it's one of those that goes missing over time

I don't remember that either, on my Mk2. However, I think I remember helper springs on the rear of a Mk1, not sure if they were there on the MK2.

[Dr S]

Mk2 has the helper springs fitted

[coopers1968]

thanks guys for your replies and suggestions. is there an online do it yourself? or book on how to dismantle a hydro unit and service it? as I don't know what its made up on inside, and how this pin really should be changed. I also have to order the rubber bellow which probably by time ripped off.

below is a pic of how I got the mini, I shall be posting later on regarding the restoration problems and issues I came across etc.
thanks again

[Dr S]

I'd leave the pin in, you can't service the unit. It's a big rubber unit with a chamber in it.

[InimiaD]

Is there? I've never noticed that on a mk2 changing units over? Where is it?

I assume it's one of those that goes missing over time

The part number is 21A 1687 for the bracket.
There's a good chance that it's a part that "goes missing". They can be a bit fiddly to fit and a bigger faff to take off especially if the 2 pan head fixing bolts are rusted in.

[Dr S]

Hmm, where does that bolt in from? They look familiar but they weren't attached to the subbie when it came out. I've never seen them on the car, but I've pulled out plenty of hydro units.

Either that or you can pull the unit and leave them in place?