Hydrolastic question

[rolesyboy]

I took my Mini for its MOT the other day. The car sits level and the correct height but while the car was on the ramp the tester lifted the O/S radius arm with little resistance. The N/S radius arm on the other hand was a lot stiffer. Both radius arm bushes were renewed and they are not seized and so I wondered if this would be air in the system? I use a liquid levers pump which does not have a vacuum so it could be the problem. I never drive the car hard into sharp bends as it is the first time I have had hydrolastic and whilst very comfortable it never feels anywhere near as sure footed as a dry car. I wonder if this is why? (I appreciate it will never be as stiff as a dry car but all suspension is less than 100 miles of use except the original 'S' displacers (my local motor factors don't seem to stock them anymore..... )

[STG95F]

Yes it can be air in the system , i have the same machine as you with no vac on it so what i do is jack the rear of the car up as high as you can get it drain the system and start again nice and slow (the hight of the rear will help the air come out of the system better but it may take a few times and a run around the block) this worked for me


hope this helps Ian

[vulcanbb18]

Sounds like a bit of air to me, my first mini was hydro and I had no end of trouble when me and a mate did some home-spun hydro pump action with an electric pump which we *thought* was drawing a vacuum in reverse, but wasn't.

As for being sure-footed, as long as everything is as good nick as a dry car I've found them to be as good or better! Don't forget how many races were won with wet cars, here in Oz they won Bathurst 1000 well enough

cheers

Jacob