MGF suspension issues
Discussion
Hi guys,
My mgf had pretty low suspension for the first 6 months or so of my ownership but it was holding its gas without issue. I took it in to an mg specialist last Friday to get it pumped up to stock settings and it was fine until 30 mins ago, I noticed just as I was about to leave for work that the entire left hand side suspension had collapsed and was resting on the wheels, needless to say the car is staying on the drive for now!
Is it possible the garage has messed up somehow or am I just extremely unlucky and its just a coincidence that it went in for suspension related work last Friday?
My mgf had pretty low suspension for the first 6 months or so of my ownership but it was holding its gas without issue. I took it in to an mg specialist last Friday to get it pumped up to stock settings and it was fine until 30 mins ago, I noticed just as I was about to leave for work that the entire left hand side suspension had collapsed and was resting on the wheels, needless to say the car is staying on the drive for now!
Is it possible the garage has messed up somehow or am I just extremely unlucky and its just a coincidence that it went in for suspension related work last Friday?
Is it a standard F or an MGF Trophy? (Ride height settings are slightly lower on the Trophy)
It’s possible that driving round with the ride height too low damaged a hydragas sphere, and when the height was raised (and thus pressure increased in the system) it has resulted in the sphere failing.
If you don’t know the history of the car, then there is a slim possibility the car has lowering knuckles fitted, and the system was over pressurised in an attempt to obtain the normal MGF ride height. However I would expect a specialist to have pumped it up to the design pressure and then check the height. If it was significantly lower than stock at that pressure then alarm bells should ring that it may have lowering knuckles fitted.
Unfortunately I think you would have a hard time proving the garage was at fault (unless you have a Trophy or specifically told them lowering knuckles where fitted). Ultimately they did what you asked them to.
Are there any signs of puddles or drips under the car?
It’s possible that driving round with the ride height too low damaged a hydragas sphere, and when the height was raised (and thus pressure increased in the system) it has resulted in the sphere failing.
If you don’t know the history of the car, then there is a slim possibility the car has lowering knuckles fitted, and the system was over pressurised in an attempt to obtain the normal MGF ride height. However I would expect a specialist to have pumped it up to the design pressure and then check the height. If it was significantly lower than stock at that pressure then alarm bells should ring that it may have lowering knuckles fitted.
Unfortunately I think you would have a hard time proving the garage was at fault (unless you have a Trophy or specifically told them lowering knuckles where fitted). Ultimately they did what you asked them to.
Are there any signs of puddles or drips under the car?
baldy1926 said:
If so are they a pain to change if I can find a replacement.
http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/DIY/suspension/replace_hydragas_sphere/index.htmSounds like it
ETA: if you join the following group on Facebook : MG Rover Cars/Parts sale/swaps, Andy Wardrobe was selling two back at the end of Jan, you might be in luck.
Edited by onyx39 on Wednesday 25th February 17:10
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