mini cooper headlights 1968 mk2

[handy andy]

does anyone know minimum height requirements for headlights from floor to light centre
my car has hydrolastic suspension and the only way to lift front of vehicle is to add washers on suspension between displacer and knuckle joint or do you know any other way
at the moment height is 23 inches from floor
thanks andy

[111Robin]

Ride height should be measured from wheel centre to top of wheel arch and should measure Front: 315mm-350mm Rear: 325-340mm. Why do you think you need spacers, have you got access to a hydrolastic pump ?. Can't see why you can't adjust the height as normal using the pump.

[111Robin]

If all you're trying to do is adjust the headlight beam heights (and assuming suspension height is set to correct limits) all you need to do is remove the headlight rim and adjust using the bottom adjustment screw. You probably know all of this, just not sure what the issue you are having is exactly.

[Dino42]

I don't think there's any way you'd ever get a Mini low enough for headlight height to be an issue!
Besides it's only an SVA thing, not something that should be tested in an MOT, so I wouldn't worry about it.

I do agree about pumping up the suspension if it's settled though.

Edited by Dino42 on Wednesday 26th November 00:50

[handy andy]

have had the hydrolastic pumped up as far as it goes and still low on front
am concerned about the 23 inh headlight height on m o t
to give you an idea i have repeatedly knocked the front number plate off when going up a ramp
also have trouble getting trolley jack underneath
thanks for your help

[Dino42]

handy andy said:

...am concerned about the 23 inh headlight height on m o t

Don't be ! It's not an issue.
As I said before headlight height is not part of the MOT. There is NO minimum height for cars like yours.

(FYI For a new car, or a kit going through SVA, there is a minimum, but it's 350mm ie less than 14", you'd never get a Mini that low !!)

handy andy said:

...i have repeatedly knocked the front number plate off when going up a ramp ...

Yes well that's fairly normal !!!

Seriously though you may need to look into the suspension condition. If pumping it up correctly doesn't correct the ride height it's quite possible that something is worn, the knuckle joints are the place to start looking.

The ride height is measured from wheel centre vertically to edge of wheel arch.
The std figures for Cooper chassis no's after Austin 830061 / Morris 830127 are:
Wing heights: front 12 5/8" + or - 1/4"
rear 13 1/8" + or - 1/4
suspension pressure 282psi (permissable to go +60psi to get correct ride height)

Edited by Dino42 on Thursday 27th November 00:43

[handy andy]

have checked heights
front 11 ins
rear 13.8 inches
all suspension joints inc knuckles replaced
garage man said cant pump up anymore as was on max pressure
thanks again for advice
good to know it wont affect m o t

[handy andy]

have checked heights
front 11 ins
rear 13.8 inches
all suspension joints inc knuckles replaced
garage man said cant pump up anymore as was on max pressure
thanks again for advice
good to know it wont affect m o t

[Dino42]

handy andy said:

have checked heights
front 11 ins
rear 13.8 inches
all suspension joints inc knuckles replaced ...

Ok that does sound a little low at the front relative to the back.
Might be worth looking at the helper springs, other than that check again that the front arms aren't worn where the knuckle joint sits.

[handy andy]

there are no helper springs on front should there be
as i said earlier all susp joints have been renewed and new knuckle joints fitted
thanks for your help andy

[FWDRacer]

It sounds like the knuckle has punched through into the top arm. I know dry mini's are prone to the knuckle going through the Nylon cup if not maintained. Then the knuckle starts grinding into the top suspension arm lowering the ride height. If the Hyrdrolastic set-up (I know the top arm geometry is slightly diffrent) is the same, this could account for your reduced ride height and the hydrolastic pump up having no effect.

[handy andy]

thanks for your reply
i have renewed both the hydrolastic top knuckle joints just recently as part of the rebuild
do you think a couple of washers between the knuckle and the hydrolastic joint should do the trick
i realise that to do this entails letting down the hydrolastic pressure
i believe there are special washers for this
or perhaps i should leave as it is
ride height at front is 11 ins from hub centre to wheel arch rear 13 and quarter

thanks again for your help
andy

[guru_1071]

andy

putting washers in is fine - just use normal washers, two normal penny washer at each side on the front will lift it @ 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch

you may find out that some of your proble is that the new rear knuckles havent forced them selves fully home yet - this makes the back end sit up very high - it may settle down after some use.

when my car was hydro i had machined sets of parts that let it run at different heights and pressures - it took a lot of working out, but i could run the car soft and high or low and hard for track days.

and all for nowt, as i converted it to dry a few years later

[Dino42]

handy andy said:

there are no helper springs on front should there be..

No, they are only on the back, but of course because it's interconnected the back affects the front and vice versa.
I agree with the above though, even though you've replaced the knuckle joints there could still be a problem with the top arms or the seating.

[handy andy]

thanks for all advice and help
will be transporting the car back to u k in spring so if not any better then shall have the washers fitted as suggested
getting anything done like that here in spain is a nightmare there is a garage locally that will pump up hydrolastic but at a cost of 90 euros a time and thats if you manage to get down the back alley with trailer in city centre
thanks andy

[Dino42]

handy andy said:

....will pump up hydrolastic but at a cost of 90 euros a time ..... thats if you manage to get down the back alley with trailer in city centre

Ouch, .. you can drive it carefully a short distance on the bumpstops if that's any help.

Edited by Dino42 on Monday 1st December 13:34