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MG MGF Technical - Blown Hydragas Unit?

Went to drive in my Trophy 160 this morning to find the suspension completely down on the driver's side. I guess it's a blown hydragas unit. Any other suggestions? Is this a common problem?? Vehicle has travelled 45,000 kms.
Mark Hughes

If a hydragas unit goes it tends just to be the one corner that's down. If the whole side of the car is down, I would suggest that it might just be a leak in the pipes. I hope that this is the case because I think the Trophy units are very very hard to get (they are different from normal MGF ones).
David Clelland

This only happened because MGFs are rubbish - they were built by idiots. Hardly surprising that they go wrong all the time - they suck.
I'm the money

Half term's here.
Steve Clark

My Hydragas unit's gone as well. I've given up on the car now and bought a Lada - it's much better looking and its communist roots remind me of my childhood as a peasant boy.
Steve Clark

I agree with David - deflation at both ends usually signifies fluid loss, as opposed to a failure of the gas chamber in the sphere.

The difference between standard and Trophy units is the gas pressure (lower in Trophy units) but other than that they're identical AFAIK. It should be possible therefore to modify a standard unit to Trophy spec, which may be easier than searching out a direct replacement.
bandit

This opens up a business alternative, I can sell my partly empty right rear F unit as a "Trophy" ?
Or we F owners will as time goes by upgrade as Tropy owners ? Sorry for the comments,not meaning to offens anyone - but hours dealing with stubborn bolts and nuts turns out the worst in me... / Carl
Carl Blom

'I'm the money, Everywhere' - Go away you silly little boy!And put your long trousers on (if you have them)!

Does anyone have any idea what the level of new sphere stock is like? Are we still talking 100's or 1000's. It seems a false economy to fit secondhand spheres but may now only be the only option now.
Julian

If it is the rear hydragas sphere that has failed you are in luck (such as it is), since your car is a Trophy. The non-Trophy rear units are no longer available from XPart.

BTW I thought that there were more differences between the Trophy & non-Trophy spheres that just different gas pressures.
Ralph Gadsby

Ralph,does that mean that there is no supplier at all in UK for new rear F spheres? Only used as an alternative? Oh dear, hope some aftermarket guy come out with a decent "bolt on" alternative !
Carl Blom

As a young lad I had several Miniīs over time. Only one of them had the Hydra-gas chambers. The others were some kind of look-alike but with rubber as suspension medium. Could this possibly be done for the F also as to keep them on the road ?
Carl Blom

Carl, you need to ask Dr Alex Moulton, he designed both systems, and still designs and manufactures bicycles, according to his website ;o)
Charless

Yes Charless, You might be right. The trend right now is towards bicycling.This if I canīt get my F onto the road in the comming spring... Some hard thinking as well as welding/construction work is needed in the near future. There are low height ball-shaped suspension springs on the market.A bit like rear suspension for SAAB 9-3.
Carl Blom

Thanks for your comments. Workshop believes rear hydragas unit is the problem and the car will go in later this week for repair.
Mark Hughes

take look here


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MGF-Trophy-Front-Hydragas-Unit-BRAND-NEW-A14_W0QQitemZ110353381289QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item110353381289&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A265%3A139%3A1240%3A1318
pd dixon

pd dixon,
that's nice an a good price, but it's a front unit.

Carl, stop shouting about our _luvely_ suspension ;) (LOL) ... but let me know immidiately when you have found another solution !!! :)

Anyway, all about it at
http://www.mgfcar.de/hydragas/index.htm
And indeed the Trophy units have another shape at the bottom, another alloy cone and sofar a different characteristic. Dont' mix front with rear or standard with Tropy !!
I've tried to get a comparison online the other year.
http://www.mgfcar.de/hydragas/compare.htm

Regards
Dieter
PS. p/n can be looked up in the online EPC at www.mgfcar.de/epc



Dieter

This thread was discussed between 12/02/2009 and 21/02/2009

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