Hi, is it possible to replace the standard hydragas suspension kit in a metro with a non-gas kit? If so, any ideas on how much it would cost? Would it be worth doing that? Or would it be worth just getting the existing suspension pumped up?

GTM/Midas kit cars used to have a coil spring option for the rear of their Metro based cars - it may be worth contacting them.

Honestly, though, I would just pay the £30 or so for a pump up.

And if it's a 100, then the suspension is connected front/rear so you would probably need to change the lot. The Metro has no interlinking, at least on A-series powered cars, but I am not so sure of the K series ones.

its a metro...
I'll pay the £30 or so I think. Thanks for your advice :)

And if it's a 100, then the suspension is connected front/rear so you would probably need to change the lot. The Metro has no interlinking, at least on A-series powered cars, but I am not so sure of the K series ones.

K series Metro's are identical in set up to the 100..

Brian.

how would I know if mine is an A or a K series?

It's a K series. All petrol ones were after the revamp in 1990, except the odd automatic and van (the old model carried on for a while in these versions).

It's a K series. All petrol ones were after the revamp in 1990, except the odd automatic and van (the old model carried on for a while in these versions).
thanks, at least I know for future :)
I think I'll just get it pumped up...

You can buy a gallon of the hydragas fluid and a pump for around £25 -£30 and do it yourself as and when necessary. Prob get about 50 'top ups' for £30.

Ive not done it personally, but a lad around the corner from me used to drop his metro for 99% of the time and then pump up for MOT testing.

You can buy a gallon of the hydragas fluid and a pump for around £25 -£30 and do it yourself as and when necessary. Prob get about 50 'top ups' for £30.

Ive not done it personally, but a lad around the corner from me used to drop his metro for 99% of the time and then pump up for MOT testing.

you also need the pump to do it too though as not all garages can do it - if it was as easy as just buying the gas, surely they'd offer it (as they have the opportunity to overcharge slightly)

I think I need glasses tbh... you did mention the pump.

but I think I'd balls it all up tbh at the end of the day... I'll just go somewhere to get it done I think when I have some cash avail

remember... letting fluid out to lower the car is not an option... thats like driving about with no springs.

Just get the units pumped back up (its fluid btw) make sure they only charge you for 2, as said they are linked front to back.

If you are looking to lower the car and improve the handling, have a look at this guide by fraser mcmillan here (http://www.fraser-mcmillan.com/guide.doc)

remember... letting fluid out to lower the car is not an option... thats like driving about with no springs.

Just get the units pumped back up (its fluid btw) make sure they only charge you for 2, as said they are linked front to back.

If you are looking to lower the car and improve the handling, have a look at this guide by fraser mcmillan here (http://www.fraser-mcmillan.com/guide.doc)

Ahh... I didnt think of it in this way. The guide made sense, but the work looks slightly too difficult for me. I may give it a go when I get enough balls to have a go :p
I've been looking at various metros and the front always looked higher up than mine although the back of my metro sticks up a bit like a ducks **** although not as high as some I have seen. Reading the guide only made me see the consequences of the front and back suspensions being linked (engine pushing front down as is heavier and pushing all the gas to the back hence making it higher).

So if I were to follow that guide and make the back rods shorter... would this therefore push some gas forwards as there is less room for it at the back and lift the front up? Or would I need to remove some of the gas also to avoid it causing any damage? Sorry for the newbie questions like, but I honestly have very little idea on cars (computers and mountain bikes I can do no worries... but cars... no chance! lol)

no, when the systems are pressurised correctly, the front and rear will be at the same height.


Col

no, when the systems are pressurised correctly, the front and rear will be at the same height.


Col
ahh... so if the front is sagging a bit, it would really need pumping up??

yeah

5678910

yeah

5678910
ok n1, cheers for the help everyone.
I'll look to lower it in the future (would be nice to get some extra downforce... I hear metros are infamous for flipping in strong winds) but for now I'll pump the suspension up.

you definitely know your metros col!

not through choice ;)

have a look at mine here (http://www.metropower.co.uk/portal/default.asp?id=52&mnu=52)


Col

very nice :)
You seem to have errr... slightly beaten a few cars there too in it. And 1/4 mile in 14seconds!! :eek: thats some speed for a metty!

Hi m8,

When I had my 100 the mot station I took it too for its very first mot failed because the hydragas needed pumping up and they charged me £70 to do it lickily though the garage I bought the car from paid for the work as I complained.

Hows woollies going m8?

I am enjoying my new job having to chase after scrotes etc :-)

Hi m8,
That was lucky that the garage paid for it!

Woolies is going OK... finally gone into MIS properly (moving to their office in a few weeks) but with no extra pay!! :sad3:
I'm actually gonna apply for a IT techie job for 15k which is an improvement so fingers crossed for that.

Heh, would love a job where I could chase scrotes all day... but I'm just too unfit to be chasing people just at the moment! haha!

Good to hear your doing ok

Just been quoted £22 +vat for a pump up - gonna book it in for Friday if I can get the day off work (will be in Liverpool at weekend).

We're stuck in the far end of MIS now tahiti25... no more hub lol
no payrise though :irked:

thats pooh innit m8.
glad to hear the pump up is cheap though.

thats pooh innit m8.
glad to hear the pump up is cheap though.
Just a bit... more pay would be nice although this place is fully air conditioned :)

Aye, it was mentioned it would cost about £30... £22 + vat is £25.85 I think I worked it out to be, so its pretty decent really. Got Friday off, so I'll get it done then ready for the weekend.

im a late starter to the conversation

but either get it lowered or pumped up lowered ones handle like go karts,, normal ones are spongy

im a late starter to the conversation

but either get it lowered or pumped up lowered ones handle like go karts,, normal ones are spongy
how much to get it lowered though? could the guy who pumps it up also lower it? I'm on a tight budget at the min after being away the other weekend (roll on payday pls lol). I've got instructions done by Fraser McMillan (link on pg1) but I aint got the balls to try them :eek:

I would like it lowered a bit to give it better handling as I do tend to whizz around corners sometimes - and a bit more downforce would put my mind to rest when whizzing down the motorway when its slightly windy (I was told someone's metro flipped once that my gf's sister knows well - and now it plays on my mind a lot when its windy :()

just make sure there pressure is correct.


Col

just make sure there pressure is correct.


Col
what pressure am I wanting for my suspension then?
If they cannot lower it or it is gonna cost me too much... what pressure should be used for standard suspension setups?

what im trying to say is dont lower it by letting the pressure down. thats like taking your springs off. get it done properly or not at all.

iirc the correct pressure is 350 psi.


Col

what im trying to say is dont lower it by letting the pressure down. thats like taking your springs off. get it done properly or not at all.

iirc the correct pressure is 350 psi.


Col
aye I think you had mentioned that on the 1st page... I know that wouldnt be a good option. My car at the min is like one with no suspension as the front is sagging really bad and the back is sticking up a bit like a ducks ar*e in comparison :eek:

I would like it pumped up fully as a normal metro, and in the future look to get the rods shortened to reduce the ride height and then overinflate the hydrogas pressure to make it stiff (as instructed in those instructions given on page 1) or preferably if he can do it then (which I doubt - I would have to leave it there for a while I'm sure - so its a future job I think lol) so its done properly :)

I take in the words of yourself and ppl like gregg who also have nice metros with the intent of doing similar jobs myself - but I dont have the balls to try them or the cash to ask someone else to :(

one day... one day :p

edit: and thx for letting me know the correct pressure :)

Ive been thinking about this (I have lots of time to think on a late shift in Woolies... tahiti25 will know this :lol: ) and anyway, would it be worth getting the suspension overinflated a bit as if I would if I were to lower and stiffen it? That would reduce some of the spongy-ness (would it not??) which I dont really want (I'd prefer stiffer suspension - less like a bouncy castle then lol) but am unlikely to be able to afford any different at present anyway :(

thx for all the help you guys have given so far... its appreciated

edit: if the guy cant do either (lower it properly or overinflate) then I'll get it done normally, drive the bouncy castle for a few months while I save up and find a place who'll do it properly for a decent price and then get it done - fair enough it'll cost a bit more in the long run, but the handling is a bit poop and my stopping distance has increased a bit of late (which I was told in the past can be caused by low suspension).

im off on holiday tmrw so if u have any more questions they will have to wait for 2weeks :beer2:

i am ditching my lowered suspension now for some rather unique set up

as u know the suspension runs from front to back or vise versa,,,,, this is why the metro bounces alot

i am having all of the four units individualised so that each unit can have seperate pressure,, thus meaning different ride heights too

the rods will still need machining down,, but u can have the pressure at whatever as there ill be virtually no bounce as all the fluid stays in the one canister rather than travelling from front to back


This does not cost much more than lowering,, all that is needed is some schreider nuts which captivate all of the fluid in to one unit

just another option too think about now ;) :spanner:

im off on holiday tmrw so if u have any more questions they will have to wait for 2weeks :beer2:

i am ditching my lowered suspension now for some rather unique set up

as u know the suspension runs from front to back or vise versa,,,,, this is why the metro bounces alot

i am having all of the four units individualised so that each unit can have seperate pressure,, thus meaning different ride heights too

the rods will still need machining down,, but u can have the pressure at whatever as there ill be virtually no bounce as all the fluid stays in the one canister rather than travelling from front to back


This does not cost much more than lowering,, all that is needed is some schreider nuts which captivate all of the fluid in to one unit

just another option too think about now ;) :spanner:
:eek: more options *hides* :lol:

how much would it cost to get a garage to lower the car? How much would it cost to get it individualised? Are you doing this for your car yourself or is a garage doing it? Sorry for all the questions, im pretty useless at all mechanical stuff (apart from mountain bikes and computers) but I dont want a bouncy castle for a car...

Oh and btw... av a good holiday :)

have a drink or three for me :beer2:

and happy birthday lol (just saw on main screen :p)

im getting hold of the nuts for a good price
i may be able toget u a set
then al needs doing nuts need attaching to rear and front,, for front u will need new valves

then a garage will need to pump up 4 corners ;)

hmm... sounds good - I'd still need it lowering though separately which I've not got the balls to do myself (unfortunately - it'd probably save me a fortune!)

Do garages lower cars or is this something people need to venture into themselves? How much would they normally charge? (rough guesstimate would be great)

Anyway, got the suspension pumped up this morning... feels like a bouncy castle compared to what it was - it handles alright too, so I'll leave it for a while before looking into getting it lowered I think :)
I'm still curious as to how much its likely to cost me if I wanted it lowered though, so if anyone can give us any idea to the price, it'd be appreciated...

Contact the Guys at Moto-Build Racing, they've lowered many before by machining and re-inflating the correct way.
Their numbers are 0208 8934553 or 0208 8942233.
Or check out their website - www.moto-build.com