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Post by cookie on Oct 18, 2021 15:40:39 GMT
Good afternoon all,
I’m the new owner of a 72 Morris 1800 and picked her up on Friday. She had been standing for 2 weeks in a storage shed and when the seller got her out for me the suspension had completely dropped on the driver side. He had attempted to refill it but stated it just wasn’t happening and there must be a leak somewhere. However, where it had been stood was bone dry.
Anyway, fast forward to now… I have a proper pump on the way and will attempt to refill myself. However… I have a couple of silly questions if I may;
1. The suspension is COMPLETELY down in the driver side rear, it almost look likes the top of the tyre would be rubbing the arch… is that normal? And also is this the height that the manual says it could still be driven at 3mph on?!
2. I jacked it up today to have a nosey with limited tools, but behind the wheel appears to be some kind of liner. I couldn’t get the wheel off because I didn’t have everything my with me and the flimsy one in the boot just wasn’t having it. However, I kind of expected to see the displacer behind the wheel, not this liner. So is the displacer behind it or should I be looking lower. The manual I have really doesn’t cover the suspension very well so apologies if that sounds ridiculous
Cheers Cookie
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Post by Penguin45 on Oct 18, 2021 19:10:04 GMT
1. The suspension is COMPLETELY down in the driver side rear, it almost look likes the top of the tyre would be rubbing the arch… is that normal? And also is this the height that the manual says it could still be driven at 3mph on?! Supposedly you can drive at 30mph with the suspension down. This assumes that the bump stops are in place and functional; many cars do not have them, so driving metal on metal has to be a bad plan. The top of the wheel is likely to disappear into the wing, yes. 2. I jacked it up today to have a nosey with limited tools, but behind the wheel appears to be some kind of liner. I couldn’t get the wheel off because I didn’t have everything my with me and the flimsy one in the boot just wasn’t having it. However, I kind of expected to see the displacer behind the wheel, not this liner. So is the displacer behind it or should I be looking lower. The manual I have really doesn’t cover the suspension very well so apologies if that sounds ridiculous. There is nowhere for the fluid to hide, so if there's a leak, you will see it. Possibilities are: 1/ Schraeder valve. Easy. Pop down to the local bicycle shop and buy a couple of new ones and the little fitting tool. 2/ Joints. Displacer flexi to connection pipe front and rear. Can weep with age. BFI and two large spanners (7/8" and 1" from memory) usually sorts it. 3/ Steel pipework. Rust. Pinholes. Tony Wood sells hydraulic hose-based replacements which are excellent. Both of my cars have them. Paul (Bullyboy of this parish) re-made his pipes in new steel pipe, but that's pretty advanced. 4/ Displacers. The hose on the ends can chafe through. That can be fixed easily. There is an article in the Tech Article section on what is involved, or again, Tony Wood will supply at very reasonable prices on an exchange basis. The displacers can simply fail. The rubber ends are 50 years old and can crack and split. Occasionally they blow the end out completely, but that's pretty obvious. So... When the pump turns up, you need to pressurise the system. For leak hunting, just use plain water. You can still get Hydrolastic fluid at around £20 for 4.5 litres, or you can use 50/50 water and blue antifreeze when it comes to filling it properly. Prime the pump by pumping through until you've expelled the air, then couple to the valve. Start pumping. Nothing happens for a while, then up she rises. 378mm measured from the front axle centre to 12 o'clock on the wheel arch is what you are looking for. Then wait and observe...... No other way to do it. The displacers themselves are in a transverse tube across the rear of the engine bay at the front and longitudinally in a carrier frame and trailing arm assembly under the rear seat area. Again, there is an article in the Tech Articles section. Lokari used to make front wing liners, which will hide things. That said, the front displacers are behind the suspension housings when viewed from the outside. Genuine 1800 BL/BMC WMs come up regularly and are still pretty cheap. Invest! HTH, Chris. |
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Post by Penguin45 on Oct 19, 2021 19:31:25 GMT
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Post by cookie on Oct 19, 2021 20:37:20 GMT
Ah that’s great Chris thank you. My new pump arrived today and I’ve just finished work so hopefully I can get cracking tomorrow morning and see what’s what. Appreciate your thorough replies and follow ups genuinely. I’ve been a member on a VW forum regarding my old VW T25 and some of the replies there genuinely make you not want to ask questions.
This is a welcome change
Cheers
Cookie
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Post by Penguin45 on Oct 19, 2021 23:20:00 GMT
I do know exactly what you mean! Once you get your head round how the car is put together and the way in which the suspension works, it's really very straightforward, even simple. But, it's not very obvious until you see it. And then there are all the little foibles to find out about.  There's not that many cars left now, so at least getting fellow 'Crabbers started is important. It's not the worlds busiest forum, but it does have a wide knowledge base and a good bunch of members who help each other out. Chris. |
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Post by cookie on Oct 21, 2021 12:13:22 GMT
Ok, so I managed to test it with water…. Held its pressure and I was ecstatic, thinking it was simply the previous owner not filling it correctly. Emptied the water out and refilled with 50/50 mix, she started to rise as expected then an awful air/fluid rushing noise coming from the front. Looked under the car and the 50/50 mix was pouring out from what looked like the centre of the transverse tube you described Chris.
Back to square one.
It’s actually on a friends drive because I’m hiding it until Christmas and I can’t get under it until tomorrow with ramps.
Is the front displacer accessible from underneath or is it suspension removal and withdrawal from the side?
Kind regards
Cookie
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Post by dave1800 on Oct 21, 2021 13:08:27 GMT
Hi Cookie
Unfortunately the only way to get at the displacer is to take the front suspension units off as illustrated in Chris's photos. Well worth soaking the bolts with WD40 or similar now especially the large lower one.
David
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Post by andrewa on Oct 21, 2021 17:18:48 GMT
Good luck with it all.
Whilst you've got it all apart might be a good idea to renew bushes/ball joints etc.
On mine I started of doing it piecemeal but in the end went right through the whole lot at the front and it transformed the car and once it's done it's done for a good while.
Cheers
Andrew
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Post by Penguin45 on Oct 21, 2021 17:20:44 GMT
There's a big vent hole in the bottom of the cross tube. If the fluid is coming from there, it suggests that the hose at the inboard end has failed. This is probably quite good news, as the hose is replaceable, or suitable for refurbishment by LOCI. Article HERE or spareathought@landcrab.net for a ready-to-go displacer. Chris. |
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Post by cookie on Oct 21, 2021 19:40:58 GMT
Thank you to you all for replying. Does the displacer just slide out from the tube housing then? I presumed it would be held in place by the hoses it is attached to or is there enough flex in them to pull clear from the housing too? Hope that makes sense.
Thanks in advance
Cookie
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Post by Penguin45 on Oct 21, 2021 23:09:30 GMT
You would need to disconnect the hose from the connecting pipework - look behind the engine at the bulkhead. Once that's undone, the displacer will pull out of the end of the tube. It sits on a rubber shock ring, which can stick, so a degree of wiggling will be required. The pressure on the hydrolastic system (around 230psi) holds everything in place when fully assembled and inflated.
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Post by cookie on Oct 21, 2021 23:36:08 GMT
Thanks Chris, I’m picking some axle stands up in the morning and I’ll get cracking. Fingers crossed but I’ll keep you updated either way.
Cookie
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Post by cookie on Oct 22, 2021 11:12:47 GMT
Hi all,
As expected I’m struggling! I’m pretty technical minded but the manual I have doesn’t explain the removal of the front assembly very well at all. I’ve managed to remove the calliper and all the retaining bolts from the rods etc. But now I seem stuck, I can’t removed the eyelets from over the threads. In particular the steering rod ball joint.
Is it a case of BFI or do I need a special tool?
I haven’t explained it very well probably but is there an article anyone could guide me to that explains with pictures?!
Kind regards
Cookie
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Post by Penguin45 on Oct 22, 2021 12:01:33 GMT
You might be over thinking this, Cookie. Split the ball joints for the steering swivel/hub, then undo the 4 studs and bottom bolt from the suspension housing. You should then be able to wiggle the housing forward and twist it slightly towards the front of the car, thus revealing the displacer. The pictures I posted fit with my restoration thread - HERE p67/68 - where I was trying to achieve more than just replacing the displacer. Apologies if they were misleading. Chris. |
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Post by cookie on Oct 22, 2021 13:18:22 GMT
No you’re right Chris I probably am. In my mind the whole lot needed to come out, hence me undoing nearly early bolt that was visible to man.
I was reading my manual talking about taking the hub and driveshaft out etc and think it may have overwhelmed me a little.
But alas, I will try again!
Thank you
Cookie
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There's not that many cars left now, so at least getting fellow 'Crabbers started is important. It's not the worlds busiest forum, but it does have a wide knowledge base and a good bunch of members who help each other out.
