Today we travelled from the hotel where we’re staying in Southampton to Winchester to carry out the fitment of a set of recharged Hydragas units to this low mileage garage find Princess 2200 HLS. This car had spent all its life in Wales and had been stood many years by the late original owner’s daughter before recently passing to a new enthusiastic owner. As with all Princesses it was in desperate need of our work, the ride was very uncomfortable and it was already too late for one of the rear units which had already failed. A few seized bolts and a pipe later fitment got under way and in a few hours the ride was transformed for the delighted owner. Now for some well deserved R&R

Early this morning we set out on our voyage to Portsmouth to look at an early Maxi where the suspension had collapsed on one side. We attached the pump and it was soon sitting at normal height, we then needed to find out what had gone wrong. We always start by examining the Hydrolastic units as early Maxis have the Hydrolastic system, a good flexing of the hoses didn’t reveal anything and there were no leaks that we could see, we then turned our attention to the front to rear suspension pipe which had visible corrosion along its entire length but this was heavier towards the rear. A light scraping of the pipe in this area soon produced a torrent of fluid spraying out near the bend in the rear floor area. As the pipe had corrosion elsewhere we decided to make a complete new front to rear pipe right up to near the fill valve, we soon had this formed, flared and fitted. On pumping up everything was fine and the car was now sitting as it should. We then travelled to Gosport where we looked at an Ambassador where we had previously recharged the units some time ago and also replaced the front to rear suspension pipe, a failed front Hydragas unit was the culprit, we soon had a replacement recharged unit fitted and the suspension was soon as it should be again. We’re now at our hotel looking forward to the fitment of a set of Hydragas units to a Princess tomorrow

Today was a very busy but successful day. Firstly we travelled to Rushden in Northampton where we fitted a set of recharged Hydragas units to a Rover Metro automatic, it was soon finished and had a ride quality like new again. The customer asked us while we were there whether we could pump up the fluid on another Rover Metro he owns, as predicted the suspension went up but the ride was rigid with very little travel, this car also needs recharged units fitting which we had already explained to the customer and now he could see it for himself and will be having us out again in due course. We then travelled to Barton Seagrave, also in Northamptonshire where we topped up the fluid on an MGF where we had previously fitted the units a good few years ago. We then went to East Hunsbury, again in Northamptonshire to look at a previous customer’s Allegro where last year we fitted a set of recharged units and the car kept going down on one side. We soon found the problem, the front to rear steel suspension pipe had an area of corrosion near where it goes behind the steering rack and had a slight weep due to the corrosion. It was possible to fix this by fitting a compression fitting, this was soon done and we also fitted a pair of rear suspension cross tube mountings which the customer supplied, one of the originals had completely parted company with the rubber and the other was on its way out, with these fitted and the suspension preload all correctly set its stance is now perfect. The customer is keen to have his Maxi and Princess dove when circumstances permit

An early start today in Bristol, three MGFs to complete, all different customers but on the one customer’s driveway. We worked solidly through until all the cars were done. After the first MGF was completed the other customers were taken for a ride in it so they could find out what to expect when their cars were done. By 4pm they were all completed and everyone was delighted with the results, now time to relax with a beer after a busy few days, six cars in all completed and now a pleasure to drive with superb comfort and roadholding

Today in Penzance we fitted a set of recharged Hydragas units to a low mileage “barn find” Mk1 Metro and then for the same customer a set to his MGF, by mid afternoon both cars were completed and ready for many years of pleasurable and comfortable motoring. Tomorrow is the big one, it’s going to be three cars in one day!

Our job today, after a long drive, was in Newton Abbott for a fitment of a set of recharged Hydragas units to an MGF. A bright and shiny car which well deserved our services. Within three hours work was completed with the car being a pleasure to drive afterwards. The weather was amazing for the time of year, pleasantly mild and we are now in our hotel room. We will be setting off first thing for two more fitments in Cornwall tomorrow

The start of what is going to be a very busy week for us, this morning we travelled to Crewe where we fitted a set of recharged Hydragas units to a very nice MGF. By midday the job was completed and the customer took the car for a run, he ended up driving for around 15 minutes and was amazed at how much fun his car now was to drive, not just comfortable but the way it held the road and how much better the grip was on cornering. We then travelled to Higher Kinnerton in Wales where we repeated the job on another excellent MGF, the second customer was equally delighted!