I have put new knuckle joints in my hydrolastic suspension, front and back. When I pumped the suspension up, the back end is six inches above the back wheels, nice and soft. The front is a 1/4 of an inch off the wheels and solid as a rock. What is going on, any ideas please.

Something has not seated correctly ball and socket or displacer.

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1970 Mk 2 Cooper S

Make sure the displacer hasn't been displaced. Sometimes they can come unseated, also check what spacers should or shouldn't be in there. I've seen them with washers 1/2" thick, trying to compensate for worn out parts.

It is the same on both sides. I suppose I'll have to release the pressure and see if the bags have dropped in the recess. When I take the wheel off and tried to move the hub up and down, it is very firm only a bit of movement. Not up and down.

Go for a drive...a bumpy drive

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"Show me the Mini!"

If I drive it, the smallest bump and it scrubs on the wheel arch.

Are the rear helper springs in the car?


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1968 Morris Mini Deluxe - members gallery
1970 Morris Cooper S - members gallery
Mini's I grew up with
Slot car couch

Yes
Helper springs in the rear

Was I meant to lubricate the new knuckles before installing them?

They do have a little grease in but a bit more doesn't hurt.
It is just lithium chassis grease, not moly.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Very odd...
Were there any spacer washers fitted to the old ball struts - they can be mistaken for the shoulder of the strut. They need to be reused if they were fitted.
At rear, there were other knuckle joint sets made for later Uk cars with inbuilt spacers to give extra height. Could you have those by mistake?
The correct ones for Aus minis is GSV1118 all round.

No spacers and the part number on the invoice is GSV1118.

I haven't removed the suspension yet but have removed the motor and the cars front has lifted of the guards considerably, a bit higher at the front. Why is the car not equalising when there is weight in the front being the motor.

For 40+ year old cars then the Front ball joints usually have a spacer washer to help equalise front to rear. Maybe this wasn't replaced when new ball joints fitted? Rear ball joint would not have a spacer washer.

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1969 Cooper "S"
1967 Mini Deluxe
1973 Clubman Van (the fleet spare)
1978 ex 1275 LS ("Wizard" Eaton Supercharged)
2015 HSV GenF GTS(occasional drive & tow car)
2019 MINI F55 Cooper S

With the power unit out, the front will rise a lot and sit higher than the rear.
Is the handbrake released?
After pumping/adjusting ride height, the car should be out of gear and handbrake off (chock wheels) as these can affect front/rear fluid displacement. The car needs to be rocked side to side to help resettle everything before measuring.
A drive around the block will usually cause a slight change in ride height, too.
Don't bother trying to adjust ride height without the power unit fitted.
I agree with Michaelb's comments re. the need for spacer washers in old systems - the spacers were often needed when the cars were new.

Also, how damaged were the nylon cups when removed from the suspension arms? Any worn through to the metal?