How to Shop for Hydraulic Pumps for Your Car
If you're thinking of adding a hydraulics kit to your car, you're going to need to know how to select correctly from the many hydraulic pumps available on the market. Hydraulic pumps force the oil that runs your system to surge through the kit, which in turn adds the signature bouncy hydraulic "dance" movement to your car.
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Instructions
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Learn hydraulics basics before you shop for a pump, which means you'll need a working knowledge of the various kits available on the market. HKS.com has a useful list of basic systems, which details their features and installation (see Resources below).
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Consider each pump's operating specs, as every different pump will have differing operating pressures, speeds, horsepower ratings, viscosities, fluid flow rates, weights, temperatures and displacements. Your best bet is to contact the pump's specific manufacturer or consult an in-store sales associate if you're having any doubts about a particular product's suitability for the year, model and make of your car.
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Ensure that any pump you're considering is compatible with the hydraulics kit you've installed in your car. If, for example, a particular pump pushes oil and fluid through at a pressurized rate that exceeds the maximum your kit can handle, you'll have to make a different choice.
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Check out online auction sites that specialize in automotive commerce, like eBay Motors or UBid (see Resources below). If you know the kind of pump you're looking for, you might be able to find a new or used one at an auction site at a bargain price.
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Register with GlobalSpec.com to gain access to thousands of different pumps from hundreds of different manufacturers, all in one place (see Resources below). You'll save time searching for pumps individually by using a specialized search engine to shop.
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Pay a visit to your local automotive accessories shop. Direct advice from a knowledgeable sales associate can help you select correctly and save you time.
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Tips & Warnings
"Lowrider" magazine has been an invaluable resource for decades for enthusiasts of automobile air ride and hydraulics systems (see Resources). Read the publication--you'll learn a lot about current trends and the different hydraulic pump manufacturers out there.
