-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SxwekmufPEYLbgZJIaPJzIGjuM5iUMvEL9LJk92rGy70xHgmTvuItHrMQ7CBHrv6
 QDFu6wPY5jwMUXQlC5oVQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001059471-08-000004.txt : 20080605
<SEC-HEADER>0001059471-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20080605
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080605143955
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001059471-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080530
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080605
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080605

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUN HYDRAULICS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024795
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS [3490]
		IRS NUMBER:				592754337
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 WEST UNIVERSITY PKWY
		CITY:			SARASOTA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34243
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9413621200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 WEST UNIVERSITY PKWY
		CITY:			SARASOTA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34243

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEMAITRE PHILIPPE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001059471
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC CONNECTORS [3678]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21835
		FILM NUMBER:		08882746

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMP INC MS 176-048
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 3608
		CITY:			HARRISBURG
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7175640100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1500 WEST UNIVERSITY PARKWAY
		CITY:			SARASOTA
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34243

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LEMAITRE PHILLIPPE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980409
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001024795</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUN HYDRAULICS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNHY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001059471</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEMAITRE PHILIPPE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1500 WEST UNIVERSITY PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SARASOTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34243</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1.33</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1.33</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>588.81</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>311.93</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.37</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>311.93</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>900.74</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock Units issued and held for the account of the reporting person under the Amended and Restated 2004 Nonemployee Director Equity and Deferred Compensation Plan.  In connection with any distribution to the reporting person under the Plan, Stock Units are payable in shares of common stock on a 1 for 1 basis.  The reporting person is fully vested in all Stock Units issued to him and held for his account, and there is no expiration date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Gregory C. Yadley, as Attorney-in-Fact for PHILIPPE LEMAITRE</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----