17 replies to this topic

[Robdavmtb]

Hello

Any ideas?

I have 12x5 on and I find that when driving if I go through a compression the tyres will foul the rear arches and are wearing though the plastic arches. Basically bottoming out.

The car is on hi lows. But not lowered really. About 50_60 mm arch gap.

I was told I need shocks for a lowered car as I suppose it is lower than STD. So I bought some gaz shocks for a lowered car.

And it still does it.

I tried to stiffen the shocks and found that even a few clicks on the shock settings really stiffened the rear end and even found that the rear would squat down and not return to normal height.

Do the arches have to be cut to run 12s?
Does anyone else have to run gaz rear shocks almost open?

Thanks

[gazza82]

What is the offset of the rims and what tyres?

[Robdavmtb]

Yoko A539. I don't know the offset but they sit flush in the wood and Pickett arches

[nicklouse]

Shocks do not effect ride height. Short end shocks will not stop tyre hitting arch.

Poor springs/too low a ride height are the issue.

Raise the suspension.

[THE ANORAK]

Yes, suspension too low. but the short shocs are good in this situation as they stop the suspension extending too far as this could lead to your cones and trumpets falling out of the subframe.

Edited by THE ANORAK, 15 January 2017 - 09:18 AM.

[gazza82]

Yoko A539. I don't know the offset but they sit flush in the wood and Pickett arches

Doesn't really help. What tyre SIZE? 145, 165, 175, etc? What's marked on tyre walls.

Offset should be marked on rims as ET value. Probably on back of wheel.

Edited by gazza82, 15 January 2017 - 10:25 AM.

[Robdavmtb]

Ok I can raise it on the hi lows. But I don't think the car is low. When at the shows most minis have next to no room between tyre and arch. Mine looks stock compared.

[roblightbody]

On my 1998 Mini Cooper, bog standard, on the standard 4.5x12 wheels, in 1998, I fitted the 165 tyres and they rubbed at the rear.  I had to fit spacers to clear

 

Thats on a brand new standard car.

[nicklouse]

On my 1998 Mini Cooper, bog standard, on the standard 4.5x12 wheels, in 1998, I fitted the 165 tyres and they rubbed at the rear.  I had to fit spacers to clear
 
Thats on a brand new standard car.

Totally different issue.

[Robdavmtb]

Could the cones be worn or too soft so it is going through the travel to easy?

[GreenMini17]

I had this problem also. Everyone would say "your car is obviously too low" when it wasn't. I tried stiffening the dampers to maximum and no change. In the end the cure was to fit a rear anti-roll bar. It worked a treat!! I used a KAD one as the rest on the market look crap! Hope this helps.

[bluedragon]

Ok I can raise it on the hi lows. But I don't think the car is low. When at the shows most minis have next to no room between tyre and arch. Mine looks stock compared.

 

 

But, do you know how those other show Minis ride? People can go to quite an extreme for looks and accolades. 

 

 

Dave

[nicklouse]

I had this problem also. Everyone would say "your car is obviously too low" when it wasn't. I tried stiffening the dampers to maximum and no change. In the end the cure was to fit a rear anti-roll bar. It worked a treat!! I used a KAD one as the rest on the market look crap! Hope this helps.

An anti roll bar will not help if your ride height is too low or your springs are too soft.

[Tupers]

The ultimate solution is to tub the rear wheel arches as there is no room for a wide positive offset wheel to gain full travel inside the standard wheel arch profile.
The wheel arch shape was designed to house a 3.5" wide wheel and the shape didn't change between 1959 and 2001.

You could fit Mini Spares red spot cones to stiffen the suspension and wind up the dampers to slow the movement of the of the wheel as it travels over bumps but that will lead to a rather rough ride.
The only other sinsible solution is to raise the ride height until it stops rubbing.

An anti roll bar will help in corners but won't have a lot effect in a straight line.

[GreenMini17]

I had this problem also. Everyone would say "your car is obviously too low" when it wasn't. I tried stiffening the dampers to maximum and no change. In the end the cure was to fit a rear anti-roll bar. It worked a treat!! I used a KAD one as the rest on the market look crap! Hope this helps.

An anti roll bar will not help if your ride height is too low or your springs are too soft.

Having had exactly the same issue as the this guy, I can assure you it does!! It may not be what an anti-roll bar is designed for, but it solved the problem. I can even soften my dampers right off so I get a decent ride quality.