18 replies to this topic

[Keeef]

Heard good words on the Moulton Smootha Ride kit...
I'd be interested if anyone has any direct experience to share.

[Cooperman]

I believe the Moulton kit alters the rising rate during the initial part of the spring compression. The initial rate is lower and it increases to a different curve from the as-designed originals.

That, in turn, means that there will be more deflection during the first part of the suspension travel giving a softer ride for the same damper setting, but this will be combined with more body roll during normal or more aggressive cornering.

One might guess that the Moulton would be ideal for drivers who are more interested in a soft ride than the traditional more 'dynamic' response for which the Mini is so well-regarded. It's person choice really; soft ride v road-holding & handling.

Does anyone actually buy a classic Mini for a soft ride? If you want a soft ride why not buy a modern car for the same sort of price.

[Aridgerunner]

Fast Road Suspension Set Up:
Front:
With negative camber lower arms fitted, set the ride height to standard. Track it straight ahead with no toe-out or toe-in. With the adjustable front tie bars set 3 deg of castor, plus or minus 0.5 deg to allow for tolerances in the sub-frame to ensure that the wheels are in the same geometrical position with respect to the centres of the rears. Don't set too high a damper stiffness. The reason I say standard ride height is that the Mini has little enough suspension travel as it is and the sump is very low if you lower the car. For track use it's a different matter.
Rear:
Set camber at 0 to 0.5 deg negative. There must be NO positive camber on the rear.
Set the rear track, very important in overall handling terms for a road car, to between 1/8"and 3/16" toe-in. If the camber adjust brackets won't allow this to be set, then you either put shims behind the trailing arm brackets, or grind a bit off the bracket faces to achieve less or more toe-in respectively.
Again set standard ride height, although the rear can go down by about 1/2" from standard. Don't set the dampers too stiff in order that the suspension can work properly.
Enjoy...

Would these settings change when 12" wheels are fitted?

[Keeef]

Settings are valid if you are running 10" or 12" wheels.
I have found that handling on 13" wheels does not respond well to too much negative camber or additional caster angle so for 13" it is advisable to keep the front settings standard and get rear camber as close to 0° as you can.