7 replies to this topic

[cooperdan]

Rover Cooper
1992
Spi

Hi there guys..

in the next week or so i am going to be investing in as above..

what i am after with your much needed help is to have if possible a smoother ride from my mini setup irioning out those bumps but really i also want to have a much sharper handeling this may sound like a controdiction lol..but im sure i can have the best both worlds?..ive looked at gaz shocks which are a good product..also smoother ride kits..

i would just like some help really what camber kits to get etc....

Thank you

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

the best camber kit if the 1.5 degree lower arms and u can get them paired with adjustable tie rods for better geometer as far as moulta smooth kit ive heard they do make bumps smoother but makes the car has alot of body roll at high speed when cornering pesonally id get standard new cones and make sure the joints all get greased every 3 weeks that way the supension with a good set of shock should be all you want

[rozzer1275]

make sure front ball joints and bearings and rear radius arm shaft and bearings are in good condition.
make sure front and rear suframe bushes are good or fit uprated ones
fit harder lower arm bushes and medium inner tie bar bushes and hard outer tiebar bushes (even better rose joint type front arms and tierods)
fit adujustable front arms and tie bars
adjust to around 1deg neg camber at front and 0.5 at rear and rear toe in to minimum (depending on how good rear arm shafts are)
may need to replace rubber cone springs esp at front
set shocks to approx 1/4 hard at rear and 1/2 hard at front

[cooperdan]

tar very much saxo it shouldnt make a diffrence then really always greasing them up lol

[cooperdan]

make sure front ball joints and bearings and rear radius arm shaft and bearings are in good condition.
make sure front and rear suframe bushes are good or fit uprated ones
fit harder lower arm bushes and medium inner tie bar bushes and hard outer tiebar bushes (even better rose joint type front arms and tierods)
fit adujustable front arms and tie bars
adjust to around 1deg neg camber at front and 0.5 at rear and rear toe in to minimum (depending on how good rear arm shafts are)
may need to replace rubber cone springs esp at front
set shocks to approx 1/4 hard at rear and 1/2 hard at front

I was waiting for your reply rozzer lol...

but yeh thank you for all that information really useful stuff there will take it onboard when it comes to it...if i decide to replace this lot what you reckon 2-3days in total

[Prawn]

If you're lowering the car considerably I'd advise against fixed 1.5 degree bottom arms. I fitted them to mine years ago, and they were great, giving around 1.5 degrees negative camber at a standardish ride height.

When I later lowered the car considerably and took it to have the tracking done, it was running 2.9 degrees negative camber on both front wheels!

due to the design of the top and bottom arms, camber naturally increases as the suspension travels up into the arch, so for peace of mind, I'd get adjustable bottom arms for sure.

If you're fitting new cones remember it may take a while for them to settle down, so if you pay out to have the front geo setup straight after fitting it, you'll only need to pay again to have it altered once the car has settled.

Minispares do a great camber kit, including adjustable bottom arms, tie bars, and rear camber/track plates all for about £100.

Good luck!

[cooperdan]

Hi prawn

I was neve intening to lower it much just a little bit due to the fact that the only way to get out my area is speed bumps lol i will check out minispares see what they can offer...top spec would be coil springs i presume? not sure if i wana pay £500 for it tho lol

[rozzer1275]

Yep my list is a lot of work, the bigys are changing the front springs and re-building the rear arms

yer handleing and smooth quite ride are a bit of a compramise

you can gain or regain handling by keeping the joints shafts and bearings in good shape

negative chamber at front (as already said 1.5 arms on a lowered car can be to much) and a little on the rear and getting front and rear tracking good, should help with corning grip and handling.

Yer Gaz shocks are good, not the best at corrosion still a good buy, they adjust bump and rebound on the same knob (mostly rebound), if you want the ride smooth with them you maybe setting them to full soft on the rear and 1/4 hard on the front, just sent mine back for re-build £90 including vat and postage both ways.

check the clearance of the front top arm from the bump stop it will give you a good idea of the condition of the front cone spring,