23 replies to this topic

[blake12345]

Hey,

Ive just read through a heap of posts on here and 16v forums and i still have no idea what to think.

Im looking at upgrading my suspension in the next couple of weeks and i was going to get all 'standard' replacement stuff but i was thinking off maybe going coilovers. My car is used on weekends to have fun drives to and around race tracks and to and from car shows and the like so i dont really do any everyday driving and alot of roads around here are great.

I was thinking of gettin the Spax ones from minispares with the adjustable geometry kit aswell.

Am i being silly by going coilovers? Also if i was to go coilovers whats a decent spring rate? And do you need to strengthen mounts? My car has no rot or anything but im still worried about the strength of the inner wing and rear arches.

Sorry i know alot of people ask questions about coilovers but i suppose everyones needs/wants are different.


Thanks Blake

Edited by blake12345, 18 August 2010 - 11:57 AM.

[Cooperman]

Quite honestly unless you want to atually race your ar, then the original rubber one type springing is the best for a Mini. It is variable rate in that the spring rate increases with the load applied and when set-up with adjustable damping and correct wheel geometry and alignment is great for all road conditions. The advantage for raing is that a very high rate coil spring can be used as not much suspension travel is required on a smooth track, unlike the roads which have (lots of) bumps. Those rubber cones show true design genius.

[blake12345]

Yeh i realise that the cones are a great design.

But like i said i dont drive my car a whole heap and im not looking for a comfy car.

What kinda strengthening would i need to do to the turrets and the inner wing? I was thinking if i was to go with coils of making a bigger 'plate' for the front to spread the load over a greater area and at the back weld a 3 - 4mm plate over the top of the rear arches to once again spread the load over more of the arche

[mini93]

you will want rear shocks which have offset turret mounts otherwise you will have to modify the arches to accept the shock without contacting the arch.

[Ethel]

The coilover kits for Minis also use rising rate springs. I've only experience of rear coilovers on a plaggy car, if anything they are more refined on the road. Front coilover kits do have reinforced mountings and though it still amazes me the shocker mounting pin on the radius arm does seem to cope just fine. I have put standard shockers through the rear turrets, even without coilovers, so as a minimum they do need to be in rust free condition.

[Darkscamp]

A very decent set of coilovers from the results i've seen

Front Coilover Set Link

Rear Coilover Set Link

[blake12345]

Yeh i was considering the off set rears. I have read things about them bending easy is this true?

My car is completely rust free so i was thinking of just adding a little bit of extra bracing and something to spread the load over the arch.

I have heard the protech is the best to go to. What are peoples opinions on the Spax coilovers?

im also planning on using a full geometry kit with the coilovers will this effect the distribution of weight when camber is added?

[Dolly 89]

what is actually involved in fitting coilovers i have been thinking about this for my project but i cant really make my ming up cheers

[blake12345]

suzzy 273 - from what i have seen so far in my research is if you get offset rear coilovers it should just bolt on but you should beef up the mounting areas (but as you can see from my questions im still learning) and if you get standard coilovers you'll need to modify the turrets to fit them.

Im thinking the offset type but i just dont know if i trust the weight transfer being off centre at the rear. Im going to have a chat to an engineer in the next few days and see what they're thoughts are.

Ethal - do you know why you had a standard rear shock try and make a run for it?

Thanks Blake

[Dolly 89]

cheers for that if you could let me know what you find out blake. i cant see them being dangerous surely else they wouldnt be able to produce them but im a bit the same thinking it would be alot better if the where centred rather than off centre

[Ethel]

Rear shocker bid for freedom: just corrosion, it's fairly common. The join around the reinforcement and the shocker rubber bushes make for decent moisture traps.

I imagine the instantaneous load on the shocker when you drop over a decent sized bump isn't much different to what goes in to the trumpet & cone.

Ref off centre coilovers. They have rubber bushes at both ends, wobble one about on the bushes and you'll realise they can only transmit any force worth mentioning along the axis of the damper. Apart from the clearance, I'd say the offset helps as it keeps the axis in the same plane as the swing of the radius arm.

[blake12345]

Thats all good, i will let you know. But yeh i cant see them being to bad but i also understand why people feel the arches and inner wings arent up for the job on dealing with the whole weight of the car.

I sit and design/draft buildings all day long and the structural engineer always wants us to try and line the structural walls up with the ones below so that weight is transferred properly and this is what is making me wonder if the same applies to these coil overs

[blue blood]

To be honest i think that coilovers are the best option. I think that the lack of rubber doughnuts on modern cars says something. I myself have opted for coilovers as they have such good specs and upsides to them. I went for protech coilovers reason being they are light, made for one single piece of machined aluminium (won't rust and very durable), made in England (re-assurance in quality) and are adjustable (so can be made to suit your car). The only thing i would say if you think it a good idea to opt for these ones, is try and purchase from protech themselves. I know huddersfield spares supplies them but as alot of mini fans know their reliability is somewhat questionable. I hope this has helped in your decission. Regards Blue Blood

[blake12345]

oh right fair enough. I suppose i should double check that!!!!

So you dont think the offset is a bad thing?

Are the front brackets that are provided with some coilovers enough or are there things that should be done to the front wing to provide extra support and stiffness?

Thanks for the replys

[blake12345]

thanks blue blood. Thats why i was thinking going coil overs. It means that there is less rubber in the car and to me that sounds like a good idea. Did you weld in new rear turrets or strengthen the front wings at all?

Yeh i was thinking of getting the Spax but i dont think they look as well made as others so im thinking of getting the Gaz.

Edited by blake12345, 19 August 2010 - 11:06 AM.