13 replies to this topic

[mk3cortina]

in terms of what is better, or if they both serve the same purpose in terms of ridgidity for their use. would a tdk rear beam (this seems the best one on the market) or a cut down and boxed in standard subframe be better. or would they both basically be the same and the only difference being that i would save money by making and modifying the original subframe.

[Cooperman]

in terms of what is better, or if they both serve the same purpose in terms of ridgidity for their use. would a tdk rear beam (this seems the best one on the market) or a cut down and boxed in standard subframe be better. or would they both basically be the same and the only difference being that i would save money by making and modifying the original subframe.

What do you want to achieve, as knowing that will help answer the question?

[mk3cortina]

what i want to achieve is a loss of weight, and with coilovers the rest of the subframe that is not really needed just seems like dead weight. i just wanted opinions on what is a stonger item to use, or if they are both the same.

[charie t]

what i want to achieve is a loss of weight, and with coilovers the rest of the subframe that is not really needed just seems like dead weight. i just wanted opinions on what is a stonger item to use, or if they are both the same.

Wouldn't say anything from austin/rover is/was strong. The TDK beam will be lighter and stronger

[mk3cortina]

i get what you mean charie t haha. i was just pondering that if i just modified the original subframe and boxed it in etc, then if it would do the same job just as well as the TDK beam then i may as well just make one and save myself the money.

[Dan]

Buy one.

[Mini Mad Drakeley]

haha i was considerin changing to a beam axle when my subframe was scrap basically, i asked a guy down the road from me whos been rallying and working on minis since he was young i think lol, he told me to just get a new subframe or a solid used one cus although the beam axle saves weight, he said theyre not very good as they compromise the handling and just reduce performance, and then said if i wanted to save weight make up each bit of the subframe separatley in aluminium and make an aluminium subframe, decided against that, im not skilled enough to do that lol but its something worth considering lol

[blue blood]

Yeah i went from a standard rear subframe then bought a TDK beam but i didn't like a few things about the beam so i sold it the way i got it. So now i have i force racing titanium beam (well will do in a few days)

[mk3cortina]

force racing stuff is nice, just too expensive.

[MRA]

haha i was considerin changing to a beam axle when my subframe was scrap basically, i asked a guy down the road from me whos been rallying and working on minis since he was young i think lol, he told me to just get a new subframe or a solid used one cus although the beam axle saves weight, he said theyre not very good as they compromise the handling and just reduce performance, and then said if i wanted to save weight make up each bit of the subframe separatley in aluminium and make an aluminium subframe, decided against that, im not skilled enough to do that lol but its something worth considering lol

A proper beam axle is set up correctly will out perform a standard mini subframe setup any day........ if on the other hand you mean a beam frame, then the 2 are completely different, try the TDK version as the welds are better than a lot of others I have seen and the price is reasonable.

THe following picture is of a BEAM AXLE that I made for a friend who did rally cross in the late 80's

This was the mk1 the mk2 had the shocks almost in the original positions.

[attachment=105898:IMG_0555.jpg]

Edited by mra-minis.co.uk, 01 January 2011 - 11:54 AM.

[mk3cortina]

thats a nice looking setup there MRA, yes i realise that a beam axle and a beam frame are different, ill go for the TDK one as i think that one gets the best reviews out of all the available ones.

[blue blood]

thats a nice looking setup there MRA, yes i realise that a beam axle and a beam frame are different, ill go for the TDK one as i think that one gets the best reviews out of all the available ones.

Yeah i did have a tdk beam but sold it. There are a few bits i didn't like about it and it wasn't as straight forward as a straight swap but is suppose they are better than a huddersfield spares one which aren't to great (my brother had one and got rid of it post haste). Its a very limited item with very few designs out there ticking all the boxes. Like i said before i'm going with a force racing one for its lightness and the fact i won't have to change it ever (the area does see alot of road salt and water) but another one i saw which i thought was good is an old school rip speed one (before the company became very tacky and commercialised) It was made from a thick aluminium c section type girder but they are quite rare. The person i bought my minus of had one on the minus before he sold it to me.
I think the main things about the TDK beam was it needed welding to set it up and once welded you wouldn't be able to adjust it and the fact it was zinc coated means that the welding would expose bare metal and you have to drill your own mounting hole which is a good thing i think but again exposes the metal for rust. I also had issues with how wide it is as it covers a vast majority of the exhaust tunnel. The build quality on it though is a very good standard though and it is a better one on the market especially for the money you just have to put a bit more effort into it. I hope this has been a bit informative to you:) Regards Blue

[mini93]

link

theres a mini spares alloy beam, is that similar to the ripspeed one you were on about? gona be buying one some point fairly soon and TDK's not very far away and i caneasy to the work myself so i just gotta decide which ones takes my fancy

[blue blood]

link

theres a mini spares alloy beam, is that similar to the ripspeed one you were on about? gona be buying one some point fairly soon and TDK's not very far away and i caneasy to the work myself so i just gotta decide which ones takes my fancy

No the rip speed wasn't box section i've seen the mini spares one on the website before and there is one more company that makes another aluminium beam variant but can't remember who.
I went and collected the tdk beam i had from Dave myself as he is only up the road from me too. I mean i am doing everything myself on my mini but setting the tdk beam up requires precise measurements and some work to be done on it you can see the pictures of it in my build diary :

http://www.theminifo...howtopic=174924

In the end i just wanted the best and saved up my money for a year and soon i'll have it in my possession so am very excited

Regards Blue