20 replies to this topic

[mini_newboy]

Torn what to do now. I like it low but still want to be able to go over speed bumps & not have to worry

[Cooperman]

Torn what to do now. I like it low but still want to be able to go over speed bumps & not have to worry

Really low suspension is for race tracks where the surface is absolutely smooth, maximum cornering force is so important to lap times, car weight is light and damping is set very, very hard.
For normal road use a ride height at standard or near standard is ideal as our roads are so bumpy. A really low car will have poorer performance on normal roads as you can't steer or corner well if the suspension hits the bump stops. In fact, that's the best way to leave the road if driving in a 'spirited' manner. The Mini has little enough suspension travel to begin with compared to modern cars.
If the 'low look' is more important than overall performance, then that's different of course, so it's up to you really, but having to drive more slowly around corners because the ride height it too low ain't for many Mini enthusiasts.

[Spitz]

Torn what to do now. I like it low but still want to be able to go over speed bumps & not have to worry

lol...You really can't have it all unfortunately.
If you want it low....you will most likely bottom the car on speed bumps....no matter how slow you go. It's not a matter of "Suspension" at that point....just clearance.

[Yoda]

Take a look at mine in my signature, this is riding on yellow dot rubber cones and is as low as i can go with hi lows, i can corner really hard with out bottoming out, i can carry a full set of workshop tolls plus one passenger without problems, and i have recently gone from 145 tyres to 165 tyres that just sit at the edge of the arches, i have to try really hard to get the tyre to hit the arch and then it is only momentarily. i am using non adjustable spax dampers, nothing special.

the downside is the suspension is so hard on the yellow dot cones, that most of the damping is done by my spine!

the choice is yours, take the height up a bit or have back problems later in life

And to answer your question, stiffer dampers will not be the answer you are looking for, its stiffer spring rates you need. Dont go down the bump stop route as you will end up in a ditch or part of a brick wall! you are not on a race track as Cooperman says.

EDIT> If you want to know why my car is set up like this, it was originally built for the track, so loads of money was put into it with all fully adjustable suspension and steering etc, but due to closing my business at Brands hatch, i needed a car on the road as cheap as possible, and just put an MOT on it and started using it after a few cans of rattle paint were applied. Its fun to drive, but my daily is now a white 998 Mayfair due to the harsh ride in Yoda.

Edited by Yoda, 02 April 2011 - 06:52 AM.

[crazycoleman118]

Torn what to do now. I like it low but still want to be able to go over speed bumps & not have to worry

slow down for speedbumps then? thats what they are designed for... or raise it up

Edited by crazycoleman118, 02 April 2011 - 10:34 AM.

[Timinichelsea]

There was a topic on here a while ago called 'slammed' have a look and a read at that, it goes into reasonable detail about some of the issues of having lowered cars.

In my personal opinion you'd be better fitting new cones and returning it to its standard ride height, certainly if you have to regularly go over speed bumps and have rear passengers.