12 replies to this topic

[cliche]

Hi there,
I am getting my '94 Spi fully restored and am currently buying the parts.
The car will be garaged and used occaissionally.

I have been working hard to save the cash for the work and when the car is done I would like it to be just the way I would like it.

I will be using standard suspension components as I don't need an more than that and am after standard ride height from day one (This is very important to me !)

However, I have a few questions:-

1) Do I have to wait for the cones to settle ? I hate the jacked up look

Last thing I would like is for me to get my Mini back after spending my hard earned pennies, only to have to wait for the suspension to settle.
Call me vain, but I would like it to look right when I start driving and not spend months wishing for them to settle (won't be driven much anyway)

2) Do Hi-Lo's/adjustarides allow me to run at decent ride height on fresh cones (i.e. can just put them lower them at first and raise them when the cones have settled ?)

Bear in mind I won't be using them as I am unlikely to adjust them in the future if I can help it.


3) Are genuine Hi-Lo ones any better than budget ones ? Or should I get the adjustarides from Minisport which are cheaper than the genuine Hi-Los ?
I have totted up parts and don't want to blow too much away of my hard earned cash on parts before I spend it on welding, paint, NEW brakes etc. as my parts cost is getting very expensive.

http://tinyurl.com/hilobudget - budget hi-los from Minispares

http://tinyurl.com/hilofullprice = full price set from Minispares
http://www.minisport.com/mini-spare-parts/info_SUSKIT5.html = adjustaride from Minisport

4) New cones - again, do I have to buy the ones below ? Are cheaper ones too much of a compromise ?


http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=ai&pid=34436&sku=0&tc=1#submenu Minispares ones

http://www.minisport.com/mini-spare-parts/info_FAM3968.html Minisport ones

http://www.minispares-online.co.uk/?cat_id=9&sub_cat_id=64&prod_id=151 - much cheaper ones


I know that some may dismiss Minisports, but I am happy to visit them in their shop to confirm they actually something in stock, so I don’t mind ordering from them face to face.

The savings may not seem much, but I have other parts to buy too, so the savings do add up.
I look forward to your opinions !

Edited by cliche, 20 January 2012 - 04:06 AM.

[Bungle]

as with all mini parts if you buy the genuine one's they will cost more but will fit and last a lot longer

it's the same with HIols (minispares ones are best) and rubber cones

new rubber cones will take a few days to settle

but new cones will give you the 4x4 look, most minis you see are either lowered or running around with worn cones

[cliche]

I could wait a few days, just not a few thousand miles or weeks on end. Would that be possible that soon to get over the 4x4 look ?

[mini-luke]

It'll be a few weeks at least, possibly months. They also don't tend to settle when sitting on the drive, they need to be driven really.

[Guess-Works.com]

The cones which are available now from Minispares are very good, and give an almost out of the box production ride height if used with the standard ally trumpets, and will settle in only a few miles driven, possibly < 50...

Hilo's give you advantage that if it does sit too high for your 'taste' then you can lower it, and likewise as the cones wear, you can raise it to maintain the attitude of the vehicle.

My preference on hilo's are to use the homologated version those sold by minispares are of this type, cheaper ones don't have the same design of support pad for the cone which leads to premature wear and collapse, plus come with questionable quality of manufacture and tolerance, if you go for the adjustaride/smootharide kit, then use the cones which are specifically designed to be used by the kit, I believe they are a slightly different profile of rubber and provide a 'smoother ride'.

Another thing to be aware of, as standard, the rear of the mini is higher than the front, and when sitting normally there should be about 4" between top of wheel and arch.

[Shifty]

The advantage of hi-los is that you can set your suspension to the desired height on day 1. This means you can get it tracked and then as the suspension settles raise the ride height back up to the same level without getting the tracking done again.

In the past I've found that the cones take ages to all settle down to the same ride height

[cliche]

Thanks for some great advice folks. Looks like I wil be going the Minispares cones & Hi-Lo route then !

[Spitz]

I'd definately go for adjustables if it's that important to you to have immediate "proper" ride height.

My last new set of Dunlops took weeks to settle in....with a lot of driving.

Don't cheap out and get aftermarket rubber cones....make sure they are the real deal.

edit: I'm guessing Gussworks meant 4" from top of tyre

Edited by Spitz, 20 January 2012 - 04:05 PM.

[cliche]

I'd definately go for adjustables if it's that important to you to have immediate "proper" ride height.

You mean adjustables as in shocks or Hi-Los ? I won't normally require adjustable shocks and was going to go with KYB standard dampers you see.

I'd definately go for adjustables if it's that important to you to have immediate "proper" ride height.

My last new set of Dunlops took weeks to settle in....with a lot of driving.

argh !

[Spitz]

Adjustable height...as in "hi-lo"

[cliche]

ah ok - thanks

[Dan]

All that settles cones is time, some settle quickly and others take longer. Rolling it backwards and forwards a car length each day is all it really needs to allow the suspension to spread out, but a bit of daily driving won't hurt. In all honesty though, if you want it to look like a brand new Mini as it left the showroom then it would have the brand new cone look. They didn't keep the cars waiting in the factory for a few weeks to settle. The original service schedule included a tracking check at 3 months to correct for the settling.

[cliche]

ok thx !