17 replies to this topic

[Klevdo2202]

Hi guys

I'm half way through doing the suspension on my mini.

I've got Lowered Protech aluminium shocks, new cones and adjusta rides and wanted to know, what's the ideal height my mini should be sitting at for fast road handling? from wheel to arches(?)

I understand it might be a little high because of the new cones.

Also, is a camber kit worth thinking about? does it actually increase tyre wear? or just uneven wear?


Cheers!

[mike.]

I'd say around an inch of travel, but i'm not expert. My car i'd say has around 20-25mm clearance at the front and maybe 35mm at the rear.

Pay attention to the distance between the top suspension arm and the bump stop whilst lowering it.

[Cooperman]

Hi guys

I'm half way through doing the suspension on my mini.

I've got Lowered Protech aluminium shocks, new cones and adjusta rides and wanted to know, what's the ideal height my mini should be sitting at for fast road handling? from wheel to arches(?)

I understand it might be a little high because of the new cones.

Also, is a camber kit worth thinking about? does it actually increase tyre wear? or just uneven wear?


Cheers!

Do you mean handling or road-holding?
Minis normally handle best at standard ride height, but road-holding can be improved by lowering so long as the road surface (e.g. the track) is very smooth.

[Klevdo2202]

Thanks Mike!


Cooperman, are the two not related? best road holding should help make best handling??
I'm after the best handling possible from what I've bought, which also led me to ask about the camber kit.

Regards, Kelvin

[racingbob]

you will need the camber kit the adjustable type got it on mine and its just like driving my old race car

as far as i am concerend it transforms the car

i have a fair bit camber 2 deg ( but thats me ) mines about 30mm from arch, touch more on back

i have shaved a touch off the front bump stops so i h ave about 3/8 " gap

have spax on fairly bumpy but not to bad, however its not my main car

might pay to let your car settle before putting on camber kit ???

little bit camber on rear, havent changed toe in on rear seems ok as it is, for road anyway

[bmcecosse]

Handling = being able to throw the car around at your whim - possibly best if the car is slightly 'unbalanced' and nimble.. Road holding = how well it sticks to the 'road' - usually a track - and not necessarily ideal for 'handling'. Negative camber on the front and rear wheels dead upright and with parallel tracking make for a nice handling car with good road holding - on 10" wheels of course..........

Edited by bmcecosse, 21 February 2012 - 08:08 PM.

[Klevdo2202]

Cheers for the replies guys!

So a camber kit would be a good idea, the only thing that worries me is the tyre wear.....as I asked before, does it really increase wear or just wear out unevenly?

Bmcecosse, what differences would I need if I'm on 12"? 10" is very tempting at the moment, but I don't have the cash.

[Cooperman]

_{To confirm the difference between road-holding and handling:
Road-holding is the measurement of the cornering force the car can generate, measured in G, around a corner of a given radius.
Handling is the way the car responds to the dynamic inputs of steering, braking and acceleration (i.e. application of power).
It is, therefore, possible to have a car with very high road holding, but at the same time the handling can be poor. A good example of this might be a Mini on Winter tyres. The road holding on dry tarmac would not be very good, but the handling could be absolutely fantastic inasmuch as the car might respond exactly as the driver expected in terms of turn-in when the steering wheel was turned, when the brakes were applkied and when the throttle was applied ina corner.
Thus very different.
With a lowered car, on a very smooth track, the road-holding will be improved, whilst on a bumpy road a lowered car may well lose some road-holding due to the loss of suspension trave causing bump-steer.
It's all a compromise really
Generally it seems that if you set a Mini to standard ride height with the suspension geometry set accurately, then the road-holding overall will be acceptable whilst the handling will be excellent. Think of how well the rally Minis go with their suspension usually slightly raised.}

[mini-luke]

On the subject, what is the standard ride hight of a Mini? I'm trying to get mine back to standard, but don't know what that is.

[racingbob]

12'' wheels are fine i would not bother changing if its going to cost money

mine are 12 5 ultralite with yoko 048r also ok on my falcons

i done 2000 miles on my falcons and no sighn of wear

i can recal years ago i had 2 deg camber on my suzuki swift gti
and wear was about 20% more

i would not worry about it, if it is showing wear make less camber

will bring a smile to your face, just put 1.5 neg

[Cerberus]

Cheers for the replies guys!

So a camber kit would be a good idea, the only thing that worries me is the tyre wear.....as I asked before, does it really increase wear or just wear out unevenly?

As the standard setting can be anything up to 2 degrees positive +/- 1 degree, changing it to negative shouldn't have any ill effects on tyre wear, unless you set it to something stupid like 5 degrees negative or more.

[Klevdo2202]

Spot on guys thanks for all the help.....Negative camber all the way I think!

[TORZIEnJIM]

What items exactly are needed for neg camber or is there a complete kit?

Edited by TORZIEnJIM, 22 February 2012 - 08:46 AM.

[racingbob]

you will need the adj. bottom arms and adj tie rods and if you want to do the back
adj. rear camber plates, just about zero camber on back or 1/2 deg
i done my rear by eye, but im used to it from racing days

check ebay may get some second hand ones

if not will be about 110 quid

[freshairmini]

mini sport fully adjustable bottom arms: http://bit.ly/x8ut7R

I have used them on my mini for adjustable camber. They work perfectly and you can accurately adjust the camber at any wheel height. only £55

rear adjustable camber brackets: http://bit.ly/y4K3qe

I have also used these, had no problems, only £45. But some people on here will just say you can modify the existing brackets on the mini. Its up to you really.