17 replies to this topic

[Cooperman]

For historic rallying only fixed length bottom arms are allowed, so I run the 1.5 deg negative ones. However, Mini Spares do an offset lower arm inner bush which can be positioned before fitting to increase or decrease the camber slightly, thus enabling the camber to be set accurately to remove the manufacturing tolerances.
On the rear, as I'm not allowed adjustable plates I obtain the correct camber and toe-in by filing the hole in the outer bracket into a slot vertically, then file a bit forward or aft to get the toe-in correct. Then I weld a big 'penny washer' onto the bracket to hold the settings.
'Racing Bob' is quite correct that 0 to 0.5 degs neg on the rear is good, but the rear wheels MUST toe-in between 1 mm and 2 mm.
On the front 1.5 degs neg works well with 3.25 to 3.5 degs caster achieved by fitting adjustable front tie bars. Front should toe-out by 1 mm to 2 mm.
Some time ago I was 'introduced' to a 1990 Cooper 1275 which the owner said 'didn't drive well'. It had 5" x 12" wheels with Yokos, was lowered, had SPAX dampers set quite hard and neg camber bottom arms. I drove it and it was really dreadful.
With the help of my good friend and Mini restoration expert Chris Spennewyn (Hitchin based), we raised the car back to standard ride height, set it all as above after measuring and finding it was way out, softened off the dampers to allow more suspension travel, pumped the tyres to 32 psi all round. Then the owner drove it after I road-tested it and he was literally amazed at the difference. He phoned a couple of days later and said that he had never driven a Mini which had both the road-holding and the accurate handling.
Good luck with yours.

[TORZIEnJIM]

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

any special tools needed additionally for the fitting?

[freshairmini]

nope spanners and sockets is all you need.