6 replies to this topic

[stretch tech]

evening all,

after finishing rebuilding my little Thirty a month or so ago, he's been sat in the garage awaiting the day i pass my test. the suspension has now had time to settle and its sitting quite nicely now, less than an inch clearance on the front and roughly 2 inches at the back.

now, i really like this look as it looks like the 80's wedge which really suits my '89 mini and minis handle better with a higher back end but i had a look underneath the other day and it turns out the front is just clear of the bump stops. this is mainly my fault as i didn't fit new cones in the rebuild as i thought they'd be OK and it was in an effort to lower the car for free.

the car had no bump stops on the front when i brought it so i decided to replace them with the longer type rubber ones to stop the wider tyres hitting the newly painted arches. i spoke to my dad to see what he thought of it and he said there's no point buying new cones as both the cones and the bump stops are made of rubber so they have pretty similar suspension qualities and under normal use and there is barley any suspension travel on a mini so it would be a waist of money (new cones and buying adjustable suspension to compensate)

my question: does this have some truth behind it ? and will i really notice any lack in suspension ?

Cheers

Rhys

Edited by stretch tech, 02 December 2012 - 10:02 PM.

[Tamworthbay]

Hi mate, a mini with knackered cones will really shake your fillings out. I will take you out in mine over a few potholes if you want! They are on my to do list. As you have time it would be worth investing in a pair. If you look at a pic of a new one then look at yours, when they are nadgered they go squat and fat a bit like a donut. It's hard to describe but you will see what I mean if they are gone.

[charie t]

bump stops are there to stop the suspension bumping the subframe, not for use as suspension reinforcment

[mab01uk]

Back in the 1970's I always used to run my lowered hydrolastic Mini's on the BMC Special Tuning Aeon competition bumpstops as still sold by Minispares, and some have used them on rubber cone suspension Mini's with success.

Progressive bump stop kit for hydrolastic cars. Mounting brackets and rubbers:
http://www.minispare....aspx?pid=33862

Edited by mab01uk, 02 December 2012 - 11:13 PM.

[The Matt]

If I understand your point properly, you're proposing that your bump stops will act as a spring replacement just as well as the rubber cones will?

[AGoaty]

Cheap fix.

Remove the knuckle joint from the suspension and check that it's not worn through the bottom of the nylon cup. This is the most common fault and not the cone.

If it is worn replace it (about £5 each side).

If you want to higher it then add 10mm washers onto the knuckle joint bar. I added 2 to mine and it raised it about 15mm.

Overall cost £10, but you'll need a compression tool to do it.

I'd do this before replacing the cones.

[stretch tech]

Hi all, thanks for your replies

Clive: I know what you mean, the top edge sort if squashes down into the centre of the cone, mine had started to do this but at the time I couldn't afford new cones :L I think I will end up buying some if i can't bare the ride

Charlie: yeah, I know this isn't what bump stops are intended for but I never like to use things properly

Mab01uk: what do these bump stops do differently ? It sounds very Interesting and I may look into them more seriously if they do what I think they do

Matt: yes, that's what I'm proposing, there is a little bit of travel in the cone before I hit bump stop and more so on the back.

Agoaty: this mini is like brand new now, we replaced anything worn during the restoration. I don't recall replacing the knuckles but they must have been good otherwise, thanks for the advice. I may either lower the back to match the front or go all out 80's wedge I have a compression tool so I can have a go at this myself, again thanks for the heads up.

Cheers for all the input fellas

Rhys