46 replies to this topic

[grumpy2]

Passed the mot this morning but the tester noticed that the rubber suspension cones are getting shot. I think I'll replace all four but can't decide whether to simply swap like for like, go for the moulton comfort ride cones or to fit coil conversion kit. Think the costs would likely to be £160 for straight swap or about £260 for the coils or moulton kits. None include dampers.

The car is an otherwise fairly standard mpi sportspack with polybushed suspension. I'd like a slightly softer ride but this might happen anyway if I fit new standard cones. don't want to fit replacement dampers if I can help it.

What do you folk think?

Cheers

[blacktulip]

red dot rubber cones are very good i hear.

[rally1380]

red dot rubber cones are very good i hear.

 

Red dot cones are good (I've got them fitted), but they are firmer than standard and seeing as the OP wants a softer ride i'd go for either the standard cone or for Moulton's comfort kit.  Stay away from coils....rubber is best.

[Tamworthbay]

Agree with above, not coils, stick with rubbery goodness

[miniman24]

To add a spanner to the works, I have the Minitastic coils, fast road, and they are damn good. Much more compliant ride than my 2000 mile old cones, I can take speed bumps at the same speed as normal traffic and dont have to swerve for pot holes. No deterioration in handling either.

[KernowCooper]

I have to agree I have coil springs and Gaz dampers and the rides really very good for a mini, horse for courses but cant do a back to back but works well on my setup

[grumpy2]

To add a spanner to the works, I have the Minitastic coils, fast road, and they are damn good. Much more compliant ride than my 2000 mile old cones, I can take speed bumps at the same speed as normal traffic and dont have to swerve for pot holes. No deterioration in handling either.

Miniman, do you have standard dampers?

[Orange-Phantom]

I've got Mini Delta Fast Road Springs and Pro Tech Dampers.

 

It's definitely a more compliant ride whilst not loosing the classic Mini feel.  The handling is amazing as well.  Mine has been corner weighted and the suspension was setup by Peter Vickers so that kinda helps!

 

Although saying that my bro's Cooper S has good olde rubber cones on it and his is still fantasitic fun!  It's just a bit more of a harsher ride compared to mine.

[miniman24]

 

To add a spanner to the works, I have the Minitastic coils, fast road, and they are damn good. Much more compliant ride than my 2000 mile old cones, I can take speed bumps at the same speed as normal traffic and dont have to swerve for pot holes. No deterioration in handling either.

Miniman, do you have standard dampers?

 

Im running Gaz adjustables set in comfort mode most of the time, 2 clicks up front and 4 at the back. If I feel like thrashing it I go to 8 clicks up front and 12 on the back :)

[Tigger0306]

Do you have adjust arides with the springs all round as I do and normal shocks is it better with the gas adjusters

[miniman24]

Yeah you have to have hi-los with the springs, and I cant compare the Gaz shocks with standard ones as Ive only ever had Gaz ones :)

[cooperdan]

coils all the way

[tiger99]

Till you put a full load in the car and find that the coils are bottomed, so when you hit a bump something breaks.

 

It has been said many, many times, here and elsewhere, that a car with short travel suspension like the Mini must have either a self-levelling system (impractical, unless you can graft in some Citroen bits) or rapidly rising rate springing, such as can only be achieved with rubber. Nothing else can accomodate load changes properly, and note that HiLos DO NOT give the kind of adjustment necessary.

 

So, if you ever want to give 3 of your friends a lift in the car, coils are complegtely unsatisfactory. On a competition car that runs at constant weight (except for fuel) they may well be good.

[miniman24]

You say that Tiger, but on the Minitastic's I have had 3 passengers and luggage with zero problems, and we went over some pretty rough roads! I felt no evidence of coil binding when driving, and Ive just been out to inspect the coils to confirm, there are no signs of the windings of any coil touching (paint scuffs/scratches). The top arm would definitely hit the bump stop before the coils became coil bound anyway.

[miniman24]

And Ive fitted hydrolastic bump stops to the radius arms to prevent this at the rear also.