27 replies to this topic

[miniman24]

Just had an idea - I installed the fast road spring kit from Minitastic a month or so ago and have just remembered how hard it was to find an up to date review of what they are like to live with. There was one on here that was updated after 6000 miles but that was years ago and they changed the spring design in 2010 or 11 I think. So to that end, Im starting this log on how the springs cope with daily use - I do about 10,000 miles a year in my Mini so they will get a thorough testing Ill update it every 1000 miles or so with my experiences. 

 

Update 1 - 400 miles

 

Had the springs installed for around 400 miles now, so far I cannot fault them. They give a "quality" ride, not harsh or choppy but not soft either - it actually rides much like my parents Audi S3, which has a stiff modern suspension setup. I have carried 4 passengers and luggage several times with no issues, off road as well as on. I find that I am no longer constantly searching the road ahead for every little rut or hole and no longer cause traffic jams at speed bumps. Living on a farm, the driveway to my house is long and rough, made of gravel. I used to have to crawl down it in first but can now go down in second without having to avoid the roughest areas. There is more body roll but it is perfectly acceptable, IMO. The only thing I have found that was not described anywhere else was the settling of the springs, they do settle, and by a fair amount, over about two weeks, but after that they are set of good. You do need to run them at standard ride height for them to be usable, other wise the wheels will hit the arches or bumpstops. Overall, so far I am very pleased and its money well spent, especially on a daily driver. Next update at 1400 miles :)

[rally515]

agalad to see someone thats able to help on this common curiosity of how they perform, i'm thinking of getting these for my 68 so will follow this and take note of your progress

 

Thankyou in advance from me

 

Cheers

Cliff

[Carlos W]

I'm following this, I thought I'd decided on springs until someone told me they can dislodge when jacking the car up and can cause problems if this happens at MOT time (or any other time I suppose)

[miniman24]

No worries guys :) Carlos, I have heard stories of this happening (none confirmed as fact), it is at the rear only and it is only with the cheaper copy springs that every Mini parts supplier now seems to sell. The Minitastic ones are taller, with a longer stroke. My rear is at standard height, maybe a shade lower and when the rear is jacked up and the wheel off the whole system is still very much in compression, no chance of anything becoming dislodged. You would have to be running silly low to cause it to be a problem :)

[Carlos W]

No worries guys :) Carlos, I have heard stories of this happening (none confirmed as fact), it is at the rear only and it is only with the cheaper copy springs that every Mini parts supplier now seems to sell. The Minitastic ones are taller, with a longer stroke. My rear is at standard height, maybe a shade lower and when the rear is jacked up and the wheel off the whole system is still very much in compression, no chance of anything becoming dislodged. You would have to be running silly low to cause it to be a problem :)

Thanks for this. I'm looking forward to your next update!

Its nice to read a review rather than purists saying you have to run cones or its not a mini

[miniman24]

Just a little update on the springs, done a good 500 miles more on them in the last 11 days or so, and Im coming to the conclusion that these may be the best thing I have ever bought for my Mini! The ride continues to be superb, just gives a quality feel to the whole car. It really is just right, I wouldnt want it any softer or any harder. Its still wise to avoid large potholes and deep manhole covers, but I can ride over the majority of them without the harsh jolt that the cones gave. They really shine on "undulating" roads, old country lanes, shoddy "repair" patches done on main streets, you know the type. I am no longer fearing that my bodyshell will start to crack around the wing-scuttle seam, or around any of the subframe mounts. The only thing I will say as a slight warning is that you have to be prepared to be fiddling with the ride height for the first 250 miles or so, they do require a rather substantial amount of settling time - I found that they settled a bit more when they encountered a road surface they have not experienced before, ie the first pot hole, first speed bump, first rough road, first time I had 4 people on board. But they are so worth this fiddling time, mine have fully settled now and have maintained the same ride height for the last 400 miles - once they have settled it is fine to jack the car up etc as they instantly go back to the correct height when the jack is removed. Ill add a few pictures of the springs that I took a few weeks back when applying a fresh layer of Waxoyl, and 2 of the ride height I am running, taken a few hours ago:

 

 

 

Front:

 

 

Rear:

 

 

[Tupers]

Any new developments on these?

[mailman]

Were these more difficult to fit than rubber cones? Particularly the front which usually need compressed?

[Jordie]

They come with there own hi lows

 

You stick the spring in, then wind the hi low to lowest setting, insert between spring and top arm, then wind the hi lo out. Just use your hand to keep the spring located in the little groove on the front subframe where the old cone sat.

 

Easy peasy

[miniman24]

Nothings changed, I still love them! Have driven about another 3000 miles since the last update, I also hve a fair amount more power due to a modified carb I built, along with an LCB and ally inlet, so Ive been pushing them harder in the corners. Did 200 miles a week back on mainly very bouncy single track country lanes and they performed great. I still maintain that you have to avoid large potholes and those stupid sunken man-hole covers but other than that the quality of ride is still fantastic. Another place I notice it is when parking up in a grass field for a show, the others have to go slow due to the rough surface but I can fly by in third

 

Edit: Their next test will come on wednesday when I will be moving back to uni - I aim to pack all my crap in the Min and do it in one journey, she'll be packed full to the roof!

Edited by miniman24, 15 September 2013 - 10:31 AM.

[Carlos W]

I still maintain that you have to avoid large potholes and those stupid sunken man-hole covers

 

I do this anyway!

 

Burst a tyre once 

[miniman24]

Yeah I think its standard practice for us lot A few people Ive talked to though thought that this conversion would make the Mini ride identically to a modern car, but it does nothing about the very short suspension travel of the Mini, just makes the most of whats there, hence it being best on country lanes :) 

[eero]

Great topic, thanks! I'm overhauling my suspension this winter and was having the question of upgrading to springs or not, I think I've made up my mind now.

 

And the injection Minis have an inertia switch which will shut off the power to the fuel pump on sudden deceleration. It flipped on me a month back in a really rough pothole - nasty things. So avoiding big bumps is a wise approach for any ride.

[Carvell]

Great topic, what dampers are you running? How much do you think the comfort is affected by your wheel/ tyre choice?
Thanks

[miniman24]

Im running Gaz adjustables, which I think is a must with the springs as it lets you infinitely tune how the car rides - if you just want to pop round town, have them on the lowest setting, if you want to do some "spirited" driving, about 15 clicks up front and about 10 on the rear etc :) Im also experimenting with ride height currently, Im running the dampers stiffer than before and lowered the height about 10mm all round, still great ride quality :)

 

Edit: About the wheel and tyre combo, I cant say as I have only ever driven a Mini on Minitastic coils on 10" wheels - my old City on 12's did have the copy type coils installed (from PL Minis I think) and they were terrible, worse than the old cones but I think it was more down the coil design than the wheel choice. 10's will give the best ride though due to the larger sidewall area.

Edited by miniman24, 13 October 2013 - 10:39 PM.