13 replies to this topic

[skmulvany]

Hi,

 

I've been wondering for a while whether air ride suspension on a mini is any good.

I don't have mini at the moment (not enough money ) But when I do get one I want to know what to do.

 

Thanks 

 

SK

[Cooperman]

It would not be easy or cheap to fit air suspension to a classic Mini. Probably not a lot of point in doing it either.

However if a softer and smoother ride is wanted you could retro fit hydrolastic suspension as it more-or less fits straight in and just needs some modifications to the front sub-frame towers to add the retention lugs.

[Domneon]

http://airride.co.uk...r/classic-mini/

I haven't heard much about this kit though

[skmulvany]

Thats the one I was looking at. But cooperman is probably right , its probably not worth the time or money. It would be pretty cool though.

[Cooperman]

I just saw the price - WOW! And that does not include fitting.

Moulton Smootha-Ride rubber spring cones will probably be almost as good for a fraction of that.

After all, the Mini is still short wheelbase with limited available suspension travel, so the car will still give a 'choppy' ride overall and any improvement will be relative to that. It will never be as comfortable as, say, a Mercedes 'S'-Class or BMW 7-Series.

[skmulvany]

I can't argue with that. Normal suspension it is.

Thanks

 

SK

[stocky]

I think it would look quite cool at shows parking up and lowering it as low as you could, then pump it up so you could actually drive it about. I do like lowered minis. It would define 'slammed' for sure

 

I was glad I wasn't drinking my cup of tea when I saw the price though! I would have spat it out!

 

Nice idea but far too much money and not a lot for it to be honest

 

Stocky

[Pete649]

So at the front the original cones are removed and the weight of the car is then supported by the top suspension mounting points. The same as coil over conversions.

[tiger99]

If you want to do it right, you need Citroen style hydropneumatic suspension, but you would need machining facilities to cut down the cylinders and pistons (Citroen suspension travel is far too long for Mini arms and ball joints, and the units are far too big to fit unless shortened), and a lot of work to fit it into the subframes, if indeed it is possible. (I hope to find out one day....) The BIG advantage is that it will maintain the set height regardless of load in the vehicle, so it can be a bit softer than the standard cones without immediately running out of suspension travel, and probably breaking ball joints, if you carry 4 heavy passengers. It would need an electrically driven hydraulic pump, which might go under a seat.

 

If you can solve the much bigger problem of finding hydraulic seals for the rear wheel cylinders in the Mini that are compatible with LHM fluid, you could even incorporate the Citroen brake proportioning valve to get load-dependent braking at the rear, with a slave cylinder in the standard Mini hydraulic system actuating the Citroen pedal button, but then you would need an engine-driven pump.

 

The layout at the rear of the Citroens is very Mini-like with trailing arms, but as the damper is in the hydraulic assembly and there is nothing limiting the rate of drop of the radius arm if you hit a pothole, some kind of knuckle joint anti-disengagement device would seem to be essential, or you could remove the Citroen damping valve and fit standard Mini dampers, or keep the Citroen damper and fit hydrolastic pitch control springs to prevent unloading of the knuckles. You will need to make your own rear subframe, and the Citroen hydraulics mount rigidly, with a strut (in place of the trumpet) which wobbles in the end of the piston to accomodate angular movement.

 

At the front it gets complicated, but possibly doable. You may have to modify the most highly stressed area of the shell (need IVA!), and certainly will have to modify the subframe. The same comments about knuckle disengagement apply. You are likely to need to machine some adaptors to have the Citroen spheres sit at right angles to the piston/cylinder, sticking out into the bump stop and damper area.

 

As fas as I know, the smallest Citroen with hydropneumatics was the GS, which would supply the suspension units (spheres and damper valves come in various sizes and are interchangeable to alter spring rate and damping), but you might want the control system and electric pump from a recent model. You also will need front and rear anti-roll bars (which may be very thin, and avoid adding significant roll stiffness) as their centres are used for getting average front and rear heights for the self-levelling system (or use electrical transducers on all 4 suspensions).

 

I have been thinking about this for ages, but don't have the facilities right now to work on a Mini, so it may be some time before I can try it myself. If anyone wants to try this, you will need a Mini in good condition and a scrap Citroen GS, plus some bits from other models, and lots of new seals etc, as well as Cunifer piping and the special flaring tool for Citroen fittings. The leakage return pipes are just plastic fortunately.

 

Useful? links:

http://en.wikipedia....atic_suspension

http://www.citroenet...draulics-1.html

http://www.autoevolu...ined-49954.html

 

As always, Google will find you lots more.

Edited by tiger99, 20 December 2013 - 08:02 PM.

[Cooperman]

Like what I sed, a lot of work .

[tiger99]

Yes, and not for beginners or non-engineers, I think. Far too many difficult bits.

[MMM1965]

The thing is, it never worked properly, I know this only too well as I used to have a Citroen gs. It was an unbelievably terrible car, comfortable though!

[albo]

it could be cool at the lights,,espec if you can custom it to make it jump front and then rear,,then do side to side,,

then it would be worth the price,,

[skmulvany]

I think that is way too much work for a beginner, Only an engineer or expert could do something like that. I would love to see it done properly though.