25 replies to this topic

[MattyH52]

Hi All,

 

After 3 months of Mini ownership I have finally decided that my mini is:

 

1: Too slow.

2: Too harsh a ride.(Rock hard to the point of getting a headache if you want to drive more than 5 minutes and dangerous over potholes)

3. Doesn't stop quickly enough. (When a pothole appears from nowhere as i found out last night... then bit my tongue and bounced almost off the road when i hit it)

 

So, what can I do with my 998cc engine other than a stage 1 upgrade (It already has a y manifold, cone air filter, and a manifold exhaust) I don't really want to swap the engine if i don't have to, but if I had a budget of £1000 what bhp increase could i achieve?

 

Then, what suspension setup would you recommend? At the moment it is rock solid and if I hit a pothole going at any sort of speed the car becomes uncontrollable and bounces sideways! The rear wheels camber inwards at the bottom and the rear suspension seems very high so I'm 99% sure that I have a problem somewhere.

 

Lastly, without adding a servo, what brake upgrade could i fit to give a bit more stopping power?

 

Sounds like I'm moaning but I only want to improve it as I love it so much! Ha ha.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[Carlos W]

Has it got drums on the front? If so discs could be a good upgrade.

 

If the front end is very low, it may be that the cones have collapsed.

[MattyH52]

No, the front brakes are discs but if you're going anything over 40 its terrifying trying to stop! The brake pedal is hard, the discs aren't worn and pads are ok, I think possibly i'm just used to more modern cars. I just thought that there must be some vented discs or better pads to upgrade to?

 

The front suspension is high too... It is rock solid. Doesn't move at all when you rock the car, and if you hit a bump or pothole its like there is no suspension at all.

 

Is there anywhere local that i can take my Mini that you can recommend so that i can have this checked out?

[coopdog]

No, the front brakes are discs but if you're going anything over 40 its terrifying trying to stop! The brake pedal is hard, the discs aren't worn and pads are ok, I think possibly i'm just used to more modern cars. I just thought that there must be some vented discs or better pads to upgrade to?

 

The front suspension is high too... It is rock solid. Doesn't move at all when you rock the car, and if you hit a bump or pothole its like there is no suspension at all.

 

Is there anywhere local that i can take my Mini that you can recommend so that i can have this checked out?

i think your expecting too much.

im guessing you had a modern car before this?

[lyndseyp27]

Sod it. Give it to me and then you will never have to worry :) What a service that is?! ;)

[MattyH52]

No, always had classics. Mk1/2 escorts, triumph spitfires, hillman imps etc etc.. None have been as bad braking as this. Even the Escort 1600 flow I had with drums was less terrifying!

 

I went to the retro cars meet at Brands Hatch last night and let a few of my mates buzz it up and down to test it and they all agreed, although none of them are mini drivers so I m not sure if all Minis are like this.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love it, but i just want to improve it if its possible.

 

Thanks.

[coopdog]

No, always had classics. Mk1/2 escorts, triumph spitfires, hillman imps etc etc.. None have been as bad braking as this. Even the Escort 1600 flow I had with drums was less terrifying!

 

I went to the retro cars meet at Brands Hatch last night and let a few of my mates buzz it up and down to test it and they all agreed, although none of them are mini drivers so I m not sure if all Minis are like this.

 

Don't get me wrong, I love it, but i just want to improve it if its possible.

 

Thanks.

yeah minis have a harsh ride,

like everyone says in a mini you dont drive down the road you bounce.


but the brake problem might be a little different, take it to a garage and ask them to do a brake test.

the drums on the rear might need adjusting

 

[Yams]

Roll it into canal.

 

 

On a serious note, jack it up and grab some photographs of the suspension and stuff. Also whip off a shock absorber and see if its doing its job. Also pics of the overall ride height would be good. If your suspension cones at the front have collapsed, and your shocks are not working you could be hitting your bump stops, or your shocks could be bottoming out causing the harsh ride.

[lsto]

May sound silly but have you tried adjusting up the rear drums? My brakes were poor when I had my last mini, when I racked up the rear drums it was a million times better, I don't think the previous owner ever adjusted them...

Also for the suspension, have a look what setup you have. If it has hi-lo's it may have adjustable shocks which may then just be a case of putting them on a softer setting. If its all original you can buy smother-ride cones for a little bit of a nicer ride.

Finally as for performance, its a 998...
I would say get it set up on a rolling road if it has a stage one, can make a huge difference. Depending what model it is a diff change can do wonders as some of the city e ratios were poop, built for economy, not speed.

Let us know what motor it is and how you get on.

[Cooperman]

I think you might be expecting too much, although it sounds as though a full braking system overhaul might be advisable. This should include stripping and rebuiulding the brake callipers using stainless steel piston, new brake hoses, a rebuild of the servo unit, new rear brake slaver cylinders and new rear linings. fit a top quality brake pad set and if necessary rebuild the master cylinder. There is no short cut to safety.

With regard to the ride, it sounds just like a Mini! There is not much you can do about that really, that's what they are like.

[dood]

My brake pedal feels hard too, very little travel compared to modern cars I've driven, but I feel it stops fairly well. Its a '93 rover Rio, so I have discs up front and drums on back, but then again, I have servo assisted discs on front.

What suspension set up do you have on a 998 mayfair? I'm guessing its the same as mine, you may need new shockers, which are pretty cheap to buy and you can get them anywhere.

I would definitely be checking those rear wheels, they should not camber at all so get that sorted out :)

 

From what I've seen a stage one kit doesn't make a whole lot of difference to the performance, But one thing you can do is double check that it is set up and running correctly as mine felt a tad slow when I first got it, but it wasn't running quite right and once it was sorted out, it seemed a bit quicker for sure and that doesn't cost a lot of money to do either.

It turned out the timing was out, needed new leads, plugs, and the carb was ever so slightly out too, so it wasn't getting enough fuel, renewed the air filter, and also the advance/retard unit was broken, so fixed that up and now its running pretty sweet.

 

Your right you can get vented discs and better pads, but the vented discs I wouldn't think will make a noticeable difference in normal daily driving. Unless i'm mistaken they are vented to allow them to cool so to avoid overheating, but overheating is not likely a problem when pottering around, more of a fast car, fast driving type of problem like in racing minis.

I know this will sound silly, but simple things like removing some of the parts and simply cleaning them up, even just brushing some of the accumulated dirt off can make a small difference. And check your tyres too, not just tread but pressures too, again dead simple and sounds daft but if you've got crap tyres it'll drive crap too.

[MattyH52]

Thanks everyone.

I think I'll start with the rear brakes as i have had a good look at the front and all seemed well.

I'll take a pic later of the ride height too and put it on here so you can see and let me know if its normal. Re the suspension, if I rock the car should there be any sort of bounce? At the mo there's nothing. It doesn't move at all even if you rock it with all your strength. Is that normal?

Sorry for my ignorance of all things mini but I'm new!

Thanks again for all your advice.

[Cooperman]

Vented discs are only a benefit on racing Minis with wide sticky slick tyres on long distance twisty events. On a public road vented discs will never get hot enough the be of benefit unless you are always driving in 'imminent disqualification' mode. In fact, a vented disc could give poorer braking as the pads don't get to optimum operating temperature, especially on a cold & wet day.

Even the rally Cooper 'S's only have 7.5" solid discs and they stop fine.

[Lsurt95]

it almost sounds like the car is sitting on the bump stops the whole time. Mine has a slight jiggle if you try to rock the car.

 

As said above dont compromise with brakes a good overhaul is possible going to be the best way a head.

 

hope this helps  

Edited by Lsurt95, 16 July 2014 - 10:22 AM.

[Carlos W]

There's a place called ML Motorsport at Higham who may be able to help.

 

Perhaps they could drive the car and see if there is anything wrong.

 

A mini should lock the front wheels, if it doesn't then there is something wrong.

 

Jack the car up and see if the brakes are binding at all