42 replies to this topic

[M700FGT]

Sorry - think some of our posts were overlapping 

 

http://www.minispare...px|Back to shop

 

Here is the Mini Spares link. They Say if if it has Moulton on the rubber they are fake. I really don't want to have to do this again for a few years, so should i just bite the bullet and order a set from Mini Spares? 

 

Also if I'm doing the fronts, should i be doing the rears?

[CityEPete]

I've just ordered the minispares ones for that reason and the bit about fakes. Interesting to see what the old ones look like, mine will be similar as the front has gone really low over the last year. I've also ordered the genuine knuckle joints too, my rear is still high and feels ok so I've just ordered new knuckles for the rear.

[timmy850]

It's a case of how both companies are marketing their products:

 

Minisport use the Moulton prototype moulds and are made by Avon Rubber

 

Minispares use the original factory tooling 

 

Both should be fine as long as you replace them in pairs. Personally I bought the minispares ones and they work great but I haven't used the other ones

[MiniMoe2008]

This isn't a specialist mini shop is it? LOL The cones look like the one on the right when new. Some other type of cones i have seen a bit more round than cones, like in the link below but those are competition ones. Dinky Polyurethane cones look the same as the link ones as well.

 

https://www.minispor...nsion-cone.html

[Spider]

Ok So looks like the Mini spares ones are the genuine ones, as the Mini Sport ones i have say Alex Moulton - Not genuine.

 

My question is should i get a set of the Mini Spares ones with the nut on top, and sell the Mini Sport ones on eBay? 

 

The ones you have were made (as best I've been able to work out) by Avon and those from Mini Spares are mad by a company called valley Rubber (though there's been yet again a recent name change again).

 

In test, both on the bench and in use, I found the Avon types quite disappointing. They are slightly softer in rate than the originals and definitely don't last in use like the originals, I don't think I even got a year from them.

 

The Valley Rubber types are made on original tooling, to the original rubber recipe. In test and in use, I have found this to be the case.

[spin]

Someford Mini sell the Valley Rubber ones

I have them

[Boycie]

Whereabouts are you in Kent, M700?  I'm in Tenterden, near Ashford.

I can only echo what the others have said, but in your case, I'd have the new Avon springs fitted and try to get to an idea from your mechanic why he's struggling with them.

I would also advise the fitment of some adjustable height 'trumpets', as below-

 

https://www.minispar...assic/HILO.aspx

 

These are designed to adjust the car's ride height and although you'll have nice fresh springs on the there, it's nice to be able to tweak the ride height to your liking.  Personally, on a road car I like a standard/ high-ish ride height for comfort and to spare the car from impact damage from our awful road surfaces as much as I can.

Even on my bog-standard Minis I have Hi-Los.  It also makes the front suspension easier to work on.

 

You don't need to change your rear springs is they are still functioning properly.  They have far less weight to deal with and are rarely as worn out/ compressed as the fronts.  Again, a pair of Hi-Los at the rear will allow you to tailor the car to your requirements.

[GraemeC]

Whether the MiniSport ones are not quite as good as what you have, I would get them installed and get the car away from that garage.  Even if you have in your mind that you may need to do the job again in a couple of years.

 

But first, I would want to understand why the mechanic believes they are the wrong ones.  The collective wisdom on here says they are correct (which I 100% agree with), whether the quality is up for debate or not.

[richmondclassicsnorthwales]

Bloody garages, just because it is a garage, it don,t mean they are right.

 

Nothing wrong with the cones.

 

The bother garages cause are unmentionable

[M700FGT]

Evening all.

 

Thanks again for all the advice so far.

 

I now know 100% that i ordered the correct cones, from all my research it just appears that the old cones have collapsed (like most people on here have said). The old ones must be old, as they still have the Dunlop markings on, which was apparently removed from the tooling years ago.

 

I decided to order a set from Minispares last night - They appear to be the closest to the original and the ones currently fitted. They are due to arrive tomorrow so i will drop them off at the garage. 

 

As for the garage itself this has been a bit of a nightmare. They are a basic garage and have always looked after my cars in the past. The day after i brought the car, the clutch pedal snapped. I knew the clutch was on the way out, but didn't expect that. This garage did me a favour and towed my Mini back to investigate the issues. The guy who is working on my car has been working on Mini's for years, but keeps giving me wrong advice. 

 

So im basically stuck, because I'm not a mechanic and the car can't drive at the moment. I just need these guys to get the car back on the road, then i can take it where i want and do the odd bit as needed. Hopefully i will get my car back soon!

[M700FGT]

Whereabouts are you in Kent, M700?  I'm in Tenterden, near Ashford.

I can only echo what the others have said, but in your case, I'd have the new Avon springs fitted and try to get to an idea from your mechanic why he's struggling with them.

I would also advise the fitment of some adjustable height 'trumpets', as below-

 

https://www.minispar...assic/HILO.aspx

 

These are designed to adjust the car's ride height and although you'll have nice fresh springs on the there, it's nice to be able to tweak the ride height to your liking.  Personally, on a road car I like a standard/ high-ish ride height for comfort and to spare the car from impact damage from our awful road surfaces as much as I can.

Even on my bog-standard Minis I have Hi-Los.  It also makes the front suspension easier to work on.

 

You don't need to change your rear springs is they are still functioning properly.  They have far less weight to deal with and are rarely as worn out/ compressed as the fronts.  Again, a pair of Hi-Los at the rear will allow you to tailor the car to your requirements.

Edenbridge, not far from Sevenoaks.

 

Im interested in Hilos, but for the moment just want to get the car back on the road. Hilos are planned, but once i have actually been able to drive the car more then once. 

[dyshipfakta]

Use the other cones on the back. They will probably last longer on the rear as they dont take the same punishment the front do

[Sprocket]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Minisport cones were a ' special' designed to be used with the Minisport Adjustaride kit, which also uses a Minisport 'special' knuckle joint. The only reason I see for that is they are trying to look after their own interests, but that can work against them. (opinion)

[GraemeC]

The 'Smootharide' ones certainly are and I think these should only ever be used on the front - I'm sure the kit comes with two Smootharide and two standard.

I think the 'regular' ones are interchangeable though - even they'd find it difficult to justify saying you have to change your original trumpets for Ajustarides because their cones are different. 

 

I presume they think there is an advantage to their different knuckles for the Adjustaride kit, it'd be hard to believe though - no-one else's knuckles have a problem!

[M700FGT]

Well i dropped them off after they arrived today - was amazed that Minispares managed to get them out and DHL delivered with all the weather issues. 

 

I explained to the guy that they were the correct ones, then reminded him how low the front of the car was - Its so obvious that the fronts have just collapsed. 

 

Ive asked him to fit the Mini Sport ones to the rear, and the mini spares ones to the front - thanks for the advice dyshipfakta. 

 

Turn out he had fitted one to the front - Its a little high, but matches the rear and will settle down once driven. 

 

 

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