38 replies to this topic

[nicklouse]

the reason is clearly given by Moke Spider i had the wrong thickness mentioned, it was many years since i had done it ...

http://www.theminifo...get-low-enough/

[Xinarin13]

I get it now. I though we were talking about when the arm goes too high (I guess you could call it topping out?), but that doesnt make any sense when we have the bump stops... it was around 3 am though my time, so it is understandable that I was a bit slow.

You are saying that adding a spacer under the lower bump stop will prevent the trumpet and the cone from separating and causing problems essentially.

Re reading moke's post and especially your second comment on the thread you linked after getting some sleep helped a lot.

Edited by Xinarin13, 09 March 2018 - 01:32 AM.

[Spider]

Just to cut through some of the possible crossed wires here, the fitting of Springs and then need for this packer are two separate items and not inter related.

 

The Springs I think we've dealt with.

 

Some Terms explained;-

 

Bump is when the suspension is in full compression, ie, with the wheel right up in the wheel arch.

 

Droop or Extension is when the wheel is hanging down as far as it will go, eg, say when up on a jack and the wheel is 'hanging'.

 

There are separate rubber stops for each of these.

 

The Packer is needed if any Negative Camber is to be dialed in, be it by fixed Neg. Camber Arms or Adjustables and has nothing to do with Springs, this applies equally to Springs, Air Bags, Rubber Cones or your Favorite Pillow!

 

At full Droop with standard Arms, the Lower Ball Joints are right on the point of being at full swivel, ie, the Ball Joint Pin is just touching the edge of the Ball Joint Cup, if it's pushed any further, then the pin will break, maybe not n the first few goes, but soon enough. The Top Ball Joint also isn't far off this situation.

 

The Factory Advice here, is to ad a 1/8" thick ( 3 mm) spacer to the upper arm where the Droop (Rebound) Stop lands on it. Equally, I feel the same spacer could be easier added under the Droop Stop itself.

 

I hope this explains it all a little clearer.

[Xinarin13]

You guys just had to bring it up, didn't you? Don't you know my middle name is Murphy? Don't you know they named a law after me? Well, actually, my middle name is Howard... but look at what happened today on the way to the shop!
 

 
When that fell out as I was taking the wheel off today, I just sat there for 10 minutes dumfounded and panic stricken... 

Edited by Xinarin13, 09 March 2018 - 04:10 PM.

[Cooperman]

I cannot see why anyone would fit coil springs to a classic Mini unless the car is for racing.

The original reason coil springs were fitted was to reduce initial body roll on a race track when entering a corner. A track is completely smooth so the initial high spring rate is ideal and improves 'turn-in'.

For the road, however, what is needed is a rising rate spring which will cope with the small amount of suspension travel a Mini has. The ONLY spring which will do this effectively is the original type rubber cone spring. The initial spring rate is ideal for coping with normal bumpy roads and for more aggressive driving the rising rate ensures the wheels are still under control.

That is why the manufacturers chose rubber in the first place and it is truly ideal.

As with many things, the vendors of 'stuff' have tried to convince owners that what is good for racing is good for the road. That is almost invariably untrue. Rally developed parts can work on the road, but almost never do race applications work well.

[Xinarin13]

I am beginning to see what you mean... I wasnt the one to install these and I wish the pre ious owner hadn't done so as this month just got very expensive, and we really can't afford this right now, but we don't have a choice really.

[spin]

Nick & Moke were spot on and you wife's intuition wasn't bad either!

 

And for what rubber springs to get...

 

http://www.theminifo...es#entry3524932

[Sprocket]

Replace those with the Minispares Red Dot rubber cones and Hi-Lo kit and you won't be disappointed.....................

[nicklouse]

i am sorry to see it but not surprised. lets have a look at the current adjustable trumpets.

[mini-mad-mark]

You mention :

 

"Having a look at the shocks, they are Gmax supersports, but I am not sure if they are the lowered ones or not"

 

I have not seen a lowered/shorter length of Gmax damper advertised by any of the mini specialists? Only one length.

 

I use these because they are reasonably priced and I find they give a ride I am happy with (but I guess they are not for all)

 

So I found that they are usefully shorter than a standard length shock at full extension for slightly lowered cars which would help to prevent suspension arm "drop out" I think?(not sure how much so please no one ask me!)  But my guess is not much if any shorter in the opposite direction so the damper may be bottoming out if your car is very much lowered.

 

What do others more expert than me think?

[Spider]

You guys just had to bring it up, didn't you? Don't you know my middle name is Murphy? Don't you know they named a law after me? Well, actually, my middle name is Howard... but look at what happened today on the way to the shop!
 
When that fell out as I was taking the wheel off today, I just sat there for 10 minutes dumfounded and panic stricken... 

 

Sorry for the curse and glad you found it in a safe way.

 

Looks like a Minitastic?

 

Take heart, it's not a mistake but a learning experience.

 

Hope you're back on the road soon.

[nicklouse]

 

You guys just had to bring it up, didn't you? Don't you know my middle name is Murphy? Don't you know they named a law after me? Well, actually, my middle name is Howard... but look at what happened today on the way to the shop!
 
When that fell out as I was taking the wheel off today, I just sat there for 10 minutes dumfounded and panic stricken... 

 

Sorry for the curse and glad you found it in a safe way.

 

Looks like a Minitastic?

 

Take heart, it's not a mistake but a learning experience.

 

Hope you're back on the road soon.

 

i would say a very high chance as it looks like he is out in Japan 

[Xinarin13]

Nick & Moke were spot on and you wife's intuition wasn't bad either!

 

And for what rubber springs to get...

 

Can't think of a better example of hitting the nail on the head... unfortunately, that rubber isn't available on MiniSpares right now... I need these quick, so I am having to go with the Avon ones (or at least that is what I believe they are) from MiniSport

 

Replace those with the Minispares Red Dot rubber cones and Hi-Lo kit and you won't be disappointed.....................

 

I was going to do just this when I realized that the regular ones are out of stock, but for some reason Spares isn't letting me ship here... I have bought things from them and they have sent it here before... just got a box last week in fact... but when I went to order yesterday the shipping option said it was not deliverable here. Gave them a call and they said they don't ship to APO addresses any more for some reason, so I got some standard ones from MiniSport (I know, not the same). When those wear out, hopefully I will be back in an area they will ship to so I can go red dot.

 

i am sorry to see it but not surprised. lets have a look at the current adjustable trumpets.

 

No damage to the trumpets or (bolts?). They unfortunately are the flat ones, not rounded... but MiniSpares says that they SHOULD work (though they will be noisier apparently). I don't have an extra 50 +shipping right now to get the rounded kind... we went WAY over budget this month and our finances just can't take it with all of the other moving expenses going on. 

 

I have not seen a lowered/shorter length of Gmax damper advertised by any of the mini specialists? Only one length.

 

Yes, sorry. It was VERY late (or early depending on how you look at it) when I was looking at the shocks online and I some of them confused. The GMax are supposedly ONLY for lowered minis according to MiniSpares.

 

 

Complaining...

Sorry... Looks like a Minitastic? Take heart, it's not a mistake but a learning experience. Hope you're back on the road soon.

 

 

No worries. Probably, but I didn't install them. Previous owner brought it from Spain, before that he believes it was from somewhere in the UK, but isn't sure. Coils have no markings that I saw, though it currently makes me sick to look at them, so to be fair I have not looked too closely. Me too, Thanks!

 

 

 

Still Complaining...

 

Looks like a Minitastic?

 

i would say a very high chance as it looks like he is out in Japan 

 

^^^ See above   

[spin]

You'll be driving soon and with company in the LH seat

[Xinarin13]

Sure hope so... I'm a bit worried that after this financial hit at the worst possible time, Dusty will forever be the "Death Trap", or one of the other endearing pet names my wife has come up with for Dusty... But if the ride is smooth and the big problems stop, perhaps they someday can come to terms with eachother and get along...