22 replies to this topic

[thissideofparadise]

I recently got a 96 JDM and I'm trying to figure out what I should do with the suspension. Car drives well with one person in it but bottoms out occasionally add a second it start to bottom out frequently. I am not a small guy and was seeking advice on what suspension would be ideal for a big guy like myself.

Currently it has a hilow kit with Spax adjustable shock and coil springs. No idea how old any of these after market parts are.

I am not after performance just a dependable and enjoyable ride. Thoughts?

[KTS]

Step1:  have a read of the following thread

 

http://www.theminifo...l=+coil +spring

 

 

Step2:  order some rubber cones (..the red dot ones seem to be a popular choice..)

 

Step3:  replace coil springs with rubber cones

Edited by KTS, 28 April 2018 - 07:50 PM.

[nicklouse]

 and coil springs. 

 that is your problem

[Cooperman]

As above,

Fit the correct and original rubber cone suspension. Set the car to standard ride height and make sue the dampers are not set too stiff.

Then it will drive as a classic Mini should.

[nicklouse]

As above,

Fit the correct and original rubber cone suspension. Set the car to standard ride height and make sue the dampers are not set too stiff.

Then it will drive as a classic Mini should.

and will manage a variable load in the car.

[cal844]

KYB gas adjust dampers
Red spot cones
Hilo's

Do this all round, budget for top arm and radius arm rebuilds too.

[thissideofparadise]

Step1:  have a read of the following thread
 
http://www.theminifo...l=+coil +spring

 
Interesting or rather scary read
 
 
I'm going to order the following:
4 Red dot cones
1 cone suppression tool
 
Any other suggestion of part that I should replace at the same time? I'm in Canada so the shipping can be very expensive, rather over buy that under.
 
Here are a few pics of the current rear setup. Anyone recognize the brand of the hi/lows?

[nicklouse]

those are not HiLos get some as those are not suitable for use with the rubber cones. they have a flat face for the coil to sit on rather than the radius one that the HiLo has. (note HiLo is a trade name for a particular product) i would say those have come from Mini Mainia.

[KTS]

wouldn't do any harm to replace the knuckle joints (& nylon cups they sit in) at the same time

[cal844]

KYB gas adjust dampers
Red spot cones
Hilo's

Do this all round, budget for top arm and radius arm rebuilds too.

As I say you are best to have all required parts to replace just incase they are required. I'd also suggest ditching the spax adjustables as IME they are too hard for road use with cones.

[thissideofparadise]

I think the height adjustment kit may be from TTR(make sense since the car is from Japan). I pasted the item description google translated. Anyone know if they will work for with rubber cones, the badly transleted description seems to point towards a yes?

http://www.turtle-tr...uct_id=10002033
TTR height adjustment kit is excellent in quality with light weight aluminum scraping. Ease of car height adjustment is also possible. Rubber cone and coil spring also correspond widely. Vehicle inspection is OK. We have an adjustment mechanism that can be low down to the limit.

Edited by thissideofparadise, 29 April 2018 - 11:40 PM.

[nicklouse]

not suitable. may work but i would not like the ride character  from them.

 

some reading http://www.theminifo...sta-ride/page-2

[nicklouse]

and some more pictures

 

[thissideofparadise]

not suitable. may work but i would not like the ride character  from them.

 

some reading http://www.theminifo...sta-ride/page-2

 

Do you think the damage is cause by the coils only or crap versions or the Hi/los? I am definitely replacing the coils with rubber cone but trying to save the TTR Height adjusters

[timmy850]

The shape of the hi-lo has no effect on the spring rate of the coil spring.

 

The shape of the hi-lo has a huge effect on the spring rate of the rubber cone. As the cones are compressed more, the surface of the hi-lo interacting with the cone changes. This can mean the cone gets stiffer with more compression. 

 

I replaced my old worn out stuff with:

Minispares standard rubber cones

Hi-los

KYB Gas-a-just

Knuckles

The difference is night and day to the worn out old suspension. I set the suspension up near stock height, this means that you have plenty of room before the bumpstops and all the suspension is operating in the angle intended by the factory.