65 replies to this topic

[Buzzword]

Hey. I've finally admitted to myself that I need new suspension cones (even if I do like the free lowering)

 

I'm torn between minispares standard cones and the red spots for the front (rear will be standard)

 

See, I like the sound of the red spot performance, but I don't want the car with a six inch arch gap - and I don't have the tools or knowledge to machine down a Hi/Lo, and I just don't understand what minispares mean about a circlip..(?)

I've read about different experiences (they will settle/they won't settle) for a couple of days and still can't decide.

 

Also what am I likely to need, seeing that the front upper suspension arms have remained in place for 30(!!??) years.

I'm planning to get the cones front and back, new knuckle joints and the compressor tool. Anything else? Which bolts will shear off etc....

 

Cheers

Edited by Buzzword, 01 May 2020 - 07:52 PM.

[unburntfuelinthemorning]

Is your car fairly standard?  If so I'd say stick to the standard cones, they're quite good.  Depends what you're trying to achieve really.

[Spider]

New Cones usually transform the feel of the whole car.

 

What's your intended use for your Mini ?

[Buzzword]

The car is 99% used on roads for fun, with the occasional autosolo, it's on 12" wheels with adjustable lower arms and tie rods/track rods ( I forget the name - for caster) at the front. Adjustable toe/camber at the rear. Nice setup apart from the cones

[leyland73]

Red dot all round and hi-los, replaced the original cones on my Thirty, added kyb dampers, brilliant ride. Owned the car from new. I’m 47 now and value a comfortable ride over handling, to be honest our roads are so bumpy decent suspension travel is needed. Photo taken of the car in 1990 at 1 year old shows the original height of the suspension. Rear of car slightly higher than the front.

Only just realised the green dots on the tyres are all facing upwards, not noticed that on this photo before!

Attached Files

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[Spider]

Like unburnt, I'd be inclined to steer you towards standard cones with adjustable dampers.

[Buzzword]

Thanks for the replies and photo. Forgot to mention I've already got KYB gas-adjust on it.

Think I'm leaning towards standard cones

[humph]

My car had Minisport Adjusta rides fitted when I bought it. I fitted red spots and all has been great. I didn't have to modify the adjusta rides at all. I have a recollection that someone said that it's only the old type hilo that needs modifying, but what this means exactly I'm not sure.

 

Red Cosmics April 2014 - 001 by Humph, on Flickr

 

P1030766 by Humph, on Flickr

 

[Algordo1100]

Same here. I have Minispares genuine hi-los and red spot cones. They have been on for a couple of months only. Standard ride height on 12 inch wheels is achieved with a full 2 turns out on the hi-lo now the cones have settled a little (front). Even fully wound in the hi-lo does not contact the metal insert of the cone. And I have the leeway there to run the car lower if I want to (I don't).

[Avtovaz]

i phoned minisport yesterday asking advice on what cones to go for. they said the standard one they do will settle, the lad said he had an equinox he had fitted them to and it had settled.

 

Im not going to go for hilos or any of that, just a good set of shocks, maybe contact nigel at AVO as he did some amazing ones for my bmw

[Magneto]

Standard cones will settle, I've recently had to adjust my hi los for more clearance as they settled far enough to rub the tires on sharp turns, mine have been on about a year now. Raising them back up improved the ride considerably - and the handling as it no longer hits the bump stops. I probably should have done them 6 months ago.

[Buzzword]

Thanks for the replies, I'm currently waiting for parts to arrive.

This is how the car sits at the mo, before replacement cones... The front ISN'T on hilos.


I decided to order standard cones all round, just to keep my life as easy as it can be, and I'm sure it will be an improvement over the 30 year old cones.

I realise I may have to raise it a bit too get it off the bump stops. ?

[Buzzword]

Thought I'd update in case anyone else searches this. The new cones have been on a couple of weeks, so I'm expecting a bit more drop.

The job was equal parts great and terrible. On the front the passenger side came apart surprisingly easily, but EVERYTHING on the drivers side was putting up a fight. I ended up admitting defeat and taking it to a garage for that one corner.

 

The rears were fine apart from getting the nylon cups out. I got a mini gas canister type blowtorch and heated them up/melted them a bit before hammering a flat head screwdriver into the soft plastic and levering them out. 

 

I reckon Red spot cones would have been fine in the front, as on day 1 I was able to get the standard cones plenty low enough before the hilos were bottomed out. (I lowered the passenger side to match the old cone on the drivers side to drive it to a garage) and there seems to be plenty of adjustment left to go lower now.

 

As it currently sits I've got about 12mm between the bumpstops and the top arms, which I've heard is just about acceptable?

 

The rear looks a bit higher in person, maybe due to the angle of the picture, but I'll leave it as is to see if it settles more on the rear.

 

Just need to be able to drive it a bit more now, but it did feel nice on the test run!!

[Vanman33]

I fitted the Minisport cones to my Van.    It was so high at first I had to modify the Ripspeed Hilos to get it low enough.  I think being on 10" wheels made the 'jacked up' look far worse as there is already less tyre in the arch to compensate.

 

It's settled a bit now and I've probably raised it 0.5 inch at the front.  I've put 8 bags of building sand and 3 bags of cement in the back to help that end to settle!

 

Settlement does seems to be far quicker if the Mini is driven - sitting in the garage doesn't have the same effect.

[postve]

I fitted the Minisport cones to my Van.    It was so high at first I had to modify the Ripspeed Hilos to get it low enough.  I think being on 10" wheels made the 'jacked up' look far worse as there is already less tyre in the arch to compensate.

 

It's settled a bit now and I've probably raised it 0.5 inch at the front.  I've put 8 bags of building sand and 3 bags of cement in the back to help that end to settle!

 

Settlement does seems to be far quicker if the Mini is driven - sitting in the garage doesn't have the same effect.

 

Hey Vanman, I am looking to put red dots - all round?? - on my mini and replacing the old hi lows with brand new ones.  A major point of concern for me is the ride height and wondering how much of an impact I might expect and also read I might have to cut 3/4 inches off the thread if putting on 10 inch tires??

 

If anyone has put on 10 inch, curious how much of the adjusting road one has to cut off the thread - 3/4 as recommended or depends on how low.  I currently have @ 2 inches from the black arches to the top of tires - front and back.

 

Here's how she looks right now..

 

 

Edited by postve, 29 September 2020 - 01:59 PM.