31 replies to this topic

[v8mini]

I have been thinking of what needs doing to improve the handling of my V8 rear engined mini, or more to the point, just making it stable at 60+.

I have touched base with Z cars about their front subframe they supply for use with their rear engined kits, and they say it eliminates bump steer on their cars, which is basically what mine is suffering from.

Complete kit for £1000, the wife thinks cost is not an issue if it makes the car safe for me (not under the thumb…. Honest).

Just wanted the opinion from people that have these fitted, how much did the handling / feel of the car improve?

I think I will get one regardless, just need a bit of justification that it will fix or vastly improve what I have.

Let me know what you think

Simon

Edited by v8mini, 21 November 2006 - 03:50 PM.

[R1minimagic]

Read here

http://www.theminifo...showtopic=32154

by the way, I think the bumpsteer thing is a load of nonsense.

[pete]

I have driven Ade's before and after fitting the subframe and the difference is like chalk and cheese. With the standard subframe you were constantly correcting the steering just to keep it in a straight line. With the new subframe I was able to let go of the steering wheel and it just kept going in a straight line.
Mine will definately have one before it goes back on the road.

[R1minimagic]

Mine is the same but not tested it on the road for obvious reasons!

How does it perform thrashing it into bends etc at high speed??

[hotdog]

with the origanal sub frame have you found the steering really positive,i only use the car on the track and i am not sure if the new system would help as bumpsteer dosnt seem to be a prob on track

[R1minimagic]

With the original subframe the steering is much more positive at low speeds, the new one is very vague at low speed and feels really slow with not much feel at all. At higher speeds it is better. I haven't done any track days yet, only 1/4 mile runs.

[hotdog]

With the original subframe the steering is much more positive at low speeds, the new one is very vague at low speed and feels really slow with not much feel at all. At higher speeds it is better. I haven't done any track days yet, only 1/4 mile runs.

ill keep my origanal for now then and do some more testing over the winter,donington 99 every sunday,just need a std pipe r1 2004 for noise limit

[v8mini]

With the standard subframe you were constantly correcting the steering just to keep it in a straight line.

thats kind of the problem i've got, don't know if its what you would call bumpsteer exactly, but the front feels light (expected) but is constantly tring to wander left to right, and the more i try to correct it the worse it gets untill i back off.

i know my suspension needs setting up anyway, but i think it needs more than just adjustment.

also do you needs to cut the inner arches to fit this subframe.

these are the pics Z Cars sent me, they do look sexy i must admit

 SUBFRAME_002.jpg   80.03K   43 downloads
 SUBFRAME_004.jpg   109.61K   41 downloads

[R1minimagic]

The 1st thing I would do is get a setup carried out, mine felt much better with the original subframe after setting up. The only reason I bought the z cars front subframe was so that I could lower the car more without the shocks hitting the inner wings or bottoming out (as well as a good weight reduction).

Inner arches?? Do you mean inner wings??

Edited by R1minimagic, 21 November 2006 - 09:08 PM.

[hotdog]

set up is vital, i toed the fronts in 2 mm and changed the car loads it went from being to posative and over steering to a slight understeer and no oversteer,im sure when i take of the quick rack it will be even better

[R1minimagic]

Hotdog, is yours a bike engined mini??

Where abouts are you??

[hotdog]

i think you need more weight in the front,maybe some lead would be cheaper,have you done a scales job 50/50 ect

[v8mini]

yep, i meant inner wings, i'd imagine part of it near the front would have to be removed, just a bit hard to visualise, not really seen any pics of subframe in a car.

any suggestions on what i should try for an initial setup, should the front toe in now its rear engined / drive ?
its one of those things that hard to know where to start.
i will try and get front / rear weighed on the works weigh bridge, to see how the weights sitting.

[hotdog]

yes 2004 injection

yes 2004 injection

sorry huntingdon

[R1minimagic]

Possibly have to cut them out, mine were already gone (Depends if you have shocks on top or down back like mine)

I also had to cut the A panels out because I lowered so much!

Edited by R1minimagic, 21 November 2006 - 09:40 PM.