18 replies to this topic

[LD_Framework]

Hi All,

I need and want to upgrade my suspension, talking about rover mini cooper mk5 1991 carb. 
Already fitted stage one kit and want to go further. But first I want to upgrade the suspension due the ridiculous road around here. 
I checked on mini spares and had a chat with some friends about the possibilities to swap the cone with coil so I'm asking: what about the coil over kit? someone has it ? someone fitted these on their car? 
Can I remove the shock absorber after the conversion? 
Talking about the mini spares kit here:

https://www.minispar...px|Back to shop

  

Any suggestion about it?
Really want to create a great suspension, not for speed , but for our miserable road, cones are really out of time IMHO.

Suggestions, advice and any info on this will be much appreciated. 
PS I checked on the forum about this but are all old discussion.
Thanks in advance.

 

[nicklouse]

Don’t they are worse. Just get new M-Part rubbers. The ride will be transformed. They are a service part and should have been changed every some miles I forget what it was.

 

there are no coils that are fit for use on a Mini.

[stuart bowes]

there are springs you can put in where the rubbers go, but they're harsh, don't allow enough travel for progressive spring action, they just bind up and it breaks your subframe.  arguably good for track use where the tarmac is smooth but I don't think even racers use them do they?

 

then there's coil overs which attach where the shock goes, except the alignment isn't designed for that purpose, it's at the wrong angle to work effectively.  you normally see coil overs on the mad engine swaps where the hubs are further out (wider track) it works in that context 

 

cones have a good progressive spring action which works perfectly for cars with such small amounts of suspension travel, there's a good reason they were used in the first place

 

hence the general consensus is as nick already said above

Edited by stuart bowes, 27 November 2024 - 11:30 PM.

[Spider]

This;-

 

 

Don’t they are worse. Just get new M-Part rubbers. The ride will be transformed. They are a service part and should have been changed every some miles I forget what it was.

 

there are no coils that are fit for use on a Mini.

 

[Cooperman]

Bad roads and the sort of coil springs which fit onto a Mini just don’t go together.
On big bumps you will get coil binding which will cause dangerous suspension failure.
There have been photos on here showing the nature of the damage.
It’s the rubber cones which make the Mini suspension so good.

[68+86auto]

Don't do it.

 

 

Replace the rubber cones with new ones if they are bad.

[LD_Framework]

ok thanks guys, so you suggest to put adjustable shocks and HiLo, with new rubber cones. I will go in this direction then! 
So nothing to make it smoother in our bad road? a bit less rigid? I know that this is what makes it fun, but...

[Spider]

If your cones are more than about 6 - 8 years old, they will have sagged and so the suspension will be sitting on or near the bump stops. Also, as the cones age, they do get harder.

For rougher roads, you want a softer ride that has a reasonable amount of compressive travel. New standard cones will give you that.

As for dampers, I'd suggest a new set of standard units here.

[LD_Framework]

If your cones are more than about 6 - 8 years old, they will have sagged and so the suspension will be sitting on or near the bump stops. Also, as the cones age, they do get harder.

For rougher roads, you want a softer ride that has a reasonable amount of compressive travel. New standard cones will give you that.

As for dampers, I'd suggest a new set of standard units here.

I really hoped that a smoother alternative existed because I have both new and anyway they are still quite hard for me. I suppose I want too much from my Mini then. I will keep it like this then!

[Shooter63]

There is an alternative, it's called hydrolastic suspension, which is what the mini was designed to use, not that nasty rubber cone stuff.

Shooter

[68+86auto]

When they were designed, they were designed for roads of the time so worse than modern roads.

[timmy850]

Minisport do sell softer cones for a smoother ride, but you'll need to have the suspension very high to accommodate the extra suspension travel. 

 

Old rubber cones are like solid suspension. Hard, jiggly and overall unpleasant. 

 

New M-parts/minispares standard cones and decent shocks are very smooth in comparison and when I replaced the cones with new it rode nicer than my 2010 Mazda3

[madazv8]

I was really amazed when I put new rubber cones on at how good the ride was. I had a mini in my teens,  and it was harsh as hell, I guess the old cones needed replaced.  When I bought the one I have currently it had the dreaded red coils in place of the rubber cones,  and it just handled weird,  never mind the bottoming out over high speed bumps. I couldn't get rid of them quick enough, and true to form I found a bent Hi-Low adjuster from that, thankfully no more serious damage.

[Cooperman]

The Mini Spares evolution rubber cone is great for a road car.

Part number FAM3968EVO.

[andyapanel]

The Mini Spares evolution rubber cone is great for a road car.

Part number FAM3968EVO.

I fitted those last year; I agree with Cooperman that they are good. Additionally, the top of the cone is threaded. I suffered from a welded nut coming off a cone before now. These will not.