5 replies to this topic

[Purple Tom]

Hey,

I need some new suspension cones for my Clubby. The front ones I know are the original 1978 ones, and are well overdue for replacement. The rears are from my 1987 Advantage which is long scrapped, but I reckon those'll need replacing too, I may as well do all 4 at the same time.

I considered the coil spring conversion and even briefly thought about coilovers but I reckon the rubber cone is still the best option. I think for what I use the car for (fast road and trackdays) I'm going to be best using the red-spot competition cones.

I've found these on Minispares, at £51.47 inc VAT. For 4, that works out at £205.88 (£195.58 with 5% TMF discount), plus delivery. Thats a lot of money!

Then I found these on Minisport, at £35.91 inc VAT, which is £143.64 plus delivery. Probably saving over £50!

The part numbers for the 2 are exactly the same - C-STR687. I know Minisport can be a bit dodgy sometimes, but I can't see them selling something with the same part number as Minispares, and it being an inferior item. I say that because there's been a lot of talk of dodgy cones from suppliers recently. The pic on Minispares shows what looks like a steel re-inforced cone, wheres Minisport shows a standard looking cone, although that could be because the option for the red-spot is in a drop down menu.

What I want to know, should I risk it and get the Minisport ones, knowing for a fact that if they do turn out to be dodgy I'll have to get the engine out all over again just to replace them (with the VX there's no hope of getting the bottom arms out without the engine out)??

Maybe simon@minispares can help here? I'm happy to pay the extra money for the Minispares ones (as I like Minispares much more) but if the 'sport ones are the same then I can't turn down the £50 saving at the moment!

Anyone had any experience?

Thanks!

Tom

(and that was a really long psot, sorry!!)

[andywaller]

i would go for the mini spares ones every time.

the mini spares ones are made for them specially, and are more expensive because they use as more consistent rubber apparently.

quite a lot of the miglias run the minispares cones too.

i cant explain the part number thing though!


maybe get the mini spares on the front and sport on the rear if moneys a bit tight?

Edited by MOWOG, 09 May 2007 - 06:47 PM.

[minivanman]

Ring them both and ask about it. Look at the price difference in top arms from spares and sport - £35 ish from sport, £125 ish I think from spares. It does pay to shop around sometimes.

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I can't really comment on the Mini Sport ones, as I don't know their origin. I can definately say they will be different. We have these manufactured from scratch, with proven race results in several race series. Seasoned racers such as Bill Richards won't fit anything less.

[marc]

I bought some of the same from spares and they seem excellant quality, obviously havent used them yet because i'm lazy and havent rebuilt the mini yet!!

[Purple Tom]

Thanks everyone, think I'll bite the bullet and get the proper ones from Minispares. I know they'll be right and its definitely better in the long run to pay £50 more if I don't have to remove the engine unneccessarily. Plus if Simon says (hehe) the 'Spares ones are made from scratch then the 'Sport ones are definitely going to be different.

Ta!