Jump to content


Photo
- - - - -

Minitastic Coil Spring Conversion


  • Please log in to reply
68 replies to this topic

#61 Dusky

Dusky

    Crazy About Mini's

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,322 posts
  • Location: Belgium

Posted 12 October 2015 - 09:00 AM

I know coilsprings aren't ideal, most don't have the rising spring rate :P but atm I d use anything to be able to finaly drive the damn thing :P

then just get some donuts and then you wont need to change them later.
I would, If I could get cones as cheap as the coils i can get

#62 firstforward

firstforward

    One Carb Or Two?

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 824 posts
  • Location: Cornwall

Posted 12 October 2015 - 09:53 AM

I am an avid supporter of coil springs but cheap and coils does not go together, I only know about minitastic springs and would consider no other unless a good reason was put forward. Sounds to me you need rubber donuts as that is the cheapest option.



#63 Dusky

Dusky

    Crazy About Mini's

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,322 posts
  • Location: Belgium

Posted 12 October 2015 - 10:37 AM

I am an avid supporter of coil springs but cheap and coils does not go together, I only know about minitastic springs and would consider no other unless a good reason was put forward. Sounds to me you need rubber donuts as that is the cheapest option.

secondhand minitastic :D

#64 Cooperman

Cooperman

    Uncle Cooperman, Voted Mr TMF 2011

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 23,014 posts
  • Location: Cambs.
  • Local Club: MCR, HAMOC, Chelmsford M.C.

Posted 12 October 2015 - 10:43 AM

I have never been able to see any advantage with coil springs.

AS has been pointed out many times by many contributors, the Mini has very short travel suspension and, therefore, needs a non-linear rising rate spring. The rubber cone was specifically designed to do this job and is absolutely ideal.

The only time a coil will be better is for racing where a much higher initial rate is needed to reduce body roll at turn in. 

No coil spring can improve on the original concept due to the limitations of the basic suspension design.

If a softer ride is wanted, then get adjustable dampers and set then as soft as possible.

The limitation is the amount of total suspension travel which must be controlled by the spring. The spring must not bottom out at full travel if it's a coil spring and must have the correct pre-load when on full rebound. The rubber cone spring does EXACTLY that as it's what it was designed for.



#65 nicklouse

nicklouse

    Moved Into The Garage

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 17,899 posts
  • Location: Not Yorkshire
  • Local Club: Anonyme Miniholiker

Posted 12 October 2015 - 11:19 AM

I am an avid supporter of coil springs but cheap and coils does not go together, I only know about minitastic springs and would consider no other unless a good reason was put forward. Sounds to me you need rubber donuts as that is the cheapest option.

secondhand minitastic :D

I wonder why it is used? And no longer used by the seller?

#66 nicklouse

nicklouse

    Moved Into The Garage

  • TMF+ Member
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 17,899 posts
  • Location: Not Yorkshire
  • Local Club: Anonyme Miniholiker

Posted 12 October 2015 - 11:19 AM

I know coilsprings aren't ideal, most don't have the rising spring rate :P but atm I d use anything to be able to finaly drive the damn thing :P

then just get some donuts and then you wont need to change them later.
I would, If I could get cones as cheap as the coils i can get

I wonder why it is so cheap.

#67 Dusky

Dusky

    Crazy About Mini's

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 5,322 posts
  • Location: Belgium

Posted 12 October 2015 - 12:06 PM

I know Theyre not ideal,but its a 60 quid difference for me (+ no postage). Its not about the softer ride, just about the money atm, after being screwed over by a machine shop, writing off a crank and conrods I really need to save a bit where I can.
The seller is selling them because he 's going to try the fast road springs instead

Edited by Dusky, 12 October 2015 - 12:08 PM.


#68 Spider

Spider

    Moved Into The Garage

  • Admin
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 13,843 posts
  • Location: NSW
  • Local Club: South Australian Moke Club

Posted 12 October 2015 - 07:46 PM

Dusty, try them. You can always on sell them, but just as some of the other guys like them, you might find the same.

 

Gotta try some of these things.

 

And given you're down to your last few shekels, they seem not a bad price.



#69 Mini ManannĂ¡n

Mini ManannĂ¡n

    Well I'll be buggered if I can find it

  • Members
  • PipPipPipPipPipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,824 posts
  • Location: Middle of the Irish Sea
  • Local Club: man Estate

Posted 12 October 2015 - 09:30 PM

Gotta say, i haven't run on rubber cones for 20 years.  used to run on cones before I had a 20 year lapse from minis and they were on mk1's and 2's in the eighties so likely were a bit shot anyway.  I bought my clubby estate with springs already fitted.  maybe it's me and my rose-tinted spectacles but it doesn't half handle!  Really flat and precise, the missus is on the verge of liking the car since I rebuilt the engine too!  I don't know what make my springs are - when I questioned Minitastic he denied they were his though they (the trumpets) look the same.  Dusky, I know it doesn't tell you much but you might be pleasantly surprised :-)






1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users