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Rear Coilover Ride Height


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#1 karlos1918

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Posted 24 March 2008 - 08:50 PM

Hello,

Ive fitted coilovers to the rear of my mini on a rear beam.

The problem i have is the whole back end is sat far too high for my likings ( It does not look right )

I can get my hand inbetween the wheel and the arch

And looking from the back its like its on stilts Has anyboday had this problem and how was it sorted

By the way i brought lowered height coilovers which is whats puzzled me!!!!!!!!!!

#2 topcatproduction

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Posted 24 March 2008 - 09:11 PM

Mine are standard height for a bit of ground clearance as i rally it and is fine, if theyre fully adjustable are they wound right out or have you wound them down before you fitted them (or after)?

#3 Ethel

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Posted 24 March 2008 - 09:15 PM

spring rates and car weight will also effect the height.

#4 karlos1918

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 10:35 AM

Mine are standard height for a bit of ground clearance as i rally it and is fine, if theyre fully adjustable are they wound right out or have you wound them down before you fitted them (or after)?



I wound them right down before i fitted them and ive wound them up whatever i try the car still sits really high

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#5 Menthus

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 11:00 AM

What alloys are they because they look mint >_<

#6 karlos1918

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 01:27 PM

What alloys are they because they look mint :D



They are 13x7 Starmags

#7 NikB

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 01:35 PM

Hello,

Ive fitted coilovers to the rear of my mini on a rear beam.

The problem i have is the whole back end is sat far too high for my likings ( It does not look right )

I can get my hand inbetween the wheel and the arch

And looking from the back its like its on stilts Has anyboday had this problem and how was it sorted

By the way i brought lowered height coilovers which is whats puzzled me!!!!!!!!!!


I had this problem with my Spax Coilovers. What make are yours? I spoke to Spax and it turned out that the only difference between the road height and lowered heoght kits was the springs themselves. They wanted me to check the part no's that are meant to be printed on the springs, but there were none (rouge dev springs maybe). In the end we measeured them and they were the wrong springs. Spax sent out some lowered ones and they were still too high, so we cut the springs in the end (yeah I know this is not the best solution).

I think the part numbers are available on the Spax website.

#8 biggav

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 01:40 PM

have you cut lots of metal put of your arches and have you test fitted your spats yet? if you have cut your arches out it may just be an optical illusion.... do you have any side on pics?

I fitted my coil overs and adjustable tie bars and bottom arms etc and then took the car to pitstop where they worked a bit of majic on the back and modified the front subframe to accomodate the lowered front end.

#9 charlie_the_miniboy

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 02:08 PM

i think it's the tubbed rear end making it look higher than it is,

#10 karlos1918

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 02:59 PM

Hello,

Ive fitted coilovers to the rear of my mini on a rear beam.

The problem i have is the whole back end is sat far too high for my likings ( It does not look right )

I can get my hand inbetween the wheel and the arch

And looking from the back its like its on stilts Has anyboday had this problem and how was it sorted

By the way i brought lowered height coilovers which is whats puzzled me!!!!!!!!!!


I had this problem with my Spax Coilovers. What make are yours? I spoke to Spax and it turned out that the only difference between the road height and lowered heoght kits was the springs themselves. They wanted me to check the part no's that are meant to be printed on the springs, but there were none (rouge dev springs maybe). In the end we measeured them and they were the wrong springs. Spax sent out some lowered ones and they were still too high, so we cut the springs in the end (yeah I know this is not the best solution).

I think the part numbers are available on the Spax website.


The coilovers i have a Gaz from mini speed, i think my only option might be cutting the springs do you know if they drop while driving

#11 Dan

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 03:52 PM

Is the whole car stripped? It looks like it in the photos. The ride height is determined by the weight of the car. The rear will be a lot heavier with glass, seats, battery, fuel tank and a spare wheel fitted and it will carry some proportion of the weight from further forward normally too. Put more weight in it and have another look. Finish the welding first though, you can't put the suspension load through panels you've cut big holes out of.

The arches don't look tubbed to me.

Also it is worth phoning Gaz and checking the part numbers are correct, especially considering where you got them.

Edited by Dan, 26 March 2008 - 03:54 PM.


#12 Ethel

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 03:56 PM

You can't cut springs but you can buy replacements in various lengths and rates.

I have spax rear coil overs that are ok for ride height, perhaps we could do a measure up for the benefit of other TMF'ers. Might be worth a google for tech specs first though.

Adding to Dan's post, coilovers have more low load travel than old cones too.

Edited by Ethel, 26 March 2008 - 04:00 PM.


#13 charlie_the_miniboy

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 03:57 PM

is it not....?

Edited by charlie_the_miniboy, 26 March 2008 - 03:58 PM.


#14 karlos1918

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 05:31 PM

Is the whole car stripped? It looks like it in the photos. The ride height is determined by the weight of the car. The rear will be a lot heavier with glass, seats, battery, fuel tank and a spare wheel fitted and it will carry some proportion of the weight from further forward normally too. Put more weight in it and have another look. Finish the welding first though, you can't put the suspension load through panels you've cut big holes out of.

The arches don't look tubbed to me.

Also it is worth phoning Gaz and checking the part numbers are correct, especially considering where you got them.



The car is stripped its got doors on it, and the engine in the only things to go in are the seats and fuel tank my boot lid is fiberglass so that weighs nout ill measure the springs later and post the size

#15 Ethel

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Posted 26 March 2008 - 05:40 PM

Spring length won't mean much, especially if it's preloaded on the shocker. Max/min distances between the spring seats with weight off the car and overall length from mounting to mounting would be more use.




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