8 replies to this topic

[John Clayton]

I need to soften up the front of my Mini because it gets shaken to pieces on rough Autocross fields, Gravel/Forest rally stages etc.

Option A: Standard Cones

Option B: Competition Cones (I'd go for the softer of the 2 types that Mini Spares do)

Option C: Coil replacement springs. e.g. Minitastic. However, would the long travel springs be too soft, and the competiton springs be too short travel and hard (designed for track rather than rough rally use)?

Option D: Coilovers. I've heard that the mounting points might tear out of the body because its a lot of stress in one small area




Also, are decent shocks normally rebuildable e.g. Spax? I know that all Avo shocks are rebuildable.
I've heard that shocks will only last a yr or so of rally use so this would save a lot of money. Has anyone done this (and how much does it cost)?

[Cooperman]

I've been seriously rallying and involved with Minis for 49 years. I would never, ever think of changing the suspension away from the rubber cone type. Rubber cones are progressive rate, very reliable, put the high loads experienced with this type of competition straight into the sub-frame at its strongest point. I just use the original type cone with either SPAX or GAZ dampers and raise the ride height slightly. I set the front to 1.5 deg negative with 3 deg caster and the rear to 1/16" toe-in with zero to 0.5 deg negative camber.
From what I've seen of coils on Minis, they may be very suitable for racing/track use, but not for rallying, not even on tarmac. As for coil-overs, it would be hard to get the loads, particularly the high-impact loads, out into the car's structure without some serious modification of the top damper mounting. Even with rubber cone suspension I've seen top damper mountings fail.

[John Clayton]

Great advice -thanQ!

Would these things be any good for rough rally use do you think:

http://www.minispare...mp;prod_id=2100 [they do them in Hard, Med or Soft]

http://www.minitastic.co.uk/home1.htm

I would have thought the TOWN RIDE variant would be best as it is the longest travel -provided it's not too soft!

[Cooperman]

Personally I don't think any coil spring would work on a real rally Mini. At max deflection, which you can easily get on any big bump or 'yump' the springs will 'coil-bind' and the shock load will go straight into the structure. I've just had to do a whole load of work on a Peugeot 106 rally car where the springs coil-bound and did considerable damage to the rest of the suspension. This was due to lack of geometry calculations before building.
The rubber cones are most forgiving over the biggest bumps and their variable rate effect works well. IMHO coil springs are for the track or for owners who just like something different on which to spend their money. I know some will disagree, but unless they have been involved with rallying in general and Minis in particular at a serious level for many years I don't think they know what real rallying is like or how to build a successful rally Mini.

[John Clayton]

I'm using the softer of the 2 Competition Grade rubber cones on the front now.

Seem very good, but there's always some body roll. I take it not much can be done about this in a Mini?

[Dan]

Fit an anti roll bar, clue's in the name!

[John Clayton]

Somebody was telling me that ARBs are usually unhelpful on a Mini for rallying because (assuming you don't have an LSD), they just encourage the inside wheel to be lighter (or lift) and therefore spin?

[bmcecosse]

Front arb would be very unusual.....Never seen one on a rally Mini! Some fitted them at the back - don't usually last two stages before they are ripped off....... I doubt 'roll' is much of a problem in a rough road rally car - just throw it into the corner! Usually a rally Mini would have nice high ride height and AEON bump stops fitted. Coil springs will be a NO-NO unless perhaps you are building a super lightweight/space-frame car ?????

[John Clayton]

Ah -bump stops. Good point

We forgot to fit them when fitting the new cones and now have to either:
a) spend a couple of hours re-doing the job (we had to disassemble various things in the engine bay to get at the cones)
b) Run without bump stops in the hope that the cones are hard enough to stop the suspension travelling too far