15 replies to this topic

[Sam14]

Im just wondering what is best, standard rear subframe or rear beam axle?

http://www.minispare...mp;prod_id=2545

anyone done this conversion?

[olds_kool_lews]

ive done the beam conversion on my estate, doesnt feel any different to having a subframe to be honest, looks cool though! check out my build thread "meet valerie" and you'll see the conversion

[Tupers]

If you've got the time and money to have the shell turreted and the suspension set up correctly then a beam wouldn't be a bad idea.

That said if it's going on anything but a stripped out fast raod/track car then there are better ways of spending the money.

[MRA]

However a beam axle would give you superior handling once set up correctly........ and a beam frame is nothing more than a glorified subframe

[Cooperman]

Im just wondering what is best, standard rear subframe or rear beam axle?

http://www.minispare...mp;prod_id=2545

anyone done this conversion?

The question then is "Best for what"?
For ordinary road use a standard sub-frame is probably best as it gives strength to the rear end in the event of some idiot driving into the back of your car.
For racing, hill-climbing or sprinting, then some sort of rear beam is best (so long as the regulations allow it).

[MRA]

Yep I would agree with Cooperman....

[Sam14]

Yes sorry i didnt state what for

It would be for just general day to day

I just thought it would be for better handling and less things to worry about going wrong.

[TopCatCustom]

I don't think it will affect your handling on a road car, and an un-modified shell with coil overs IMO will flex more than a subframe'd car due to all the forces being confined to the wheel wells/turrets, whereas with a subframe it is nicely distributed throughout the rear.

Yes it is lighter but not as safe and no real advantage for road use.

[MRA]

Hi C4NNON, Are you confusing beam frames with beam axles here ?

A beam frame is a glorified subframe pure and simple.....

A beam axle is a performance enhancing suspension system.....

[Wil_h]

I don't think it will affect your handling on a road car, and an un-modified shell with coil overs IMO will flex more than a subframe'd car due to all the forces being confined to the wheel wells/turrets, whereas with a subframe it is nicely distributed throughout the rear.

Yes it is lighter but not as safe and no real advantage for road use.

I totally agree. There really is no advantage for a road car. I.ve never fancied all the weight of my car being supported where the dampers mount, it's just not strong enough.

As it happens, one of my mini-based kit cars has a frame and coilovers at the rear, it handles just like a mini on a subframe. the shell is strenghtened to take the weight though.

[TopCatCustom]

Hi C4NNON, Are you confusing beam frames with beam axles here ?

A beam frame is a glorified subframe pure and simple.....

A beam axle is a performance enhancing suspension system.....

Martin I pride myself in being one of the very few people on here who DOES know the difference between a beam axle and a rear beam or whatever people want to call the common things stuck to the heal board!

I stand by what I said though, do you disagree?

[MRA]

It depends on how it is made, there are limitations ie you will lose your boot space and the tank will need to be modified to fit in the gap in the middle, however a proper beam axle on the road which is correctly set up will run rings around a standard subframed Mini, I am talking from experience as I have done this on quite a few occasions.

I have posted the photo's on here before clearly showing my method for fixing to the shell..... if you removed the body shell from the seat rearwards it would still function correctly.

Flex of th ebody shell is also taken care of by my device, however it can be improved upon.....

The improved turn in was out of this world, and that was on a standard front end.

[TopCatCustom]

True, but I thought we were talking about a rear beam like the link in the original post rather than an axle, do you have a link to your beam axle'd mods?

[MRA]

True, but I thought we were talking about a rear beam like the link in the original post rather than an axle, do you have a link to your beam axle'd mods?

The OP said "beam axle"..... so I assumed they were asking about a beam axle and not a beam frame ??

[TopCatCustom]

True, but I thought we were talking about a rear beam like the link in the original post rather than an axle, do you have a link to your beam axle'd mods?

The OP said "beam axle"..... so I assumed they were asking about a beam axle and not a beam frame ??

That's because most of them aren't advertised correctly and most people call a rear beams/beam frames/etc a beam axle which isn't correct.

I posted these on a topic several months ago to show the difference for joe bloggs.

Rear Beam set up


Beam Axle