25 replies to this topic

[RobbieP]

So I live in downtown Toronto and we have to tackle streetcar (trams on rails), an inept local government and lazy public works employees(their idea of fixing roads is pouring some gravel and empty McD's containers in potholes). So my little mini takes some abuse on my short commute to work in the city. 

 

I've got a 94 SPI on factory cones and dampers(replaced), with 13inch sportspack rims and new yokos. 

 

What would be the best suspension set up for comfort? I'm thinking a full Moulton smootha ride or the spring replacements with some soft Spax dampers. 

 

Any recommendations for either? Or other options? I've thought about going 10's and bigger tires but I'd have to change the disks up front...

 

Thanks!

[Cooperman]

The very low profile tyres are about the worst thing you can have on a Mini on  bumpy roads as there is insufficient 'give' in the sidewalls.

A Mini is never going to be 'comfortable' in the way a larger car is, even a larger classic car, but fitting genuine original rubber spring cones, SPAX of GAZ adjustable dampers and 10" wheels with 165/70 x 10 tyres will give best results.

[nicklouse]

So I live in downtown Toronto and we have to tackle streetcar (trams on rails), an inept local government and lazy public works employees(their idea of fixing roads is pouring some gravel and empty McD's containers in potholes). So my little mini takes some abuse on my short commute to work in the city. 
 
I've got a 94 SPI on factory cones and dampers(replaced), with 13inch sportspack rims and new yokos. 
 
What would be the best suspension set up for comfort? I'm thinking a full Moulton smootha ride or the spring replacements with some soft Spax dampers. 
 
Any recommendations for either? Or other options? I've thought about going 10's and bigger tires but I'd have to change the disks up front...
 
Thanks!

Springs never. New rubbers yes. Soft shocks no. The correct shocks yes. You don't want you wheels bouncing like crap Yank Tanks.

But you would be better with more sidewall to give a nicer ride.

[Richie83]

I went for red dot cones and KYB shocks. Difference is night and day compared to standard.

[carthorse]

Red dot cones from minispares are excellent, and despite being a performance upgrade do actually make the suspension softer during the initial part of the stroke. Have a read of the description for them on the minispares website, they really do work as advertised. They are a fair bit taller and you will definitely need hi-lows or similar to get back down to even standard ride height.

[RobbieP]

The very low profile tyres are about the worst thing you can have on a Mini on  bumpy roads as there is insufficient 'give' in the sidewalls.

A Mini is never going to be 'comfortable' in the way a larger car is, even a larger classic car, but fitting genuine original rubber spring cones, SPAX of GAZ adjustable dampers and 10" wheels with 165/70 x 10 tyres will give best results.

 

I've had minis for years, so I know it'll never be amazing over the bumps. 

 

 

Red dot cones from minispares are excellent, and despite being a performance upgrade do actually make the suspension softer during the initial part of the stroke. Have a read of the description for them on the minispares website, they really do work as advertised. They are a fair bit taller and you will definitely need hi-lows or similar to get back down to even standard ride height.

 

I've got hi-los on it already. So I think I might go with the springs! 

[Cooperman]

Whatever you do don't go with the springs.

The Mini has very short available suspension travel, so if the springs are softer it can easily bottom out which causes a lot of other issues. If the springs are higher in rate than the cones, it will be a harder ride.

The rubber cone springs are pure rising rate springs, which is what is needed.

Springs are really only for racing. Don't believe the 'sales puff'.

[nicklouse]

The very low profile tyres are about the worst thing you can have on a Mini on  bumpy roads as there is insufficient 'give' in the sidewalls.
A Mini is never going to be 'comfortable' in the way a larger car is, even a larger classic car, but fitting genuine original rubber spring cones, SPAX of GAZ adjustable dampers and 10" wheels with 165/70 x 10 tyres will give best results.

 
I've had minis for years, so I know it'll never be amazing over the bumps. 
 
 

Red dot cones from minispares are excellent, and despite being a performance upgrade do actually make the suspension softer during the initial part of the stroke. Have a read of the description for them on the minispares website, they really do work as advertised. They are a fair bit taller and you will definitely need hi-lows or similar to get back down to even standard ride height.

 
I've got hi-los on it already. So I think I might go with the springs!

Why not give me the cash instead? You will still have a better ride.

[nicklouse]

 
I've had minis for years, so I know it'll never be amazing over the

As a matter of interest how many years is that?

[RobbieP]

hehe, lots of strong opinions here, however no ones talked about the moulton system?

[RobbieP]

 

 
I've had minis for years, so I know it'll never be amazing over the

As a matter of interest how many years is that?

 

 

on and off for 12 years, got my first when I was 22 living in London, then another when I moved home, now this SPI and a traveller I'm restoring at the moment.. 

 

What is this? The inquisition? I'm just looking for opinions 

Edited by RobbieP, 05 April 2015 - 11:28 PM.

[nicklouse]

Just trying to get a feel.

So why did you fit Hi-Los?

Do you know what they do as well S alowing you to adjust ride height!

They stiffen up the spring rate.

Going back to standard cones would give you a better ride. Trim them to get the same ride hight if you want the look.

Of it some if the other adjustable cones that fo not have the patented lip profile to improve the handling.

Springs are just wrong for the Minis suspension design. For where these after market kits gave them.

The both give a falling rate design.and the springs are linear so you end up with a stiff suspension that get softer. Not whst you want. While the rubbers have a rising rate and the suspension reduces this a little. Again ride height effects how much of what changes.
Would I fit springs to my road going Mini, even though I have springs in my race car ( in mounted yo give good suspension characteristics) nope. I would not consider it.

[carthorse]

To try to answer your original question, I've no direct experience of the Moulton kit but a mate of mine at work fitted it to his wife's everyday driver mini city a few years back and said it did make a noticeable improvement to the cars comfort, but did make it roll more through the corners.
There's also a good informative thread on here somewhere in the product reviews section by somebody that actually fitted and ran the Minitastic springs for a while and liked them a lot.
It is a difficult choice due to the expense and difficulty of changing it all round again if you fit something you find you don't actually like when you've finished!

[fenghuang]

I can offer no opinion on one brand / type / setting of setup over another, but the overwhealming impression I get is that new is markedly better than old and in some cases the improvement is mistakenly interpreted as the result of changing brand / type / setting.

ie New carrots will be better than old OEM rubbers, but that ignores the fact that new OEM rubbers may be better than new carrots . (For carrots, substitute a suspension brand / type / setting of your choice.)

[Blatherskite]

To try to answer your original question, I've no direct experience of the Moulton kit but a mate of mine at work fitted it to his wife's everyday driver mini city a few years back and said it did make a noticeable improvement to the cars comfort, but did make it roll more through the corners.
There's also a good informative thread on here somewhere in the product reviews section by somebody that actually fitted and ran the Minitastic springs for a while and liked them a lot.
It is a difficult choice due to the expense and difficulty of changing it all round again if you fit something you find you don't actually like when you've finished!

Softer springing would be expexted to increase roll when cornering, but if it's a problem, you might try fitting anti roll bars (sway bars) as per recent Mini Magazine article.