26 replies to this topic

[Jools33]

Okay, I am refurbing my rear subframe along with the rest of the pickup. What is the consensus of opinion regarding replacing the "doughnut" with springs?

I saw these at the Stanford hall event.

Do they improve the suspension & if so in what way?

Cheers.

[nicklouse]

They don't improve anything.

They replace a rising rate Spring with a linear rate Spring.

So as you add load to the car it just gets lower and lower. It does not do what the original does, get stiffer to accommodate the load.

A bad design just there to remove money from people's pockets.

Edited by nicklouse, 27 September 2015 - 04:04 PM.

[Anthony30]

They don't improve anything.

They replace a rising rate Spring with a linear rate Spring.

So as you add load to the car it just gets lower and lower. It does not do what the original does, get stiffer to accommodate the load.

A bad design just there to remove money from people's pockets.

 Can't improve perfection. The rubber doughnut is a perfect design for the classic mini. It's basically a progressive stiff spring.

[Jools33]

Thanks, looks like I'll stick with the tried & tested.

[KernowCooper]

Not sure what there refering to but my suspension kit uses progressive springs, like the kit on Minispares, no issues at all with mine and the ride is not as bouncy

[hhhh]

Wouldn't bounciness be solely determined by damping rather than spring rate or other spring characteristics?

[Carlos W]

Not sure what there refering to but my suspension kit uses progressive springs, like the kit on Minispares, no issues at all with mine and the ride is not as bouncy

I've got them fitted to mine, but it's got no engine .

Interesting though Dave, what dampers are you running?

[FlyingScot]

Got blue minitastic type on my Japanese import. It's a little less direct than with doughnuts but better over rough roads.

FS

[limby2000]

I've got minitastic fast roads on mine, there great. You do need adjustable dampers to get the best out of them. Better over pot holes!

[KernowCooper]

 

Not sure what there refering to but my suspension kit uses progressive springs, like the kit on Minispares, no issues at all with mine and the ride is not as bouncy

I've got them fitted to mine, but it's got no engine .

Interesting though Dave, what dampers are you running?

 

Gaz adjustible ones on mine, the damper is to control the spring though, so it does affect the ride quality

[nicklouse]

I am yet to see any progressive springs for the Mini other than the rubber ones.

Got a link. I might be interested for my rears.

[KernowCooper]

These are listed as profressive Nick http://www.minispare...|Back to search

[Tupers]

Minitastic springs are supposed to be progressive because they're tapered. Clicky

 

I'm sure if you put them on a spring dyno they'd act very differently to a rubber cone through. There simply isn't enough room in a Mini for a proper rising rate coil without some serious body and suspension mods. 

[Spider]

One thing I found (on test) with all springs out there, including the Minitastic ones (sorry guys) is that they don't have enough compression height before spring bind, not an issue if the height is set lower than stock, but don't set them over standard height.

 

I'm a fan of the idea, but I haven't come across any yet that are a direct replacement for the rubber cone.

[nicklouse]

The minitastic ones still look like plain gauge springs just with a different space between the coils. That ain't a progressive Spring. Still linear.

To be progresive the cross section of the wire needs to change.

Air is a great progresive Spring medium and that can be easily be controlled and calibrated.

Edited by nicklouse, 27 September 2015 - 09:47 PM.