22 replies to this topic

[Gillybobs]

I need to replace to suspension cones my mini and Im wondering which cones are the best to use? The suspension on my car is all standard and Im not fitting hi lo's as i want the car to ride at a standard hight.

 

Theres three that I've seen, All have the same part number but i don't think there the same.

 

First off theres these from minispares

http://www.minispare...|Back to search

 

Then these from wood&picket that say they are genuine rover so are they new old stock??

http://www.woodandpi...ion/bushes/336/

 

 

Then p&l minis Sell these Moulton ones with the same part number.

http://www.plminisho...ER_MOULTON.html

 

So which ones are best for a standard 1993 Mini Italian job???

 

 

[RedRuby]

Personal choice for me would be the Minispares, one they are cheaper than the WP ones and if the WP ones are NOS although under no load has the rubber deteriorated? The Moulton ones seem a bit too cheap and as it is a fiddly job to fit them I would not want to do it again too soon.

Edited by RedRuby, 19 October 2015 - 07:23 PM.

[venkman]

I've just replaced all 4 of mine with the minispares ones. The picture on the W and P looks exactly the same as the cones from minispares.

 

Lifted my car can get 3 fingers in between wheel and arch nearly 4 to start. Its one HUGE difference compared to the old ones should have done it sooner!!!

[Spider]

I did spend a long time researching this a short while back to get to the bottom of what's Genuine and also what's best. I've also just completed not only 'bench' tests but in service use.

 

The ones from Mini Spares (which are made by Valley Rubber in the UK) are Genuine Cones that have been fitted to Minis since about 1976 up to 2000. The ones from W&P appear to be the same ones. The term 'Genuine' that I use here is in regards to how the Cones perform and last.

 

Those from P&L Minis are made by Avon, who mearly bought the Moulton Patent hence why the claim of 'Genuine' on these.

 

The Valley Rubber ones I found on the 'bench' to be as they say in regards to Spring Rate - they are genuine. Also, in Service, I found them to be really good and lasted reasonable well (given what I do to them!), also when warm (yes, they do warm up in use), they don't seem to loose their characteristics.

 

The Avon ones on the bench I found stiffer, however in use, they started off a tad stiffer, but soon got soft. I only got just over 5000 km from them and they are knackered. After removing them, I found the rubber compound had a greasy feel to them and some of the compound had 'transferred' to the flange of the trumpets. I'll test them again shortly on the bench to see what their rate is now.   I don't know if it was the compound they use or if these ones weren't made properly however I have noted a friend's car, who fitted these about a year before I did has sagged a fair bit though he's done a few more miles on them than I did.

 

Needless to say, I've just bought a load of them from Mini Spares and I'll be going back to these.

[Fast Ivan]

^^^ and there you have it

[Big Sam]

Excellent write up Moke Spider.

[mk1leg]

I just fitted the Alex Moulton smooth ride cones......brilliant ride

[spiguy]

Just go for the minispares ones, decent price and you know where you are with them. I would urge you to reconsider the hi-lo option though. I also run my car at almost standard height, I have dropped the back a touch just to give a nicer more even look to the car, but the other advantage of the hi-los is that you then have the option of compensating for sagging as the cones wear. Slightly worn cones are still perfectly serviceable to keep on the car, but the drop in height you get can be annoying. With Hi-los you can simply raise the height a little. Also it makes all future replacement tasks easier to do as you can just wind them to the lowest setting to aid with removal.

 

I understand of course that it is extra expense, but if you buy the proper Hi-Los from minispares, they will last essentially forever so over the course of owning the car the cost is not too bad. I have coated mine in a liberal treatment of Bilthamber Dynax UC clear wax which should keep them in good serviceable condition indefinitely.

[humph]

I chose the Minispares Red spots and love them. Hopefully they'll last, others say they do.

[Swift_General]

Minispares original cones plus hilos to tweak the corner weights (standard ride height).

[jaydee]

FAM3968 from minispares is all i use

Although they changed manifacturer they're still a very good product

 

Also dont get NOS rubber parts as they'll be long deteriorated, and dont buy from unknown reputation ebay shops (yuo're likely to get cheap cones which will last a thousand miles before collapsing)

 

Dont forget to replace the knuckle joints.

A set of hi-lo is highly reccomendable to keep the car at the correct ride height, even if you want it to be 'standard' 

Edited by jaydee, 20 October 2015 - 02:24 PM.

[CMXCVIII]

I'm yet another who went for the ordinary Minispares cones and their hi-lo kit which not only let me set the ride height as I wanted it - standard - but included the knuckle joints which also wear with the cones and need replacement at some time.

 

Apart from that, remember you also require a cone compressor tool for doing the job but that's less than twenty quid.

 

I did spend a long time researching this a short while back to get to the bottom of what's Genuine and also what's best. I've also just completed not only 'bench' tests but in service use ....

 

FWIW, I didn't do any research; I just asked at the counter in Minispares, but I'm very impressed by Moke's post and the work he did and glad I seem to have obtained a good result.

[Gillybobs]

Thanks for the replies! So the Minispares cone it is. I understand what people are saying about Hi lo's but Im not building a track weapon Im just trying to build a tidy reliable car to take my family to some local car shows. 

 

Once again thanks for the guidance. 

[InnoCooperExport]

I'm not sure the Hi-Los are a track weapon kind of deal. like people have said before they mostly allow for a lot more adjustment once the cones start sagging. I have a set waiting to go on my Innocenti. Personally I was wondering if anybody had any experience with the ones listed as progressive spring rate cones? 

[CMXCVIII]

I'm not sure the Hi-Los are a track weapon kind of deal. like people have said before they mostly allow for a lot more adjustment once the cones start sagging. I have a set waiting to go on my Innocenti. Personally I was wondering if anybody had any experience with the ones listed as progressive spring rate cones? 

 

Indeed, but not only when the cones start sagging. Left to themselves, new cones set the car "up on stilts" for several hundred miles until they settle down.

 

By the way, I believe the original shape of Mini suspension rubber cones is designed to provide a progressive spring rate.