11 replies to this topic

[bobarroyo]

Seeking advise for my 1995 Rover Mini that I bought just a week ago. This is the 1275cc Tartan Edition with the Sports Package - bigger wheel arches and 13inch alloys with 175x50 series Yokohama tyres.

 

The suspension is OK for smooth roads but the problem is the very hard suspension that for even minor road bumps or holes the whole body bangs and shudders. 

 

My mechanic has mentioned that changing the donut may help, but the better option would be to get the Smooth-A-Ride complete kit which would give an overall more comfortable and less hard ride.

 

Can anyone who has used the smooth a ride give feedback please - does it really help in softening the ride? I also may want to increase the ride height a bit since the underside scrapes on most speed bumps.

 

Hope to get advice from you soon.

 

[jaydee]

Yes the kit works but you need hi-los with those bigger cones and possibly new dampers

Some harshness come from the use of low profile tyres anyway

[nicklouse]

to be honest you will not really change much.

 

as that is how the Mini feels In that you will not get it to feel anything like a car from the last 20 years.

[mini13]

assuming the doughnuts are the originals, new ones will make a big difference,

 

Personnaly I like the Minispares Red dot ones, they give a good compromise of comfort and handling IMO

 

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

[Mini Manannán]

Like Nick says, you'll never get it as comfortable as a modern car.  Owning a classic mini is a compromise, yes you get the feeling of 'proper' driving but with that comes less comfort.

[blacktulip]

Unfortunately the sportspack wheels are one of the heaviest wheels that you can get for a mini. On 13" they tend to follow uneven cambers in the road. You could try some upgraded donuts and some decent dampers like kayaba gas-adjust BUT make sure the wheel camber and castor are correct once you have done any mods as it can end up dangerous. I have first hand experience from how dangerous when I rolled it in the wet because the rear was positive camber.

[blacktulip]

Unfortunately the sportspack wheels are one of the heaviest wheels that you can get for a mini. On 13" they tend to follow uneven cambers in the road. You could try some upgraded donuts and some decent dampers like kayaba gas-adjust BUT make sure the wheel camber and castor are correct once you have done any mods as it can end up dangerous. I have first hand experience from how dangerous when I rolled it in the wet because the rear was positive camber.

[jaydee]

I think you meant the rear was toe out, mini came out the factory with rear positive camber

Rear wheels toe out may cause dangerous handling and can lead to rolling the car

[blacktulip]

Jaydee, it was definitely positive camber at the rear. I was more surprised than you when I found out. I know the rear is fixed but something was wrong and having bigger wheels magnified the issue.

[minifreek1]

I'll be fitting the softer springs this weekend hopefully to mine, 

 

Iv got the Hi-Lo's and the springs themselves came today from Hudderfield Spares. When I say springs I mean the coils NOT the rubber cones...

 

Hopefully the tool for the front cones comes tomorrow or Saturday then I'll be ready to tackle the suspension conversion...

[Cooperman]

The 13" wheels cause a lot more harshness. That is because the original design for the suspension was for 10" wheels with 80 profile tyres. So the depth of sidewall was a large part of bump smoothing. With a 175/50 x 13 tyre the sidewall is small, so the suspension work the tyre should be doing has to be done by the rubber cone spring and damper.

A switch to 12" wheels will help together with the other good suggestions above.

[tiger99]

If the rear end is unstable, the cause is toe out, NOT positive camber. As correctly stated above, the cars intentionally came out of the factory with positive camber, for very good reasons, including properly balancing the handling for normal use. But a tiny amount of positive toe is disastrous as far as stability is concerned.