13 replies to this topic

[Spinnerc41]

I am looking into improving the ride of my 1992 Mini Mayfair, My darling wife complains when we go over bumps.

 

I was looking and found a link to Coil springs to replace the rubber cones https://www.plminish..._Sheffield.html

 

My questions are has anyone fitted these to a normal road car? 

 

Are they OK fitted to a road car?

 

Does it improve the ride, stability etc?

 

Please let me know if anyone has fitted this type of suspension and what their opinion is.

 

 

[nicklouse]

Just replace the old worn out tired and hard rubbers with new ones from Minispares.

 

do not bother with the totally unsuitable coil ****.

[luismx123]

Haven't tried them but from what I've heard here is stick to the rubbers. They were designed like that for a reason ;)

Enjoy driving alone. It's quicker too

[cooperd70]

+1 with luismx123. hunt around on here and you'll see some info that should put you off.

I just replaced with the red spot minispares and hi-lows to just ever so slightly lower from standard ride height on 12" wheels to improve handling and get a similar look to how 10" sit on a mini. The new rubber will definitely make an improvement if what is in the car is original.

[poohbah]

This was the last thread I read about this, which strongly seems to suggest not fitting them:

http://www.theminifo...er#entry3548682

[Cooperman]

The ONLY reason for fitting coil springs to a Mini is for racing where a high initial spring rate helps with turn-in response when entering a corner on a totally smooth race-track. Otherwise they will always be inferior to the original design of non-linear rising rate rubber cone springs. 

 

The classic Mini has a short amount of suspension travel which is why variable rate springs are ideal, and the rubber cone springs provide this very accurately. If you don't like the way the classic Mini rides, which can be 'choppy' on some surfaces, then maybe a different classic car would suit better. There are lots of other 1960's classic out there which are more comfortable, but not nearly as much fun.

[Spider]

[Swift_General]

^^ 'nuff said! ^^

[nicklouse]

[Cooperman]

All the result of badly designed and totally unsuitable coil springs. It can and would never happen with rubber springs, which is why Issigonis used them in the first place.

[Magneto]

The Smooth a Ride cones MiniSport sells are really quite good and definitely improve the ride quality. But I agree it's probably down to the cones on your car have gotten old and hard and need replacing.

 

I put the black springs on my Clubman estate and thought they improved the ride somewhat, but had the problem Nick illustrates - bent adjuster bolts. I put it down to cheap bolts tho and went with some stronger ones, never had an issue after that over 20K miles.

 

One thing I never understood is why they designed the Mini with so little suspension travel....handling was NOT the first consideration when they went with the rubber cones but was a happy side benefit - but at the expense of ride quality. There's room for an 8-12" long spring in the back, and at least twice the length of the cones in the front. Seems like someone would have developed a kit by now with longer springs to give more travel and a better ride......

Edited by Magneto, 21 September 2018 - 10:32 PM.

[nicklouse]

but a longer travel would need a totally new suspension set up. it does not have the travel in the design. you would be blowing ball joints all the time.

[Spinnerc41]

Thanks for the help, I will stick with the rubber cones, thanks again

[Cooperman]

Thanks for the help, I will stick with the rubber cones, thanks again

Very wise.