76 replies to this topic

[GreaseMonkey]

Cheers for updating the topic !

[Dan]

Did you use Smooth-A-Ride cones on all four corners? From your first photo it looks as though you did. Are your new dampers standard type? Why didn't you go with the camber brackets?

[taffy1967]

I believe the kit generally comprises standard dampers and to fit firmer types would surely have an adverse effect on the Smootharide system. Basically why fit Smootharide for comfort if you're going to then fit firm sports dampers?

But if you are running adjustable dampers, then would backing the settings right off be equivalent to the standard dampers they supply for the kit?

|f that's the case then you could back them off for the days you want a comfortable ride, like when you're off with the family. But for the days when you want to rag it around a few bends and stuff and drive it enthusiastically, you could set them to firm/hard and that should then improve the handling and body roll?

Theoretically speaking of course?

[THE ANORAK]

Did you use Smooth-A-Ride cones on all four corners? From your first photo it looks as though you did. Are your new dampers standard type? Why didn't you go with the camber brackets?

smootha ride tall cones on the front and new designed smootha ride standard sized cones on the rear. i didn't buy the full kit because i put new shocks on it last year and as i was on a budget i didn't see the point (type of shocks stated earlier in topic i think) . so i decide to give the camber brackets a miss as well. partly because of cost, partly to keep the car looking standard and partly because i probably would of never got round to fitting them.


why, was that the wrong decision ??

i though adjustable shocks would be worth a try to help stiffen the rear up a bit and leave the front softer, would this be any benefit ???

Edited by THE ANORAK, 01 December 2007 - 07:27 PM.

[Dan]

The kit is only supposed to have Smooth-A-Ride cones at the front, the rear is supposed to stay standard. The adaption at the rear is more about setting the camber and tracking to a new layout, provided by the adjustable brackets than it is about changing the spring rate. And yes the kit is supposed to use standard dampers.

Your suspension may now be unique so it's interesting to hear your updates, you aren't really assessing the full Smooth-A-Ride kit though.

I can't help with rubber stained carpets I'm afraid.

[THE ANORAK]

mmm, interesting and strange, the rear cones are marked up differently to "standard" rear cones.

anyway, I'm happy with how its going and yes, i realise it's not the true smootha ride set up., but it would seem that there has been very little feed back on them so i though my findings would be worth a mention.

good stuff, thanks everyone for showing and interest

[Mini_Magic]

So if you didn't buy the full kit then what did you buy and more importantly how much was it?

[THE ANORAK]

OK, once again for those who want the info...

I'm running the smootha ride cones as supplied in the kit, tall on the front and standard size on the rear, with the mini sport adjusta rides all round, i didn't bother with the rear camber brackets. the shock absorbers are kayaba gas a-just from mini spares all round but are not new (less than two years old).
wheels are standard rover minilight style alloys with yokohama A539 tyres run at 28 psi, rear wheels fitted with 5mm spacers for internal clearance

as i said, i was on a tight budget but desperately in need of new cones. my shocks are not standard but then their nothing special either.

the kit is available complete or each part of the kit is available separately. all prices are on the mini sport web site

Edited by THE ANORAK, 01 December 2007 - 07:29 PM.

[Mini_Magic]

Oh I see, I would have thought changing the cones wouldn't make that much of a difference to the ride and the shock absorbers would have been the big factor in making the ride smoother. So in terms of making the ride smoother, all you have had to do is change the cones to these smootha ride ones? If I've worked this out correctly then all you really need is the cones, which are a total of about £120 including postage. I thought the idea of shock absorber was to absorb shocks from the road, so changing these would make a massive difference to the ride. Sorry for asking so many questions, it's just I want to fully understand this before jumping in and spending a fair bit of money. Thanks!

[THE ANORAK]

well the write up said that the cones had been redesigned to take the harshness out of the ride and as they are sold with standard shocks in the kit i also figured that it was the cones that did the magic

i think you need to have the adjusta rides at the front as the new front cones are taller than standard ones but if your going adjustable at the front you may as well do the back and i think another aim of the adjusta rides is to get a more suitable ride height.

i wasn't going to spend out on another set of new shocks and as sports pack minis have up-rated shocks anyway, i don't see why you need to either.

i was just like you about it, unsure, but i thought go for it. like i said, I'm happy with the way it turned out.

and yes, the cones do have a big difference on the ride of the car, even the shape of the end of the trumpet makes a difference which is one of the reasons why cheap adjustable suspension is not as good as the proper stuff

Edited by THE ANORAK, 01 December 2007 - 07:30 PM.

[Mini_Magic]

So you think it may be okay to run these cones on Sportspack up-rated shocks? Could I always get some adjustable shocks further down the line? (i.e. would it be a problem to run these cones for a while until I get new shocks?)

Thanks for the info!

[THE ANORAK]

i cant see why it would be a problem.

[Mini_Magic]

Ace, thanks ANORAK! I'll let you know when I get mine and post a review too.

[strebblo]

Any further updates on this Anorak? It would be nice to hear how they're going now a few months on..

[Mini_Magic]

Any further updates on this Anorak? It would be nice to hear how they're going now a few months on..

I fitted them to mine last week, it's still settling so the handling's a little off. The cones I had before had collapsed so these ones were much taller. So far I've found the ride to be a little less harsh, I was expecting it to be a fair bit smoother than it is. It may be to do with it still not settling but I'm a little dissapointed. You only really noice the difference over speed bumps. Personally I wouldn't bother, the smoothness in ride is not enough to compensate for the effect it has on the handling. Maybe my opinion will change as the ride settles and the miles are clocked up. If the handling is still the same once it has settled, then I would definatly say that you shouldn't get them.