76 replies to this topic

[strebblo]

That's very interesting. Please do post back here once in a while then, it will be good to have a reference...

[THE ANORAK]

well i had to raise the front end up after a few couple of months as it slowly settled down and then i raised the rear up a bit a couple of weeks ago.

i would have to agree with mini magic, and say that the difference in ride comfort is not as good as i thought it was going to be.
i cant really compare them to a new set of standard cones as I've never driven on any, but they are certainly better than old standard cones, but then they would be wouldn't they.

yes, speed bumps are a lot better and i think you feel the biggest benefit when your car is fully loaded, but are they the amazing revolution that they claim to be ? .... no but at the same time I'm not getting any negative effects from using them.

my guess is, i dont think they are really any better or any worse than a standard set and the bottom line is...

you get a much more noticeable improvement in handling by investing in a good quality set of tyres

Edited by THE ANORAK, 10 December 2007 - 07:00 PM.

[Mini_Magic]

Anorak, have you noticed any stiffness in the steering once fitting these cones? I've found that sometimes the steering has been quite stiff when quickly changing direction, such as comming off a roundabout. It seems to be happening less often as the cones settle but I'll a bit worried that it may always do that from time to time. Can't say that I have noticed anymore body roll though, may be because I'm on Koni shocks.

I managed to take a couple of speed bumps today at about 25mph!

I'm on 165/70/R10 Yokos with 30psi on front, 28psi on rear.

I'll revive this thread in a couple of weeks once the suspension has settled properly.

Edited by Mini_Magic, 10 December 2007 - 08:20 PM.

[THE ANORAK]

the stiffer steering may have something to do with the geometry being disturbed, but maybe someone with a bit more knowledge in that area can help here ???

[Mini_Magic]

the stiffer steering may have something to do with the geometry being disturbed, but maybe someone with a bit more knowledge in that area can help here ???

Dan?

[1275john]

here is the picture of the cones they sent me the ones on the left are the rear ones the ones on the right are corect and are smootha ride ones the ones on the left luk standard

[Mini_Magic]

Left = standard cone (Dunlop)
Right = Smootha Ride (Avon)

Actually I'm glad you revived this thread, I only seem to get the stiffness in the steering doing uphill (possibly because the front is still too high). The cones do not appear to be settling anymore, they've been on the car nearly two months. It's been sugested that because I didn't put any grease on the inside of the cone, the cone hasn't slipped into place in the subframe.

Edited by Mini_Magic, 20 January 2008 - 08:04 PM.

[1275john]

the stiffer steering may have something to do with the geometry being disturbed, but maybe someone with a bit more knowledge in that area can help here ???

my cones

[THE ANORAK]

i would say that the one on the left is not a smootha ride rear cone

look back at my pic at the start of the topic

I've got another pic somewhere with the cone markings on, I'll post it in a minute as I'm supposed to be bathing the kids

[THE ANORAK]

here's the pic of the rear cones.

you can clearly see the end of the "AVON VMS ENGLAND" markings, if yours dont have these markings then call mini sport and ask them why not, you may also like to point out that this topic is on a very popular international forum and their not doing themselves any favors by trying to fob people off with the wrong goods

[THE ANORAK]

Left = standard cone (Dunlop)
Right = Smootha Ride (Avon)

Actually I'm glad you revived this thread, I only seem to get the stiffness in the steering doing uphill (possibly because the front is still too high). The cones do not appear to be settling anymore, they've been on the car nearly two months. It's been sugested that because I didn't put any grease on the inside of the cone, the cone hasn't slipped into place in the subframe.

magic, i would give the front end more time, we did a lot of miles in ours after the cones were fitted and it stayed high for ages, then it suddenly seemed to go down


im actually starting to wonder how much "temperature" effects these cones, I've not really been to impressed with the smoothness over the cold winter months.

i know i dont have the full and proper kit so maybe that will have something to do with it.


would i buy them again ???? no i doubt it. when i get around to fitting new ones to Alice, I'll be going for new standard ones so i can compare the two

[Mini_Magic]

I've probably done less than 1000 miles on them so maybe they just need more time.

I'll be getting new Gaz shock absorbers soon as my ones are fecked and I'll probably adjust them to a softer setting for daily driving.

Good point about the temperature, mine don't seem to be that great on the commute to work in the cold, whereas it feels a bit softer on a long jorney like the meet I went to today. Maybe I just care less when I'm having fun!

[baker_boy]

This is very interesting to see.. i have thought about these, but due to the advances in technology im swaying to the coil spring conversion, but the price is swaying me to the smootharides or even standard new cones.... with the smootharides it looks like there not massively different to standard cones and they seem to react to the weather which i find quite strange keep this updated as id like to see how it goes

cheers

[THE ANORAK]

well i read somewhere about the strange effects that temperature has on rubber, it may have even been in the mini mag guide to the rubber cones.

its all very scientific stuff.

I'll see if i can find it tomorrow

[Mini_Magic]

I guess we'll just have to wait 'till summer to find out how good these are!