17 replies to this topic

[Gilly2006]

i thought i would put this in the technical section as it is a problem of mine, my mini understeers like crazy and its very dangerous in the wet.
anyone know how i can make it grip better in the wet? any suspension mods?

[*DJH*]

What tyres do you have? what condition is the car in?

[Gilly2006]

What tyres do you have? what condition is the car in?

right well the front tires are both on the limit. errm, the front is alot higher than the back, and i have 3 spax shocks, and 1 original which is on the drivers side! which i have only just found out while taking the engine out!

what do you think?

[Bungle]

not good

[redhotmini]

What tyres do you have? what condition is the car in?

right well the front tires are both on the limit. errm, the front is alot higher than the back, and i have 3 spax shocks, and 1 original which is on the drivers side! which i have only just found out while taking the engine out!

what do you think?

that will be your problem. get a new PAIR of front spax, dont bodge it by replacing one as you can end up having different damping properties either side (like you have now). either lower the front or raise the back, and change the tyres. a mini handles better with its arse up a bit.

[nev_payne]

screwth thats rather an interesting setup

New tyres blaitently and I would have said new shocks all round...they arent 'too' expensive (so long as you dont spend the earth on coil overs or the like).

I'd also get the tracking + alignment done as a matter of course - under 30 bananas in most garages.

[Gilly2006]

not good

i know! i thought that some of the suspension parts that are cocked up my play a part in it.

[Gilly2006]

screwth thats rather an interesting setup

New tyres blaitently and I would have said new shocks all round...they arent 'too' expensive (so long as you dont spend the earth on coil overs or the like).

I'd also get the tracking + alignment done as a matter of course - under 30 bananas in most garages.

yeh i will be doing, iv been coming round some roundabouts in the rain in the outside lane, and iv been understeering into the inside lane into traffic!
and my shocks don't take much to pull them down manually as well. EG grab hold of the shock and pull it down.

[taffy1967]

Also invest in some good tyres like Yokohama 165/60X12 which are reputed to be good in the dry and wet.

The Falcons I have fitted to my Mini are great in the dry, but a right nightmare in the wet and I'll be changing them when I can.

[Jammy]

If the back is turning more than the front then thats oversteer. If you turn and the car essentially keeps going forward then thats understeer. From what you've described on the roundabout it sounds like you have oversteer.

I'd definitely make changing your dampers for matched pairs per axle, and getting new decent tyres a priority. What tyre size do you have?

[Dan]

If whoever mangled the maintenance of this car in the past thought it was acceptable to put different dampers on one axle I would suggest the entire suspension should be inspected and probably overhauled. Expect to buy new bushes all round, probably new springs and maybe balljoints and new shafts.

[Gilly2006]

If whoever mangled the maintenance of this car in the past thought it was acceptable to put different dampers on one axle I would suggest the entire suspension should be inspected and probably overhauled. Expect to buy new bushes all round, probably new springs and maybe balljoints and new shafts.

right thats lads, il look into buying some new suspension parts!

[998dave]

If the back is turning more than the front then thats oversteer. If you turn and the car essentially keeps going forward then thats understeer. From what you've described on the roundabout it sounds like you have oversteer.

I'd definitely make changing your dampers for matched pairs per axle, and getting new decent tyres a priority. What tyre size do you have?

Technically:

Oversteer - The vehicle is turning tighter then it should be from the given steering angle, i.e. turning at a tighter angle to that between the front and rear wheels. This can be reproduced using lift off oversteer on a mini. This is avoided in most cars as it can occur too quickly for most people to catch, resulting in loss of control, spinning and ultimately death.

Understeer - The vehicle is turning less tightly then it should from the given steering angle, i.e. the front is washing out round a corner. This is what most mini's, and indeed most modern cars do as it's deemed safer and more controllable then oversteer.

Neutralsteer - This also occurs it's when the car turns at exactly the angle of the front tyres relative to the rear, this is what happens when your steering at slow speed, e.g. parking.

But, back to topic, if you still have problems I'd suggest maybe driving a bit slower when it's wet rather then zooming round like an idiot all over the road? No?

D

[jayare]

Easiest to understand definition of understeer and oversteer I've heard is:
Understeer - you arrive at the scene of the accident facing forwards
Oversteer - you arrive backwards!

JR

[minimarco]

a mini handles better with its arse up a bit.

please explain, i'm curious