Lowered and rubbing..solution please.
Discussion
PUT SOME SENSIBLE SIZED WHEELS ON IT...!
P!ss taking aside - stiffer rear dampers will just make ride and handling intolerable. I'd rather compromise on the looks and raise the rear a tad on the Hi'Lo's/Adjusta-rides before doing anything with the dampers. The only real solution is to cut the wheel arch back in same way that us racers do for more wheels clearance when running darstically reduced ride height (when racing on 5x10"). I appreciate this is pretty drastic!
fit a new pair of genuine rear rubber cones.
the large heavy wheels wear the cones out so they loose the springiness. you can then run normal shockers.
stiffer shocks will help a little, but will still not prevent the tyres hitting when you are on bumpy roads.
its a very common problem on later minis - sell loads of them.
the large heavy wheels wear the cones out so they loose the springiness. you can then run normal shockers.
stiffer shocks will help a little, but will still not prevent the tyres hitting when you are on bumpy roads.
its a very common problem on later minis - sell loads of them.
I always wonder why people want to lower Minis they intend to use on the roads and, especially on lovely bumpy lanes which are where the Mini excells.
The problem with Mini suspension is the lack of overall suspension travel even at normal ride height. Lowering them just adds to this problem. When the suspension is 'down on the bump stops', which happens on lowered cars, the suspension is not working as intended and it's difficult to steer as well. Huge 13" wheels just make this limitation even worse.
Lowered suspension is just great on a smooth race track where you are trying to achieve improvements to lap times and fractions of seconds count. However, for any road use the standard ride height is best with wheels no wider than 5" and no greater diameter than 12" or, for best results, 10" as originally designed.
IMHO, for a road-going car the optimum set up is standard ride height, or even a slightly raised front, offset front suspension bushes to give a bit of negative camber on the front, or 1.5 eg neg bottom arms, zero to 0.5 deg neg camber on the rear with the rear wheels set to toe-in about 1/8", adjustable SPAX or GAZ dampers all round, but not set too hard, and adjustable front tie bars to enable optimum caster angle to be achieved. This will result in a Mini which will handle on bumpy roads, will feel right, look right and go well under all road conditions. It's all easy and cheap to do, but so few Mini owners do it properly and don't realise just how great a properly set-up Mini will go along the lanes.
The problem with Mini suspension is the lack of overall suspension travel even at normal ride height. Lowering them just adds to this problem. When the suspension is 'down on the bump stops', which happens on lowered cars, the suspension is not working as intended and it's difficult to steer as well. Huge 13" wheels just make this limitation even worse.
Lowered suspension is just great on a smooth race track where you are trying to achieve improvements to lap times and fractions of seconds count. However, for any road use the standard ride height is best with wheels no wider than 5" and no greater diameter than 12" or, for best results, 10" as originally designed.
IMHO, for a road-going car the optimum set up is standard ride height, or even a slightly raised front, offset front suspension bushes to give a bit of negative camber on the front, or 1.5 eg neg bottom arms, zero to 0.5 deg neg camber on the rear with the rear wheels set to toe-in about 1/8", adjustable SPAX or GAZ dampers all round, but not set too hard, and adjustable front tie bars to enable optimum caster angle to be achieved. This will result in a Mini which will handle on bumpy roads, will feel right, look right and go well under all road conditions. It's all easy and cheap to do, but so few Mini owners do it properly and don't realise just how great a properly set-up Mini will go along the lanes.
I appreciate all you thoughts and comments.
I have a Mini with 5x10's and you're right it's a complete joy. I also have a bog standard Mini Sport with jacked up rear suspension as delivered from new.
This mini whilst not ideal for bumpy roads needs to look right or at least as right as poss. My Mini with the 10's looks great but it's not right for the this Sport.
I've seen many with these wheels and personally I think they look perfect. I thought there might be a sensible simple solution.
This car has been "set up" by a well known so called mini "expert" in Ashford with all the neg camber front and rears etc though I have had complete nightmares with his basic geometry set up and I would consider him as any more an expert than my dog.
I'll try raising it a tad and renewing the cones.
Cheers
I have a Mini with 5x10's and you're right it's a complete joy. I also have a bog standard Mini Sport with jacked up rear suspension as delivered from new.
This mini whilst not ideal for bumpy roads needs to look right or at least as right as poss. My Mini with the 10's looks great but it's not right for the this Sport.
I've seen many with these wheels and personally I think they look perfect. I thought there might be a sensible simple solution.
This car has been "set up" by a well known so called mini "expert" in Ashford with all the neg camber front and rears etc though I have had complete nightmares with his basic geometry set up and I would consider him as any more an expert than my dog.
I'll try raising it a tad and renewing the cones.
Cheers
v
the cones will 100% fix your problem, as for the height my rule of thumb is that 2 fingers between the top of the tyre and the arch is the minimum for a road car, 3 is ideal, any more than that makes it looks daft! - its not a technical method, but does work
i will underline the point that i reccomend you fit genuine rover cones that are either bagged new (a guy on ebay sells them at a decent price) or from a known supplier. you must ensure they are real as there are some terrible fakes floating about that collapse very quickly.
good luck, and let us know how you get on
the cones will 100% fix your problem, as for the height my rule of thumb is that 2 fingers between the top of the tyre and the arch is the minimum for a road car, 3 is ideal, any more than that makes it looks daft! - its not a technical method, but does work
i will underline the point that i reccomend you fit genuine rover cones that are either bagged new (a guy on ebay sells them at a decent price) or from a known supplier. you must ensure they are real as there are some terrible fakes floating about that collapse very quickly.
good luck, and let us know how you get on
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