Suspension Brakes Installing springs

Discussion in 'Tuning and Performance' started by leicaguy, Aug 23, 2010.

  1. Dr Obnxs

    Dr Obnxs New Member

    Jun 11, 2009
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    A Man of Wit and Charm! (Just ask my wife!)
    Woodside, CA, up in the hills and trees.
    Ratings:
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    I used to have an ongoing debate with meb over on NAM

    he was a huge fan of lowering on the stock struts. Me, not so much. The car has limited travel, and if you lower the car on the stock struts you eat a lot of that up. This has to be countered with stiffer springs to stay off the bump-stops all the time. This also moves the roll center and increases roll couple. Stiffer spring yet again. You become a cat chasing it's tail.....

    But there is no denying that you can up the handling with lowering, and rear bar and control arms. It's just not the way I'd do it. But many have and many are happy. I'm just not one of them.

    If you really want to dig into this stuff, start with "How to make your car handle" by Fred Phun, it's a standard book on handling that pretty much everyone who cares to learn the subject read at one time or another.

    Matt
     
  2. Onasled Racing

    Onasled Racing New Member

    Jul 19, 2010
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    And poor Meb ended up never having his car handle right again. :(
    I will say a lot of his issues came with those height adjustable struts from Megan and like so many have been incorrectly told how to use them.
     
  3. andyroo

    andyroo New Member
    Motoring Alliance Sponsor

    Sep 8, 2009
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    water science and mapping, and suspesnion and brak
    Columbia, MD
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    +6 / 0 / -0
    I agree! This car has such limited travel, and such crappy OEM struts that it is very difficult for lowering springs to acutally improve anything. I also think that most (not all) lowering springs are very poorly designed and really not even intended to improve handling, just the "look."

    Unfortunately that seems like what a majority of the aftermarket is after for the Mini. :(

    Camber plates are not as "cool" but make the real difference. Looking forward to putting my fixed plates on soon.

    - Andrew
     
  4. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
    Lifetime Supporter

    May 6, 2009
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    Thanks everyone. I shall ponder all this. :idea:

    Jim
     

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