I run 2008 STI dampers on my R50 which should give me 215lbs front and 195lbs rear but on the rally the rear was very soft. This could be due to the dampers going off. I did some searching and I think the MC spring rates are 165lbs all round? Can anyone confirm this?
I'd think for your rally car you wouldn't want a spring so strong as to compromise any suspender travel. That is unless you are playing on tarmac.
No I'm gravel. The front seems about right being pretty stiff, it's the rear end that seems soft. Once I get down there I'm going to pull the dampers off to see how the fluid resistance is.
Could be worn out dampers. From the pictures you posted the rear end of your MINI looked low, like it was leaning over in turns. If you think it is tail happy now stiffing the rear end will make it more so. Just a thought, not a suspender expert.
The dampers were off a 2011 STI with around 8000miles so seemed good but might not be up to the job. I like the current set up so like you say stiffening up the rear is going to make the handling even more tail happy. Also I have the battery in the rear which I could swap for a racing version when funds allow.
Because I'm off work I have time to surf the net. It seems the 2008-2010 dampers on the STI were crap! I think I have 2011 rears and 2008 fronts so I have some nice 04 STI inserts from the Suzuki which might fit. It would be nice to fit the Ksport dampers but so far they are not playing my sponsorship game.
'04-'05 STi's where the best STi's the US ever got IMHO. I have driven one HARD in the dirt back when they first came out down in Tennessee, and it did not disappoint! Best handling Subie I have ever taken down a dirt trail though was a '99 2.5RS, it was like that car came out of the factory on a gravel carpet! My buddy was pissed that I was sliding his new to him car down a "4X4" trail, sideways, kicking up rocks, grass and mud, but through his white knuckles and freakishly girly screams, I could tell he enjoyed it. The ONE (singular, and solitary) JDM factory rally monster I would hand over my first born child for though... The Imprezza 22B STi, if I could just have an hour with one of those on some decent gravel tires out at Land Between The Lakes in Kentucky... I would die a very happy man!
^^^ So are you saying Chris needs to jack the MNI up, remove the MINI parts & add more STi parts? :ihih: Better get busy Chris you have a lot of work ahead of you.
Ah the 22B now we're talking. regarding fitting STI stuff: I did look into swapping the hubs,control arms etc but it was not worth the effort. The good thing about the STI suspion is there are so many options available...the problem is I don't have the $1000+ to buy them. A rally buddy in Bend OR is looking into building me a gravel insert for my struts for around $1200. So at least I have options
I got the rear STI dampers from a rally buddy who tells me they are 2008 with 2011 WRX's having 60% stffer springs! wow. So I'm tracking down some 2011 springs.
Searching around I found this info for the STI 2011 STi springs are supposed to be ~15% stiffer in the front and ~50% stiffer in the rear than the 2008-2010, and drop both front and rear by 5mm. That should put the rates at something like 250-260lbs front and 270-280lbs rear and info for the 2008 WRX specs on the 2008 (and 2009!) WRX 2008 spring rates f/r 151/136 2009 spring rates f/r 216/209
One question I get asked is why I went for the STI suspension? The reason is cost and spring choice. For Mini there is a large range of lowered springs and some standard height but nothing raised height for off road. Regarding the dampers there is nothing in my price range inverted struts like the STI struts. With Subaru there are lots of different spring rates and dampers available for my off road gravel needs, also I get more travel and about 1 1/2" ride height with the STI struts. The problem is finding the ideal combination of damper/spring rate. The current 2008 STI street set up works really well but the rear is a little to soft and tail happy which made due the large travel changing the camber angles. For the next rally(Jan 18th) I plan to play with the spring rates on the rear and damper inserts on the front.