1st Gen R50 Cooper Most liked posts in thread: Spring rates?

  1. Crashton

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    #15 Crashton, Dec 30, 2013
    I inverted some dampers once. Bent the roof up pretty good too. :eek:
     
  2. TheModFather

    TheModFather Well-Known Member

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    #8 TheModFather, Dec 27, 2013
    '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. :D

    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!
     
  3. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #9 Crashton, Dec 28, 2013
    ^^^ 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. :D
     
  4. Dave.0

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    #2 Dave.0, Dec 24, 2013
    Sorry I don't know what stock springs are but I would say those rates are very soft IMO.
     
  5. Crashton

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    #3 Crashton, Dec 24, 2013
    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.
     
  6. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #4 RallyMini370, Dec 24, 2013
    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.
     
  7. Crashton

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    #5 Crashton, Dec 24, 2013
    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.
     
  8. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #6 RallyMini370, Dec 25, 2013
    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.
     
  9. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #7 RallyMini370, Dec 27, 2013
    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.
     
  10. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #10 RallyMini370, Dec 28, 2013
    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
     
  11. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #11 RallyMini370, Dec 29, 2013
    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.
     
  12. Steve

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    #12 Steve, Dec 29, 2013
    When you get your hands on those 2011 WRX springs, I'd be curious to know the rate. :yesnod:
     
  13. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #13 RallyMini370, Dec 29, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2013
    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
     
  14. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #14 RallyMini370, Dec 30, 2013
    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.
     
  15. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #16 RallyMini370, Dec 30, 2013
    LOL nice one Chuck
     
  16. RallyMini370

    RallyMini370 Well-Known Member

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    #17 RallyMini370, Jan 1, 2014
    I bought some Ebay 2013 rear struts off a well beaten up WRX with 5000miles.