Suspension Brakes Most liked posts in thread: Stock Spring Rates

  1. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #8 Crashton, Nov 6, 2011
    My swag would be that the "sport" springs on a Cooper will be stiffer than the regular springs on an S.
     
  2. sdmidget

    sdmidget New Member
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    #9 sdmidget, Nov 7, 2011
    The "stock" 2011 S does feel "softer" in the back end than my 2005 Cooper "sport package" did.
     
  3. KittyMini

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    #10 KittyMini, Nov 7, 2011
    I owned an R50 with Sport suspension and currently own an R56 S with the stock.
    Big difference. Although I think there would be a difference if both were stock. The r50s and 53s had a firmer, tighter set-up all around.

    I am slowly remedying this :cornut:
     
  4. Crashton

    Crashton Club Coordinator

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    #2 Crashton, Jul 6, 2011
    Your spring rates will depend on what options are on the car. Not all MINIs have the same springs. Hope that helps you.
     
  5. KittyMini

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    #3 KittyMini, Jul 6, 2011
    The only thing I know for sure is I did NOT have the sport suspension..... :confused5:
     
  6. grodenglaive

    grodenglaive New Member

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    #4 grodenglaive, Jul 6, 2011
    You won't find the stock rates published anywhere, since they are progressive - the further you compress them, the firmer they get.
    Same goes for the aftermarket ones - hardly anyone gives the rates, even for the linear springs.
     
  7. KittyMini

    KittyMini Club Coordinator

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    #5 KittyMini, Jul 6, 2011
    That makes me feel better for having not found them :biggrin5:
     
  8. sdmidget

    sdmidget New Member
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    #6 sdmidget, Nov 6, 2011
    Does anyone know which rear suspension is stiffer:

    Cooper w/ "sport" suspension

    - or -

    Cooper S w/ "stock" suspension?
     
  9. mini_racer

    mini_racer Well-Known Member

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    #7 mini_racer, Nov 6, 2011
    TSW informed me a couple of years ago that the stock S springs on a late model R53 were 163 and the sport springs were 173. I certainly cannot validate those numbers though.
     
  10. sdmidget

    sdmidget New Member
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    #11 sdmidget, Nov 7, 2011
    Guess I'll need to start "remedying" as well!!

    :yesnod:
     
  11. KittyMini

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    #12 KittyMini, Nov 7, 2011
    I already did a rear swaybar and lowering springs, but I'm still not happy. I'll be doing coil-overs this coming year :Thumbsup:
     
  12. sdmidget

    sdmidget New Member
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    #13 sdmidget, Nov 7, 2011
    Swaybar is first on my list.
     
  13. KittyMini

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    #14 KittyMini, Nov 7, 2011
    It's a must! :Thumbsup:
     
  14. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

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    #15 Rixter, Nov 7, 2011
    In Canada, the 2007, 2008 'S' + sport package came with the sport suspension, for what it's worth. I believe that was only for those 2 years.
     
  15. SMOG

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    #16 SMOG, May 1, 2012
    We have 2 MINI's. An '09 Cooper with standard suspension and a 19mm swaybar set in the middle hole. The car has very noticeable body roll in cornering compared to our other MINI.

    An '011 "S" with "Sport Suspension" and a 22mm swaybar set to the soft setting. This MINI corners pretty darn flat and rides like a brick in comparison. I am sure it could benefit from decent shocks, both of them could!

    The '09 Cooper is the around town car and the '011 is the fun one :biggrin5:
     
  16. Jason Montague

    Jason Montague New Member
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    #17 Jason Montague, May 1, 2012
    :cornut: People get tired of hearing me say this but, the easiest way to tighten a MINIs suspension is to trash the heavy run flats and 24lb ea light weight(?:eek6:)17in MINI wheels(yeah the expensive ones that I paid extra for) for non run flats and after market 14-16lb wheels. After spiritedly driving this new set up, you'll check under the car to see what else they changed. On Margi(08 R56 MCS/JCWm sport suspension), the difference was amazing.:Thumbsup:

    Jason