While I was installing my H&R springs this weekend I took some suspension travel measurements. The results are shocking, and totally contradict the MINI-corporate rumor of the R56 having more suspension travel versus the R53. As an inital note, the front struts and rear shocks of the R56 look, install, and feel all but idential to the R53's shocks. There are just some very minor mounting point tweaks [front strut mounts, front springs a smaller diameter, rear shock mounting point is like the GP].

I measured from the axle of both ends of the car to the bottom of the wheel arch apex. This suspension-to-body reference allows me to easily see shock position during ride height, full droop, free compression travel [until touching the bumpstop], and full compression with bumpstop fully compressed.

Front Axle to arch apex:
Droop: 17.4"
Stock ride height: 14.3"
To bumpstop contact: 14.1"
Full Compression: 12.4"

Total front travel: 5.0"
Free compression travel: 0.2"
Total compression travel: 1.9"
Rebound travel: 3.1"


Rear Axle to arch apex:
Droop: 17.0"
Stock ride height: 14.4"
To bumpstop contact: 13.4"
Full Compression: 12.4"

Total rear travel: 4.6"
Free compression travel: 1.0"
Total compression travel: 2.0"
Rebound travel: 2.6"


These results are alarming! This means that lowering the R56 AT ALL will mean no free uptravel, using the soft bumpstops "Miata-style". This means that the R56 has not a smidge more travel than the R53, and I'll be lobbying for proper short-body coilovers to become available on the market ASAP. The suspension links will probably handle more travel, but right now the shocks are too long for a lowered MINI.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

So does that mean your riding on the bump stops now with the new H&R's? That doesn't sound very good... I'll be curious to see if the Sport Suspention shock bodies are any different.

 

Yes not only am I riding on bumpstops, but they're compressed about half way. Anyone with any MINI that's lowered is probably in the same boat, whether they know it or not.

 

That's scary! MINI's been spouting 0.8" more front travel with the shocks. Also, were the measurements from an unloaded car? If so, the new MINI may be riding on stops all the time!

Very interesting news......

Matt

 

Yes Matt, unloaded, and with only a 1/4 tank of fuel too. My MCS is about as light as it gets from the factory, same as Grassroots Motorsports spec: just LSD and MFSW. His weighed in at 2558 with a 2/3rds tank of fuel.

 

So...at stock ride height, the car is 0.2" from the bump stops? That must mean the bumpstops are in play all the time, yes? Put another way, if this is the case, the bump stops are an integral part of the suspension, not just an emergency stop. I mean, the wheel is constantly going up and down much farther than two tenths of an inch...

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

That's exactly how those Japanese sports cars have worked for years with relatively low-rate springs to provide both good ride and handling. Those bumpstops have a progressively rising rate over considerable travel after they touch so it isn't anything to be alarmed about. The R53 probably corners on its bumpstops too, at least in front, and let's not forget the rubber cone suspension of the original Mini.

 

Well, I guess I won't be lowering my MINI for a while. Will wait till short body shocks become available. It's probably better for autocrossing if I run stock anyway, so I have a chance of scoring.


ps. Doom? What a game and a fantastic way to completely thrash a corporate network during lunch three-hours... Ever play capture the flag? The sniper was my favorite character! Sneaky and accurate! Many, underestimated his sneakiness...

 

Check out the CROSS coilover system. It addresses your concerns.

 

Hi ryan,

I believe H&R has just released a coilover set (only rideheight adjustable, between 2 and 5cm lowering) for the r56.
In the Netherlands it costs around 850 euros.

This will solve the problem, right?

PS: thanks for your email about your rims a few weeks back. TireRack is shipping mine as we speak!

 

They will not exactly solve the problem and depending how low you go it will actually exacerbate the problem. When you lower the car with traditional coilovers such as H&R you lose suspension travel. That is the advantage of coilovers such as CROSS that allows independent ride height adjustability – front and rear – without affecting preload and/or suspension travel.

 

Well, I think the H&R will do the trick when lowering like 3cm.
You can adjust ride height (lowring the car between 2 and 5cm from standard) so when setting it on 3cm you will at least have more suspension travel than the OEM shocks, right?

KW has a set of coilovers for the r56, with adjustable ride-height and pre-load. Costs around 1200 euros.

 

I've run an H&R coilover kit on my 2003 and can tell you they are good but at the same time you will have an issue of hitting the bumpstops as the suspension travel is not as long as the stock setup. And from my research the suspension travel is a bit shorter on the 2007s.

Concerning KW, they do not have independent ride height adjustability with respect to preload. I think the reason is European dampers that are street derived and have TUV certification must stay within certain adjustment parameters. All they can do is shorten the shock body somewhat.

I am trying to educate the MINI community about the benefits of the CROSS coilover system. I realize that it sometimes it falls on deaf ears but do a search about them to become familiar with what sets them apart from European dampers. You will find that in the Porsche and BMW communities that they receive rave reviews from end users, racers, and journalists. This is because the system is well thought out and it has the previously mentioned independent ride height adjustability.

CROSS is not a new suspension company – they are just new here.

 

I think the CROSS system is a bit expensive for a lot of mini owners, including myself. I think we're not in the same league as fanatic porsche and high-performance bmw drivers...yet!

so, keeping that in mind, I'm trying to find the best alternative:
- under 1000 euros
- with good ridequality
- lowers the car 3cm

The CROSS hits my criteria on every point, but it misses the "under 1000 euro's" point by miles

 

Your budget:
€1000, coilovers
€365, camber plates
€1365

That is about $1850. Is $150 (€110) way too much to spend to get what you require?

The list price for CROSS is $2380. The cables are an additional $80. The introductory price of $2000 will not be here forever!

 

Ohlins has released a new shock specificlly designed for strut cars like ours. As everyone knows, the front struts handle a lot more suspension loading when compared to a upper/lower a-arm suspension (like on a Miata). The Ohlins shock has additional thrust bushings to keep the shock shaft from flexing and twisting inside the shock body. This keeps the shock more consistant under hard cornering. If you want to read about it in detail, check out the March issue of Race Car Engineering.

Anyway, the point is, from the looks of the MTH website, the CROSS shocks are utlizing this same technology. They look to me to be a nice setup! Too bad the adjusters are on the top of the rear shock where you can't get to it. Or is there a cable to make it remotely adjustable?

 

...the rear adjuster on the top is the only draw back to the system in my estimation. However, there are cables to make the adjustments if wanted. The fronts adjust on the bottom.

Ohlins are priced at around $1000 and up per coilover, right? And I don't think the ride height is independent. I could be mistaken but...

(When I rode for the satellite Yamaha team long ago we were supported by Ohlins. I'm a big fan but I'm sure how many MINI owners are willing to part with $4k)

 

How does CROSS compare to system like Ground Control? Does it cost more for different spring rate?

Thanks,

 

There is no price difference for different spring rates.
We do not do much with Ground Control so I cannot really say. Some of our customers run them but not they are not something we recommend.

 

I'd appreciate some feedback on this issue now that some of you all have been riding on H&Rs for a few months now. I do not want to spend over $1000 on a spring/shock setup so coilovers are out of the question. But i am planning on good distance hauls with gear, but would like to lower the stance.

1. I'd think the stock struts/shocks would be prone to fail very quickly or detorioriate rapidly - true?

2. How's the ride with the H&Rs, especially with 4 adults or cargo?

3. Has anyone come out with a short bodied shock?

 

I doubt it. At least on our Sport Suspension car, the stock shocks are quite stiff. I doubt the different spring are going to make much difference in their lifespan.

It seems almost the same to me, although large bumps unsettle the car more than they used to.

I've never had four people in my car.

There are no aftermarket shocks (short bodied or otherwise) currently available, as far as I know, that are not part of a coilover system.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

\Can you fit 4 full-sized real life people in a MINI!?!

 

yes. but the steering wheel ends up touching your chest. if the airbag goes off you'll probably explode

 

Thanks Dan - I'll prolly either go for H&R's with 17" Ultraleggeras or stock height with 18" Ultraleggeras.

As far as 4 people in a Mini....I'm 5'8 and my wife is 5'2.

.......And, we don't like people over 5'8 so all our friends and family are shorter than 5'8, making 4 in a Mini possible.

Sorry to all 5'8 and above people out there.