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Using lowering springs you put more stress on the stock shocks.
Probably they will last about 12,000-20,000 miles depending on how you drive, loads your carry, and your driving style.
I had H-sport springs and stock shocks and after about one year and 10,000 miles with just me in the car my shocks were definitely not as good as when new. Ride quality got very harsh enough that no one wanted to ride with me on the street.
So question... My R56 S w/ sport suspension rides like a damn hillbilly chevy w/a 14in lift and 44 inch mud tires. If lowering my car will blow the shocks cant I just buy dropped shocks? OR ARE we talking the whole set up.
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Only losers say "Winning isn't everything."
So question... My R56 S w/ sport suspension rides like a damn hillbilly chevy w/a 14in lift and 44 inch mud tires. If lowering my car will blow the shocks cant I just buy dropped shocks? OR ARE we talking the whole set up.
There are different concerns going on at the same time.
Ride height- do you want to be lower or same as stock.
Ride quality for street use- do you want more comfort or are you willing to compromise some comfort for better cornering.
Performance- is this a priority that you are willing to trade off vs comfort
Looks- is ride height important or not.
You can't generally change shocks for ride height adjustment. You can add lowering springs or upgrade the whole suspension like the JCW kit or a coilover kit.
On the older R50/R53 you could add Koni FSD shocks to help with both cornering and comfort.
You can always add upgraded shocks with lowering springs rather than just lowering springs. Using runflats makes the ride less comfortable. Try letting a little air pressure out.
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#43 Street Modified (SM) Class SCCA Hawaii Region
2005-2009 Solo Run Off and Points Champion (Hawaii)(2nd 2006 Points)
2005-2008 Overall PAX: 8th 2006, 7th 2007, Tied 10th 2008.
2010-2011 Modified FWD RallyCross (Points Champion) http://www.sccahawaii.org/pics2008/s.../img_38944.jpg
Our prototypes should be on the way to us this week... They will maintain the factory bias as far as rates go (one reason the R56 handles BETTER out of the box than the R50/R53 platform), be linear and cold wound, and we're going for a 1" drop up front and 3/4" drop in the rear... More info to come after we thrash the incoming protos!
I am amazed that MINI made a BIG change to spring rates and free lengths to the R56 platform - when I initially drove the car, I noted just how much less understeer there was from the factory and the spring rates don't lie!
Our prototypes should be on the way to us this week... They will maintain the factory bias as far as rates go (one reason the R56 handles BETTER out of the box than the R50/R53 platform), be linear and cold wound, and we're going for a 1" drop up front and 3/4" drop in the rear... More info to come after we thrash the incoming protos!
I am amazed that MINI made a BIG change to spring rates and free lengths to the R56 platform - when I initially drove the car, I noted just how much less understeer there was from the factory and the spring rates don't lie!
Interesting... you're dropping the back LESS than the front! Like many, I'm looking to eliminate some torque steer while preserving the basic comfort level of my daily driver '08 MCS with sport suspension. Oddly, I found that in stock form the new MCS has less understeer than my '05 did.
Just my .02,
Your mileage may vary.....
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'08 MCS B/DS, Cold, Premium, Sport, Convenience, Xenon, LSD, piano, white signals, Alta Turbo-back and CAI, Auto Sport Mode and bluetooth mic mods, JCW Suspension, ScanGaugeII, Sirius and ATT Fuze providing TomTom Sat Nav and advanced Telemetrics. Born 5/9/2008.
Interesting... you're dropping the back LESS than the front! Like many, I'm looking to eliminate some torque steer while preserving the basic comfort level of my daily driver '08 MCS with sport suspension. Oddly, I found that in stock form the new MCS has less understeer than my '05 did.
Just my .02,
Your mileage may vary.....
I am just a few hundred miles into an 08 S and agree with your understeer observation. My 06 had understeer that I corrected with rsb and adj camber plates, shocks and some playing with springs. I will drive it more and do a track day before I do more than swap out the tires.
I am surprised there is so much suspension modification going on based on my initial impressions. Also, this may explain why there are so few dedicated parts available.
There are different concerns going on at the same time.
Ride height- do you want to be lower or same as stock.
Ride quality for street use- do you want more comfort or are you willing to compromise some comfort for better cornering.
Performance- is this a priority that you are willing to trade off vs comfort
Looks- is ride height important or not.
You can't generally change shocks for ride height adjustment. You can add lowering springs or upgrade the whole suspension like the JCW kit or a coilover kit.
On the older R50/R53 you could add Koni FSD shocks to help with both cornering and comfort.
You can always add upgraded shocks with lowering springs rather than just lowering springs. Using runflats makes the ride less comfortable. Try letting a little air pressure out.
Ya I left you little info, What I meant was to lower the car with springs like Eibach Pros, then change the shocks as well to shorter ones. Would this cause any extra wear on any other componets?
__________________
Only losers say "Winning isn't everything."
I have the H&R springs on the cooperS r56....but I'm not happy about the look...the drop is not the same in the front and in the rear. my rear il a lot higher than the front ....anybody with my same problem???
Can't wait to have an option a little less radical than the H&R for my daily driver.
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'08 MCS B/DS, Cold, Premium, Sport, Convenience, Xenon, LSD, piano, white signals, Alta Turbo-back and CAI, Auto Sport Mode and bluetooth mic mods, JCW Suspension, ScanGaugeII, Sirius and ATT Fuze providing TomTom Sat Nav and advanced Telemetrics. Born 5/9/2008.
The lower the drop, the faster the stock shocks will wear out. The rest of the suspension should be OK.
Got to disagree ... it is not the fact that the springs lower the car that the shocks go bad fast ... if the rate and travel is the same (just shorter) all would be the same ...(unless just bottoming out and crazy low) ... it is the fact that the springs have different rates and travel that allow the shock to move in a shorter area that will harm the shock.
Still looking for info on OEM spring rates, very surprised that OEM #s and even #s for aftermarket are not known or have a WIDE range... and what was the formula to convert lbs/in to Kg ???
A stiffer spring rate will be over "sprung to shocks" you really dont feel it on compression, but you will on rebound.
The shock valveing is too free flowing (soft / fast) for the stiffer spring.
Got to disagree ... it is not the fact that the springs lower the car that the shocks go bad fast ... if the rate and travel is the same (just shorter) all would be the same ...(unless just bottoming out and crazy low) ... it is the fact that the springs have different rates and travel that allow the shock to move in a shorter area that will harm the shock.
Still looking for info on OEM spring rates, very surprised that OEM #s and even #s for aftermarket are not known or have a WIDE range... and what was the formula to convert lbs/in to Kg ???
A stiffer spring rate will be over "sprung to shocks" you really dont feel it on compression, but you will on rebound.
The shock valveing is too free flowing (soft / fast) for the stiffer spring.
Hmmmm... good point!... but most (if not all) aftermarket lowering springs have different rates thus wearing out the stock shocks a wee bit faster... as for the stock spring rates, I've been trying to find those out for awhile, and MINI USA themselves seem to want to avoid my inquiries....
I just put on H&R springs on my MCS over the weekend, it rides a little rougher, but the performance is great in addition to my 19mm sway. Has anyone found an after market shock to compliment an 07 MCS with H&R Springs?
I am finding it difficult to get quotes for suspension to be shipped to Aus - anyone here had a good deal with. I have been talking to an Australian distributor re: the product above - has anyone fitted these springs yet? (knowing that they have only just been released...)
__________________ __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ R56 Laser Blue/White MCS w/ Chilli pack. EXTRAS - JCW Stage One Tuning Kit, ALTA CAI, 17" Web Spokes, Panoramic Sunroof, Chrome Line Exterior
Ideal for road use, these springs lower the MINI slighty more than Eibach. With this in mind, not only will they look lower you will also notice a sportier ride than the Eibach springs, however they will give a slighty harder ride
I am finding it difficult to get quotes for suspension to be shipped to Aus - anyone here had a good deal with. I have been talking to an Australian distributor re: the product above - has anyone fitted these springs yet? (knowing that they have only just been released...)
I decided to go for the above springs - They arrived yesterday and I have an appointment booked in at the suspension shop Wednesday next week. I will post photos of before and after the install (the drop is 1.2")
__________________ __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ R56 Laser Blue/White MCS w/ Chilli pack. EXTRAS - JCW Stage One Tuning Kit, ALTA CAI, 17" Web Spokes, Panoramic Sunroof, Chrome Line Exterior
I decided to go for the above springs - They arrived yesterday and I have an appointment booked in at the suspension shop Wednesday next week. I will post photos of before and after the install (the drop is 1.2")
Hi All,
After having installed the NAM springs a couple of months ago, I must say that I am extremely satisfied with them. The ride quality is only marginally worse (passengers notice it - I don't... However it may be in their mind.. I am also still on runflats), turn in to corners feels a whole lot tighter (even less body roll), and the ride height is just right - the 17" wheels now fit the wheel arches perfectly. See below for some before and after shots - I tried to get the angle the same but unfortunately the photos were taken at different times of the day. The springs may have settled a touch more (attached photos were taken within a couple of days and only a handful of Kms)
__________________ __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ R56 Laser Blue/White MCS w/ Chilli pack. EXTRAS - JCW Stage One Tuning Kit, ALTA CAI, 17" Web Spokes, Panoramic Sunroof, Chrome Line Exterior
....anybody with my same problem???
