Suspension My lifted mini is done!
#126
4 degrees of camber? I'm guessing that's positive 4 degrees (since those lowering their rides are into -1 to -2 degrees. I would have figured we'd be in the +2 degree range with a 2-3" lift.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote.
This is perfectly timed as I've been researching control links. The only link I can find that allows for positive camber adjustment is the Eibach one that allows for +4 to -4 degrees of adjustment. They appear to be the best thing around, but are obviously priced that way as well:
http://performance-suspension.eibach.../pro-alignment
Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you wrote.
This is perfectly timed as I've been researching control links. The only link I can find that allows for positive camber adjustment is the Eibach one that allows for +4 to -4 degrees of adjustment. They appear to be the best thing around, but are obviously priced that way as well:
http://performance-suspension.eibach.../pro-alignment
U r right. +.4 I left out the decimal.
#129
#131
Hi from the UK .
I love your raised suspension and want to convert my Cooper S R53.
No kits in UK and Coopercrap does not have this variant yet so if I make my own spacers how high can I go??
Maybe I could get a set of your drawings and get them made up over here...?
Would love to hear.
If there are any other Limys on here wanting to do this lets pool ideas...pse Pm me.
Keep having fun
I love your raised suspension and want to convert my Cooper S R53.
No kits in UK and Coopercrap does not have this variant yet so if I make my own spacers how high can I go??
Maybe I could get a set of your drawings and get them made up over here...?
Would love to hear.
If there are any other Limys on here wanting to do this lets pool ideas...pse Pm me.
Keep having fun
#132
Great work, Moby!
I had to sell my first Mini (2005 Mini Cooper) because I got it stuck on a private driveway (1/2 mile long, all uphill) during a nice, sunny, dry day. I hit some leaves, lost traction, and wound up sliding down into the drainage ditch on the side of the lane.
I tried to back out of it, but the dirt bank on my right was too high and I couldn't turn enough without scraping the side, and I only wound up sitting on the frame. My brother-in-law had to use his tractor to pull me out.
I traded the Mini for a Jeep Wrangler, but I didn't do it without some sorrow. Just recently, my wife purchased a 2003 Mini S with 17" rims. We still have the lane to contend with, but it is much smoother now thanks to the residents all pitching in, doing a lot of work, and flattening modified with a roller.
After reading this thread, I have a bunch of ideas floating around in my head. I don't think I need to go to 28" tires, but a small lift 1-2" would do wonders, along with a limited slip differential, I would have no problems picking up my children at their grandparent's house.
Nobody had any information or any knowledgeable people back in 2005. I tried to find out information about lifting a Mini, but all I could find were lowering kits. There was a guy that lifted his Mini to successfully drive across Africa back in 2005-2006.
I e-mailed him and he said his kit was a one-off by a certain company that didn't care to do it again. I see now that it wasn't really that hard for them to make it, they just didn't see the profitability in it.
Now, I am patiently waiting to see the drawings that you come up with. Thank you in advance! I've been waiting a decade for something like this.
I had to sell my first Mini (2005 Mini Cooper) because I got it stuck on a private driveway (1/2 mile long, all uphill) during a nice, sunny, dry day. I hit some leaves, lost traction, and wound up sliding down into the drainage ditch on the side of the lane.
I tried to back out of it, but the dirt bank on my right was too high and I couldn't turn enough without scraping the side, and I only wound up sitting on the frame. My brother-in-law had to use his tractor to pull me out.
I traded the Mini for a Jeep Wrangler, but I didn't do it without some sorrow. Just recently, my wife purchased a 2003 Mini S with 17" rims. We still have the lane to contend with, but it is much smoother now thanks to the residents all pitching in, doing a lot of work, and flattening modified with a roller.
After reading this thread, I have a bunch of ideas floating around in my head. I don't think I need to go to 28" tires, but a small lift 1-2" would do wonders, along with a limited slip differential, I would have no problems picking up my children at their grandparent's house.
Nobody had any information or any knowledgeable people back in 2005. I tried to find out information about lifting a Mini, but all I could find were lowering kits. There was a guy that lifted his Mini to successfully drive across Africa back in 2005-2006.
I e-mailed him and he said his kit was a one-off by a certain company that didn't care to do it again. I see now that it wasn't really that hard for them to make it, they just didn't see the profitability in it.
Now, I am patiently waiting to see the drawings that you come up with. Thank you in advance! I've been waiting a decade for something like this.
#133
I got an email last night from Coopercrap:
"We are extremely happy to announce that the R53 lift kit if [sic] FINALLY in production!
You’ll have to stay tuned for the additional products that will be available in the future, but right now, we are going to offer you the opportunity to PRE-ORDER your R53 lift kit prior to making them available on our website!
The cost of the lift kit is $350.00 + $35.00 (shipping) = $385.00"
Email or call them if you want to order!
#135
This is tremendous! Been wanting to do this to my mini. I'm tired of the old slammed out rough rider time for a change. You said you made the strut spacers yourself? I was thinking 1/4" plate with thickwall steel tubing to create something similar to what coopercrap sells for late models. Great work, talk about out of the ordinary
#136
Who hoo!
I've been looking for a way to lift my Mini for the last couple of years. I saw this thread a while back and have been trying to find a machine shop to make me one similar to Moby911's. I can cut and weld, but I'm quite out of practice. Then I saw bigfiero's post about coopercrap and found out that they do make one for an R53, I have ordered their 11th lift kit for a R53! I can't wait for it to get here.
I've had 215/60-16's on my stock wheels for a couple years now with rubber suspension blocks in the springs to keep it from scrubbing too bad. I'm excited to have a true lift and get the rest of my suspension travel back!
I've been looking for a way to lift my Mini for the last couple of years. I saw this thread a while back and have been trying to find a machine shop to make me one similar to Moby911's. I can cut and weld, but I'm quite out of practice. Then I saw bigfiero's post about coopercrap and found out that they do make one for an R53, I have ordered their 11th lift kit for a R53! I can't wait for it to get here.
I've had 215/60-16's on my stock wheels for a couple years now with rubber suspension blocks in the springs to keep it from scrubbing too bad. I'm excited to have a true lift and get the rest of my suspension travel back!
#137
Thanks,
tm
#138
#139
#140
#141
#142
Can you fill us in on your wheels and rubber as well?
Did you replace anything else "while in there"?
#143
I'm still running the Goodyear triple tread Assurance in 215/60-16 I had on my stock wheels before the lift. Just with zero scrubbing now! I really like those tires, but I might see about some All-Terrains next set just for fun.
I didn't replace anything while I was in there. If I were you, I would check the strut tower mounts for cracking in the rubber. If you hit a lot of pot holes or live on a dirt road like I do, they don't last too long and you're already in there to put in the lift.
Also if you want to put in some strut tower mushrooming prevention that would also be a good time. Something like these plates I already had in there. I think they might be CravenSpeed's "Underators", but I can't remember.
I didn't replace anything while I was in there. If I were you, I would check the strut tower mounts for cracking in the rubber. If you hit a lot of pot holes or live on a dirt road like I do, they don't last too long and you're already in there to put in the lift.
Also if you want to put in some strut tower mushrooming prevention that would also be a good time. Something like these plates I already had in there. I think they might be CravenSpeed's "Underators", but I can't remember.
#146
#148
Must Be Done
Thanks for starting this awesome thread. Recently moved from the neatly paved cities of Southern California to the Pacific North West. Must say, it is definitely a climate change. Was originally going to run the "ol' classic street racer mods" but now I need something more versatile and reliable.
After moving here and realizing just how much rain (and its abundance of that causes mudslides and flooding) that myself nor my mini are used to, I started looking into this idea of "lifting" her up.
In comes Moby911 and Bigfiero strutting their stuff like gods! You guys have paved some serious inspiration here. I am well on my way to getting these parts to jack up my ride and give myself the much needed clearance i need to trek across some of the flooded highways i need to drive down to get to work and back. I will definitely post some photos of said job once I am able to complete it.
Also Moby, glad to read that your ride held up to a nearly cross country journey as I will be making a roughly 1,000 mile vacation road trip to SoCal in the summer.
After moving here and realizing just how much rain (and its abundance of that causes mudslides and flooding) that myself nor my mini are used to, I started looking into this idea of "lifting" her up.
In comes Moby911 and Bigfiero strutting their stuff like gods! You guys have paved some serious inspiration here. I am well on my way to getting these parts to jack up my ride and give myself the much needed clearance i need to trek across some of the flooded highways i need to drive down to get to work and back. I will definitely post some photos of said job once I am able to complete it.
Also Moby, glad to read that your ride held up to a nearly cross country journey as I will be making a roughly 1,000 mile vacation road trip to SoCal in the summer.
#149
Just thought I'd share an email exchange I had with Cooper Crap regarding the lift. Very nice company to deal with. Got email responses within 5 minutes:
--
>>>>>How much positive camber results after installing the lift?
>>>>>
>>>>>How are your techs using to adjust camber after the lift is installed?
>>>>>
>>>>>Is camber off enough that I would even have to worry about? I don't race, my
>>>>>Mini is a commuter car and all freeway driving.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks for your help. I ordered the R50/53 lift from you quite some time ago
>>>>>and only now am finding time to install it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>Tim
>>>>Tim,
>>>>
>>>>The way our kit was designed only requires a standard alignment after installation
>>>>
>>>>Kerri
>>>>
>>>>Team CRAP
>>>>CRAP industries
>>>Woo Hoo!
>>>
>>>Thank you Kerri.
>>>
>>Kits are being made today, please advise if you'll be placing an order
>>
>>If not , next run is in three weeks
>>
>>Kerri
>>
>>Team CRAP
>>CRAP industries
>Already bought one (see below). Good to hear more people are buying them.
>
>Thanks,
>Tim
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I was multitasking like crazy yesterday!
Team CRAP
CRAP industries
--
>>>>>How much positive camber results after installing the lift?
>>>>>
>>>>>How are your techs using to adjust camber after the lift is installed?
>>>>>
>>>>>Is camber off enough that I would even have to worry about? I don't race, my
>>>>>Mini is a commuter car and all freeway driving.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks for your help. I ordered the R50/53 lift from you quite some time ago
>>>>>and only now am finding time to install it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>Tim
>>>>Tim,
>>>>
>>>>The way our kit was designed only requires a standard alignment after installation
>>>>
>>>>Kerri
>>>>
>>>>Team CRAP
>>>>CRAP industries
>>>Woo Hoo!
>>>
>>>Thank you Kerri.
>>>
>>Kits are being made today, please advise if you'll be placing an order
>>
>>If not , next run is in three weeks
>>
>>Kerri
>>
>>Team CRAP
>>CRAP industries
>Already bought one (see below). Good to hear more people are buying them.
>
>Thanks,
>Tim
Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I was multitasking like crazy yesterday!
Team CRAP
CRAP industries
#150
Lifted
To all that have lifted, what did you do in the way of springs? Are you still using OEM for your model or something beefier? I have a 2004 R53 that is lowered but after the winter we had in Kentucky this year, and with an interest in kayaking, I am getting ready to take the plunge for more clearance. I won't be rock climbing but might take on some tall gravel...