My 02 MC with Sport suspension comes with the stiffer oil filled shocks. Has anyone replaced their shocks and find a difference (i.e. softer) ride with the new shocks. I do understand that newer build MINIs have the softer riding shocks, but i'm wondering if shock replacement means getting these softer-riding shocks too.

Also, how much do the newer shocks cost per set?

 

Nopers, the koni's are harder. I think that one of the coil over kits is softer than the others, but nothing is going to be softer than stock. If you really want to soften the ride, the tire sidewall is your only choice. Maybe the UUC springs, I hear they may be quite soft.

 

Actually, if you want softer, KW Variant 1 coilovers will be your best bet. Most of the rest will be similar to firmer than stock. Ubercooper's right, Koni is the only "shock only" product out there for the MINI to date, and they are much firmer than stock.

How about just a spring change? This won't decrease impact harshness but will reduce bounciness. UUC and KW are the squishy ones out there.

You do realize none of the above will improve the handling, right?

 

i can see it now
someone is going to come on here and say:
"WHY DONT YOU JUST GET A BUICK LOL"

i think your best best is... get a MCS owner's discarded shocks, springs, blahblah whatever suspension part they are trying to unload on. A post-may 03 mcs would be a good, softer, more pliant ride giving suspension donor. that's not a real sentence, btw.

umm, yeah, try to get the post- may/03 mcs shocks.

 

Aren't KW coilover kits Koni shocks in disguise + coilover springs?

 

___________
Thanks everyone. A used post 5/03 MC or MCS shock plus new non-runflat tires should add some measure of improvement to the ride. I'm not really looking for AutoX type handling, Ryephile, so the above combo should do.

I like a ride like MiniClo's (minus the runflats). Yeah, yeah, Clo, I know you LOVE them.

 

To my knowledge, KW builds their own stuff in-house. Their design philosophy focuses on ride comfort more than outright handling.

 

But even the V1's are a better setup than H-sport springs+stock shocks, right?
Im kinda going back and forth while Im saving up to either do H-sport + Koni
yellows or KW V1's... Im happy with the H-Sport's ride height...just need to
tighten her down a little more.

 

if you already have the h-sport springs, I would just get the koni's. The high speed stability goes to ludicrous with the koni's.

Here is the big problem. You cannot adjust the rear koni's without dropping them down out of their perches.

Had I fully understood this, I may have just saved up for some coil overs. Not being able to dial back the adjustments for the street is getting a wee bit old.

But then my wallet thanks me for not getting the coil overs, cause the h-sport/koni combo is waaaaaay cheaper.

 

>Here is the big problem. You cannot adjust the rear koni's without dropping them down out of their perches.


Its the same way on the KW V2's too, from what I read. I think we need
KYB to make those AGX's with leda type dials on the housing for the MCS...
but Koni's damp hell of a lot better and more consistent from what I hear.

Once I get a nice setup on the stiffness, I don't see myself adjusting it
that much.

 

Anyone know if GAZ makes an adjustable replacement shock for the MINI (maybe only in Europe?)? I have a set on my '60 Mini, and the ride and adjustability is AWESOME. They also have the dials for adjustability mounted on the side of the shock body instead of at the top like the Konis.

 

Just finished the install of H&R coilovers, RDR rear sway bar, and RDR rear control arms. This setup is INSANE. What the eff was I thinking??!! I believe the car must have dropped about an inch, inch and a quarter in front and at least an inch and a half in the rear. Oh well, let me play around for a few days and then set 'er up for real aggressive street / auto-x fun.

 

I am currently working on a set up to adjust the rear Konis more easily. It involves drilling a 1" hole into the side of both the fender liner and theframe rail (done) and then making an adjustor that will fit in there and oprate (first attempt a dismal failure). Version 1.0 coming up, it will involve a metal adjustor trapped in an 11 mm ratcheting wrench.....if you know what I mean. Might not even have to remove the tires......we'll see........