Fellow MINInauts,
Anyone have any further info on, ideas about, or comparisons to make regarding the Hotchkis (http://www.hotchkis.net) suspension package described in the SEMA Show 2002 article in European Car (April 2003, pg82, http://europeancarweb.com?
I haven't yet tried to contact them, and I usually like to research this stuff out prior to making a post (sorry this post is a little premature).

Anyway, the TVS Package for the MINI contains:
Sport Coil Springs
Tubular Sway Bars
Camber Plates
Rear Camber Kit

I've heard some suggest that a front sway bar may not be a good idea on the MINI, due to it's built in understeering tendencies, however, Hotchkis has done some very impressive work, and is well respected in the Muscle Car arena.

I'd be interested in how this type of a system would compare with the addition of coilovers, and a rear sway bar, or other combinations, as well as which combo gives the best bang per buck.

PS. wonder what the potential for group buys might be with Hotchkis, if the products prove to be superior?

Food for thought.

Cheers!
MinMax

 

I talked to an engineer at Hotchkis about a month ago and was told that their products were in production and should be released "in the near future". Randy is in line to get one of the first sets for testing and I'm sure he'll let us know when he gets them. I think you're right though, it should be a good set-up. Go to Hotchkistuning.com and click on the MINI.

 

Thanks rrmixn,
As a follow up, I contacted Hotchkistuning.com, and spoke with a really informative guy named JC. As stated earlier, the kit consists of the following:

Sport Coil Springs
Tubular Sway Bars
Camber Plates
Rear Camber Kit
...plus a strut bar for the front.

Here are some of the specs on the swaybars in the kit.

-Front Sway bar 25.5 mm. Hollow (1 1/16”)- w/2 adjustable end link settings
% increasesj in stiffness rate compared to the stock bar-
Softest setting- 18%increase
Harder setting- 30% increase in rate.

-Rear Sway bar 19mm Hollow (3/4&quot- w/3 adjustable endlink settings
Softest- 54% increase
Med- 88% increase
Stiffest- 128% increase

Track Performance differences Stock-vs-Hotchkis (Sway bar only installed)
600ft slol-
Stock Mini Cooper S- 66.9mph
H Sport Swaybars- 69.9mph (3mph increase in speed)

They also tested on a 14turn autoX track with the following results in time–
Stock Mini S 32.9
Mini S w/ H Sport Swaybars – 28.2, average of 5 runs

Time for installation of Sway Bars= 2-3 hrs ea.
In order to install, must drop the front and rear subframes to install.

The tool list includes:
-4 jackstands or 4 wheel lift ramp
-16mm wrench or socket
-18mm wrench or socket
-13mm wrench or socket
-17mm wrench or socket
-5mm Allen

They're currently finishing up some design work on one of the suspension kit componenets, and it should be out pretty soon.

Randy,
I mentioned that per rrmixn, you were already in line to get one of the first kits, and told JC that I was very impressed with your technical expertise, willingness to test out the various offerings in attempts to offer an objective, empirically derrived opinion, and that I was impressed by your business ethics/conduct (citing the Quicksilver exhaust group buy, which I need to talk further with you about as a potential group member).
JC is willing to work with us in setting up some sort of group buy, if there is sufficient interest as well, and will be contacting you soon. I'll be happy to help out in any way I can. Thanks for your excellent support of this forum, Randy

Cheers!
MinMax