Suspension KW Coilovers: you need to know this...
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pug poo picker-upper
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,803
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From: California
Originally posted by Rich_W:
I just found this out the hard way. If you plan to add KW Coilovers to you Mini, be aware that the stock wheels may not fit and will most likely require wheel spacers. (BTW, the KW setup rides FANTASTIC from a performance standpoint... much smoother than stock, more damping, reduced roll and brake dive, etc.)
On my MCS, my 18x7" OZ superleggeras (ET42) with 215/35/18's fit fine... the only problem is that my 16" stock V-Spoke wheels witgh all season runflats will not fit. The tire hits the spring.
I've been despirately trying to find proper hub-centric spacers to no luck so far. MiniMania offers 13mm units, but they don't have the 40mm conical seat bolts. I actually already have a set of MiniMania spacers in hand... but they are useless to me with no 40mm bolts. H&R makes an 8mm hub-centric spacer, but those are nowhere to be found either. H&R USA doesn't even have the spacers in stock.
I've also called countless other sources... all to no luck.
So I'm SOL, and stuck on 18" wheels with summer tires, which I do not want to f-up on crappy winter roads, so time is of the essence.
I'm still pressing the folks at KW for a solution. They had no idea until I told them it was an issue. I'd hate to be forced to reinstall the stock suspension just for the winter.
Anybody got any ideas? I have a headache...
Regards,
Rich_W
I just found this out the hard way. If you plan to add KW Coilovers to you Mini, be aware that the stock wheels may not fit and will most likely require wheel spacers. (BTW, the KW setup rides FANTASTIC from a performance standpoint... much smoother than stock, more damping, reduced roll and brake dive, etc.)
On my MCS, my 18x7" OZ superleggeras (ET42) with 215/35/18's fit fine... the only problem is that my 16" stock V-Spoke wheels witgh all season runflats will not fit. The tire hits the spring.
I've been despirately trying to find proper hub-centric spacers to no luck so far. MiniMania offers 13mm units, but they don't have the 40mm conical seat bolts. I actually already have a set of MiniMania spacers in hand... but they are useless to me with no 40mm bolts. H&R makes an 8mm hub-centric spacer, but those are nowhere to be found either. H&R USA doesn't even have the spacers in stock.
I've also called countless other sources... all to no luck.
So I'm SOL, and stuck on 18" wheels with summer tires, which I do not want to f-up on crappy winter roads, so time is of the essence.
I'm still pressing the folks at KW for a solution. They had no idea until I told them it was an issue. I'd hate to be forced to reinstall the stock suspension just for the winter.
Anybody got any ideas? I have a headache...
Regards,
Rich_W
3rd Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 229
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From: Arlington, Texas
Do I understand your post correctly, the 18" OZ wheels fit fine with the coilovers? How much did you lower the ride height when you installed the coilovers? Were you able to determine any performance increase from the wheel and tire package/ (weight savings over the runflats and heavy stock wheel). Do you reccommend the coilover setup for 18" wheel applications?
To solve your stock wheel/tire conflict, would having an available spacer that is close to what you need, machined to the proper size help? A good machine shop can do the work easily and pretty inexpensively. I have done that in the past on other cars with good sucess.
To solve your stock wheel/tire conflict, would having an available spacer that is close to what you need, machined to the proper size help? A good machine shop can do the work easily and pretty inexpensively. I have done that in the past on other cars with good sucess.
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pug poo picker-upper
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,803
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From: California
1st, to clarify. I have the H&R springs on my Cooper S. This was originally posted by Rich_W over on roadfly, but I thought it important enough to post over here as well.
Apparently it's quite difficult to find spacers for the MINI in stock. BMP is out, and Rich_W has had difficulty sourcing H&R spacers too.
I believe Rich_W has lowered his MINI about 1" front and back to preserve the rake. It looks quite good that way, from the pictures I have seen of the car.
Apparently it's quite difficult to find spacers for the MINI in stock. BMP is out, and Rich_W has had difficulty sourcing H&R spacers too.
I believe Rich_W has lowered his MINI about 1" front and back to preserve the rake. It looks quite good that way, from the pictures I have seen of the car.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2002
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I'm with DK on this one. Any local machine shop should be able to crank these out quickly and inexpensively. You only need to be able to describe in detail what it is dimensionally that you want. PM me if you need a source. I know a guy that can machine just about anything.
Jeff
Jeff
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 705
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From: Hillsboro, Oregon
Hello,
I have no idea if you guys are still looking for spacers. If so we do have them in stock. Both 15mm and 5mm. Other sizes are available as well. All of these are made by H&R and are exactly for the Mini (not an almost fit from a Honda!). Please feel free to call or e-mail with any questions. Thanks!
I have no idea if you guys are still looking for spacers. If so we do have them in stock. Both 15mm and 5mm. Other sizes are available as well. All of these are made by H&R and are exactly for the Mini (not an almost fit from a Honda!). Please feel free to call or e-mail with any questions. Thanks!
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
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Mini Cooper Spacers have never been an issue to find as far as I know. If Alta has them then great. Also always check with Turner Motorsports when it comes to spacers.
Inexpensively?? 
That would be a first. 
...Any local machine shop should be able to crank these out quickly and inexpensively...
That would be a first.
Shouldn't be a problem...post in the tire and wheel forum too. This is a five year old post, so could be very out of date. The early 2002's had some different suspension parts than what most of us have now.
Replying to 5 year old post FTW
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
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I got a set of KW Variant 1 Coilovers last year for my 2005 Cooper. My Stock 18" JCW Alloys were almost ruined as the Coilover scraped on the inside edge of my alloy and has also wrecked the Coilover Ring and lock mechanism as it wore most of it away... I was not best pleased and had to fit 5mm Spacers which i think were still hitting until i put on my OEM 15" Alloys for the Winter months.
I was considering now getting Eibach Pro Street Coilovers but i believe these are KW shocks so can anyone tell me am i going to have the same problem with rubbing scraping if i add these with stock JCW Alloys????
I was considering now getting Eibach Pro Street Coilovers but i believe these are KW shocks so can anyone tell me am i going to have the same problem with rubbing scraping if i add these with stock JCW Alloys????
I got a set of KW Variant 1 Coilovers last year for my 2005 Cooper. My Stock 18" JCW Alloys were almost ruined as the Coilover scraped on the inside edge of my alloy and has also wrecked the Coilover Ring and lock mechanism as it wore most of it away... I was not best pleased and had to fit 5mm Spacers which i think were still hitting until i put on my OEM 15" Alloys for the Winter months.
I was considering now getting Eibach Pro Street Coilovers but i believe these are KW shocks so can anyone tell me am i going to have the same problem with rubbing scraping if i add these with stock JCW Alloys????
I was considering now getting Eibach Pro Street Coilovers but i believe these are KW shocks so can anyone tell me am i going to have the same problem with rubbing scraping if i add these with stock JCW Alloys????
ivano: if you trashed your wheels and suspension, it is your bad. a little common sense dictates checking clearances after any wheel, tire or suspension change. don't blame the parts. a proper combination of your installed parts and the correct spacers or alignment would prevent all of your woes......
Was early, no coffee in the system yet....
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
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ivano: if you trashed your wheels and suspension, it is your bad. a little common sense dictates checking clearances after any wheel, tire or suspension change. don't blame the parts. a proper combination of your installed parts and the correct spacers or alignment would prevent all of your woes......
www.lohen.co.uk
Last edited by Ivano; Jan 6, 2008 at 08:24 AM.
It was fitted by one of the top MINI Tuners in the UK.. Lohen, so i thought they would have known and checked this out. I put trust in them especially when the main Suspension they sell is KW
www.lohen.co.uk
www.lohen.co.uk
Seeing as how almost no one runs wide wheels and low offsets I think you're better off with your own guess lol
When I first read your post I assumed you were talking about on the fender liner and arches..
Last edited by Wake|MCS; Apr 1, 2008 at 12:18 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
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My ET48 bullets used to rub my coilover perches even when i added a 5mm spacer (and thus was ET43), so after a couple of calculations, i've discovered that you're front tyres will be 14.5 mm closer to the coilover spring perch than my bullets.
My ET37 7" Ultraleggeras rub the rear arches, and I'm only lowered 25mm (1")at the back, so I'm sure that the 16x9s will rub at the back, as you're sitting about 6cm wider on each of the rear tyres. What sort of profile will you be running at the rear?
So I'd say get some 15mm or larger spacers for the front, and trim the fender liners at the back....and get more neg camber everywhere
Good luck, it'll look wicked, but i don't know if the handling will be as good as it was...
My ET37 7" Ultraleggeras rub the rear arches, and I'm only lowered 25mm (1")at the back, so I'm sure that the 16x9s will rub at the back, as you're sitting about 6cm wider on each of the rear tyres. What sort of profile will you be running at the rear?
So I'd say get some 15mm or larger spacers for the front, and trim the fender liners at the back....and get more neg camber everywhere
Good luck, it'll look wicked, but i don't know if the handling will be as good as it was...
4th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh
KW V1's here, and a few wheels I've had with them:
Stock S-lites - 17x7 et48 (i think) - no rub, no hitting the suspension.
BBS RY II's - 17x7.5 et40 - no rub, no hitting the suspension (it was pretty close, so I did add 3mm spacers)
Schmidt Racelites - 17x8 et35 - no rub, no hitting the suspension (I think this is the perfect size and offset for the R50/53's to have the wheels sit at the edge of the fenders)
*disclaimer
I do run stretched tires though, and alot of people hate that look.
Stock S-lites - 17x7 et48 (i think) - no rub, no hitting the suspension.
BBS RY II's - 17x7.5 et40 - no rub, no hitting the suspension (it was pretty close, so I did add 3mm spacers)
Schmidt Racelites - 17x8 et35 - no rub, no hitting the suspension (I think this is the perfect size and offset for the R50/53's to have the wheels sit at the edge of the fenders)
*disclaimer
I do run stretched tires though, and alot of people hate that look.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Westchester, NY
hey guys,
reviving an old thread... but i finally took the plunge and bought some coilovers. after reading reviews on here and asking around for quite some time, i finally bought the kw v1's. im sure they will give me the exact ride and stance im looking for but...should i be worried about this rubbing issue with these two sets of wheels
1. stock x-lites
2. flik wasps 17x7 et 42
please tell me ill be fine!!! or if i need spacers but... im hoping i will at least be fine wit the fliks w/o spacers for now as it is still the summer and these will be on
reviving an old thread... but i finally took the plunge and bought some coilovers. after reading reviews on here and asking around for quite some time, i finally bought the kw v1's. im sure they will give me the exact ride and stance im looking for but...should i be worried about this rubbing issue with these two sets of wheels
1. stock x-lites
2. flik wasps 17x7 et 42
please tell me ill be fine!!! or if i need spacers but... im hoping i will at least be fine wit the fliks w/o spacers for now as it is still the summer and these will be on