Hi I fitted Eibach springs on my Cooper (with SS not SS+) Now I want to replace the rear standard shock absorber with sport absorber but want to use the standard absorber at the front. So I only want to change the rear shock absorber. Is this possible? Or do I need to change the front and rear shock absorber if I replace it with another one?

 

Only a suspension engineer can answer that question while knowing that this is an iterative process froth with compromises.

In theory, if you're trying to remove a little understeer, and assuming that that SS+ rear damper is valved appropriately, this might work. But dampers also have a relationship with one another - front to back. Their cycling frequencies must not agravate one another. There are computer modeling programs available that tell you how to match spring and damper rates as well as front to rear frequncies.

Why? Ever see an improperly set-up car pogo over bumps? That is an extreme example of why. Other more subtle deficiencies in a miss-match will not reveal themselves to you until your on the track.

In the end, it's an experiment as much of this is. Try it and let us know.

 

If i was going to change just the rears, i would use a simultaneous adjustable
damper (bound, rebound). but I am not sure if there are any available yet
for the MINI's.

i am still hoping Tokico would make a D-Spec unit for the MINI's...