I know the trend is to slam it but believe it or not there are some who don't need to drop it or don't want to drop it. In that case I offer the following to the suspension sharks to feed off of and make derisive comments about.

With my car being a cabrio (more weight), the USS on, it's already dropped a half inch with the current suspension (JCW springs & Koni FSD's) and a body kit that will hang even lower, I'm looking to raise the clearance. I'm going to wait until the body kit is fitted and I have about 350lbs to simulate two people (I'm 200) before measurements are taken. Then most likely spacers will be added. I'll let y'all know how this turns out.

 

I hear what you are saying & agree that MINI's are pretty low already. Mines at stock ride hight & barely passes the dead possum clearance test. In fact I put a skidplate on to help road kill harmlessly roll under the car.

 

You might want to take the opportunity to add some camber plates instead of spacers in the front, since some of them raise the car a bit. I know I've read posts about the increase caused by the Helix (RDR) plates but I don't remember a number.

 

I lost that front plastic bottom piece off my 04 MCS twice now. Once to a piece of tire tread from a blow out right in front of me and once to some other unkown object rolling across the freeway I can't even get into my driveway without going in at an angle or I bottom out (the M7 STB made this possible, before that I couldn't get in the driveway at all without scraping) I've limited my suspension mods to a reas sway bar and STB because I'm tired of replacing that front plastic piece. I've been looking at the sport package Texas Speedworks has developed and have been hesitant because of the 3/4" lowering.

 

You're probably on to something. One of the reasons I bought the JCW springs (yet to go on) is the mere 10mm drop. I used to have a car that was fairly slammed, and it was a PITA angling in and out of driveways and creeping over even moderate parking lot bumps.

 

LOL....mine is a road kill sweeper. I drug a dead pigeon a few blocks with my front bumper until it was shredded down enough to slip under the car....left a red streak down the road....eeeewwwww. I would hate to hit a cat....lol.

 

Sorry this is a bit OT...but...that was probably one of the best posts NAM has ever seen.

 

True story......da*n pigeons anyway!!!!!!

Hey...idea?????

Start a best post in NAM thread........lmao.

 

I must say that the responses so far have completely surprised me in a good way! I thought for sure there would be a ton of people bashing the mere thought of raising the clearance. I'm glad to see my preconceptions proven wrong.

If anyone has any other idea-ers of how to raise the clearance (camber plate suggestion noted) then feel free to chime in!

 

One thing to consider is when you lower one of these cars you get more negative camber. When you raise one you will most likely get less negative camber & possibly positive camber. Do a Google search for a rally MINI. They would be the only ones with experience at raising a new MINI. There was one running out west in the US.

 

How much height are you looking for?

Chuck may be right.....but it depends on how far up you want to go.

Are you just looking to get back the half inch from the JCW springs? What body kit - and do you know how much less clearance you'll have with it?

I personally think anyone adjusting height (higher or lower) needs to be able to at least reset camber, but I'm a fussy type who likes to be able to control those things. I'm obviously suggesting adjustable camber plates. Since you have an 06 you should be able to adjust the rears without changing the control arms.

Where do you get spacers? I know I saw them for sale somewhere for the rear (and thought "I wonder why..." before clicking on elsewhere), but I haven't noticed any for the front.

 

I'm not sure yet as I have yet to put the kit on, add the 350lbs and then measure the clearances for all around including the USS clearance. After taking all that into consideration and measuring that damn speed bump at the entrance to my subdivision...

I have the Zeemax CSS body kit (see sig). It's not even unpacked yet as it just arrived! They do not recommend lowering the car as the kit hangs very low without lowering. Combine that with the current lowered stance and already rubbing the USS on a few serious hairpin turns that rise in elevation while running hard... I definitely need to raise things but until the kit is painted & fitted with the weight I won't know how much I need.

I agree entirely and that's why this will be a careful step by step process. Fit the kit, measure clearances and then see how much more is needed. If more than an inch then I get the feeling adjustable camber plates may be needed. It's a wait and see thing so thanks for the thought!

They'll be custom made for the time being.

 

I'm not looking for rally height but if anyone actually made a high hp four wheel drive rally mini then I just might be interested! Yeah, I'm aware of the camber issue and so adjustable plates are not ruled out at all. I have a gem in my back pocket that has plenty of experience in increasing height for small cars. Not 4x4 truh-ucks.

 

Zeemax kit.....now I understand the problem.

 

Oh, it's not a problem! It's an issue, a challenge, a goal, a dream and soon to be a reality!