Leda makes adjustable shocks for the MINI. The rear shocks are adjusted by a **** on the outside of the shock at the bottom so it is easily accesssed. The fronts are coilovers. Since they come custom valved I was thinking of just using the rear Ledas wth the softest setting the same as stock and keep the stock front shocks. That way the rear could be stiffened to get it loose (help it tend towards oversteer). Or get Koni front adjustables (the Ledas are more expensive and would have to be welded to the same height as stock) and try to get the Leda rears set up to be the same as Koni rears. Any comments on this idea?

 

That sounds like a fantastic idea if the adjustments are within the useable range, which it sounds like they are. Maybe someone else might know?

How much are these bad boys and where can they be bought? I only stumbled onto coilovers only with Leda.

 

The people I contacted are www.racersedge-inc.com. They are NOT cheap. $313.50 each but they are custom valved to your specs (assuming that one would know what one's specs are).

 

When most people in stock class get custom valving from Koni, they typically up the rebound in the front shocks 25-75% but I'm not sure what their doing with the rears but I think they up them a little less. Also important with Koni's that are gas charged is to get them de-gassed. This has a effect of jacking the car down as it's being run. The people that do the revalving for Koni's could probably give you some good recommendations but it would only apply to Koni's as they know their product but not other brands.

As a side note the last 2 years at Nationals Koni has had a on site setup and would revalve/rebuild your shocks there, while you waited!

 

How does the de-gassing affect daily driving?

 

I'm now told that LEDA shocks won't work with MINI springs because the shock body diameter is too large.

 

My Ledas are slightly larger than stock but the stock springs fit just fine. Maybe they changed something.

 

What are the part numbers for your Ledas, from whom did you buy them and did you have them custom tuned? If they were custom spec'ed, what did you use as specs to set them to? How did you come up with the specs?

 

No part numbers, I sent them a set of dampers (2 fronts and 2 rears) asked them to set the stock valving at about the 30% point in the adjustment range.

The package I got back from them had my four new dampers and the old rears still intact. The old fronts had the spring perches cut off so are pretty much useless.

If you have questions about how to get Leda Struts, call Leda. They were very easy to deal with, other than the time difference.

 

Did you deal with Leda in England or one of their dealers/distributor here?

Have you a phone number?

30%? So the stock setting would be 30% stiffer than the softest setting on the Leda?