Okay...gotcha. You're right. I misunderstood and thought you were trying to also get back to stock spec camber as well. Sorry about that

 

Well, we would have been interested before ordering and installing the current fixed plates, but I suppose that doesn't help you now... We were looking for a HD OEM style option, but so for there's nothing out there...

Of course, I'm with Rally... still trying to wrap my head around why your car has negative camber to begin with...

If you can get IE's source for the HD strut mount they use, I'd imagine most fabrication shops could make a heavier adapter plate than the OEM stamped steel version. I'll take a look at both plates (OEM and IE fixed) tonight since I happened to have a few of them on the shelf right now waiting to be installed.

 

No worries.Thats why I love these forums to have these issues be brought up & learn from them.


joe r

 

That is the Big issue at hand.There are no factory replacements other than factory replacements.I for one would love to have a factory spec mount that will hit 2 birds with 1 stone for what my needs are or other members.

Options are great to have & if I need something like this there has to be other just like you & I.

Any help would be great!

Thanks again guys for your time & patience.

joe r

 

Don't forget that you will raise the front stance of the car by the thickness of the IE fixed camber plate (or at least the difference between stock and the IE plate) too.

I know that lowering the car changes the natural camber in the rear of the car. I don't see why it wouldn't do the same in the front... just a change in the geometry of where the weight is sitting on the strut. I got almost -3 degrees of camber in the rear when I lowered my car and had to install lower rear control arms to dial it back.

That said, I matched the IE fixed front camber plates with the TSW springs and got -1.8 degrees camber in the front with no noticeable inner tire wear from street driving. It did wonders for handling and makes track time much more enjoyable and less wearing on the tires. Is there another means to dial out some negative camber if you were to add the IE fixed front camber plates to your current setup?

 

Good thing is I have coilovers & I can lower SilverBullet wth a twist of my wrist,lol so that is not the issue.

As far as gaining camber back I guess I could slot or oval the 3 stud holes to move the plate out if there is room to do this but I like how he sits now.

As for the rear I am looking at the Alta ajustable rear links as we type.


joe r

 

The rear suspension and front suspension are very different designs (multi-link vs macpherson). As you lower the rear, you gain (negative) camber. As you lower the front, you don't (oversimplification).

 

Just as a note....the IE plate site says they don't raise the height which is really nice

 

they may be an option for you. But something is really up with your car. If you draw what happens to the Mini front suspension as you lower, it gets a bit more negative as you drop, then starts to go more positive as you drop more. Factory spec is 0 to -0.5 degrees. You're at -1.3? That's way funky. One thing to try is put it back to stock, and go into the Mini and ask them what they want to do about your car being out of camber spec..... I'd be interested in what they say....

Matt

ps, you're going to be in for a world of hurt with 2.5" of drop when it comes to bottoming your struts. Make sure you have really good bump stops. The M7 STB has the reinforcing plates as standard. If you really want the stockers "remade" with thicker metal, buy some and have a machine shop do the work for you.

 

I'm interested....My Stock MCS is at -.8.......Adding -1.25 would be more than I want, but I would like the protection and the stronger upper strut mounts.. I have no intention of lowering the car..

 

joe r, I know you would like to share with others, I like to share too, but I think you have a unique situation. Jeff would get around to modifying a set for you if you ask kindly, and I don’t think he needs a group order; he did a custom spec for me a couple years ago.

 

Modshack,thanks for you info & as others can see your at factory ride height & your already at -.8 camber so there is realy nothing wrong with my car.not all cars are made the same.


joe r

 

Actually I was pleasanly surprised by the -.8 number. I recently acquired the Mini (<8000 miles, 6/06 build) and, after reading up on suspension mods here I was prepared to find the dreaded "0" Camber and anticipating doing the Ireland plates. I have a very accurate Digital Smartcamber gauge (I've been a suspension junky with all my cars). Checked and double checked the results.....

 

Same with me.I drove into my buddy's shop that I went to school with "way back" & he checked it for me because I was going to do the Ireland fixed camber plates with the -1.25 extra degrees of neg camber.After we seen what I was at he was like nop that will not do for what my driving is.


So I am at that point I want a set of factory spec plates & it seems Jeff is the man for this.

Now I have to twist his arm to show I would buy & a few other would also.


joe r

 

Have you determined why you have 1.3 neg now?

 

Yes I researched Dinan plates as you can tell by my cig I am a Dinan,hmmm "I will leave that up to you!".

That would still leave me with ripping upper strut mounts & I don't want that.SO I found the Ireland ones but I don't need the extra camber.


joe r

 

Nope other than I am lucky.I called the owner today & he has never tracked the car at all it was he weekend car.I just broke 40k on an 04.


joe r

 

I guess "lucky" is one way to look at it, but for it to be so different from the stock settings? It sounds like the mushrooming may be worse than you think. I just hope there are no adverse effects from it...

I feel that I have to chime in on this one because like others that have posted, I have the -1.5 ie plates and have noticed a bit of an increase in handling without any added inner tire wear. I have actually noticed a decrease in the outer tire wear. I had a problem with the outer part wearing much faster even though my camber was at -.6 and -.8. The tire wear was mainly due to the way I drive... The camber plates have only helped correct that problem and increase performance. I have slightly less under steer and it evened out my tire wear a lot. I think you will have a hard time finding people who want stock settings when for the same price they can add a little bit of performance without increasing tire wear.


That said, with the ridiculous amount of mushroomed cars out there, there should be another option for a beefed up stock plate.

 

My shrooming is not bad at all.I can put the M7 strut plater down & they are raised a tad but not much.I am a huge suspension guy & always will be.

I guess I should have let members know that.

95 Dodge neon,"SportCoupe"
Stock struts sprint springs.koni shocks sprint springs.koni shocks coilover sleaves springs.Image dynamiks coilovers & then done.

01 Dodge neon,"R/T"
Eibach pro springs stock struts.Eibach sportline springs stock struts.KW coilovers V1's & then done.

03 Dodge neon,"SRT-4"
Eibach sportline stock struts.KW coilovers V3's & then done.

02 Impreza wagon,"WRX"
Prodrive springs stock struts.Tein basic coilovers.Tein SuperStreets with EDFC & then done.

05 Dodge neon ,"SRT-4"
Tein SuperStreet coilovers.KW V1 coilovers then done.

04 Subaru Forester ,"XT"
Tein GT wagon coilovers & EDFC imported from Japan & then done.

04 Copper "S"
H&R coilovers & looking for plates "NEVER DONE"

Please don't get me started in bushings,swaybars,camber plates,endlinks & other camber mods.uhhhhhhhh

Also this is within the last 7 years.

I am a suspension freak!


joe r

 

Also I did all my suspension mods plus alot of hondas & the Mini is no different other than the week factory towers.

joe r

 

Mushrooming doesn't change much other than ride height.

Matt

ps, it just looks like there's a lot more variation in the Mini chassis builds than even the sloppy factory camber spec indicated. But wear vs camber is very driver and use dependant. I'm at -2 and have even tire wear. Some who drive mostly freeways start to notice inner wear increaseing at those settings.