OK, looking for some information from the 1st Gen folks.

A friend has an 02 Cooper stock suspension. He has a plan, but needs some information.

What are the stock spring rates for the non-sport MC, front and rear?

His plan is to find the softest spring or stay stock and update his front and rear swaybars to help out his sway/body lean in the twisties.

Should he stay with the stock springs and get a set of KONI FSD and have them re-valved soft?

Is there a spring that is softer than stock for the early R50/MC? Swift/TSW/H&R?

Any input is appreciated, even pointers to old/rehashed threads on NAM or other sites.

Thanks, yes, I know I have a R56.

 

I see where you are going with this I think. You have to remember though that the springs dont just help the car handle but also hold it up (duh, I suppose) so if you go with springs that are too soft for the application you will end up bottoming out your suspension.

I take it your friend isnt pleased with the ride quality? Try the FSD's first they are spoken of quite highly on NAM.

 

I will have to see what he decides to do, we are with you on the FSDs.

Yes, he does not like the harshness on his daily drive but wants the sway control.

Thanks...

 

Has he tried different rims and tires? Those are the easiest and cheapest ways of improving ride quality while not compromising handling as much as mushy springs.

 

According to what I have read on here from TSW, the stock spring rates front and rear for the 1st generation are around 160 lb./in.

 

Here's what I found for the 1st gen cars after 03/2002. I Don't know if this applies to the earlier cars.

The SS springs are slightly softer than the SS+.
Side by side, the SS & SS+have the same number of coils, are wound the same and have the same mean coil diameter.The differences are in the wire diameter & free length. All the SS+ springs Ive examined have the same wire diameter (14mm Front & 11mm rear) The SS springs off my R50 are 13mm Front & 10.5mm rear. They are right about 135 lb/in. That's for a late 2002 R50 with 5spd w. sunroof & 15" Holies.

I tried the 200 lb/in TSW's with SS+ shocks & they offer a great real-world compromise. They will not lower an SS R50 a lot (I got -5mm F -16/17mm R) but having wheel travel really helps the handling and ride compared to other springs I tried Haven't tried bigger bars F/R with softer springs so i can't comment on that combination.

 

Definitely on to something [above]... if the stock R50 comes with run-flats--I have no idea--try nonrun-flats. He could go to smaller rim diameter and increase sidewall on tires. Lighter rims could help.

Or, make him drive an MCS with SS for a week. Sometimes it's just relative...

dan

 

if interested I have a MCS SS suspension (springs and shocks) as well as a stock S rear sway bar for sale in the market place that would be an improvement over the standard Cooper springs and shocks

 

hey don,

my thoughts....

19mm adjustable rear sway and high perf. non runflats is prolly the easiest/best way to go here. you know i have coilovers and am about 1.5" lower. i just think that changing spring rates and ride height introduces a lot of variables that someone looking for a stock ride or softer is gonna fuss over

btw, softening the suspension is gonna introduce more roll....not good. lastly, just to make sure the economy gets some stimulation, i have purchased swift coilover replacement springs for my bc's. they come in a wide spectrum of settings...even 0.5 kg increments! top shelf stuff! http://www.swiftsprings.com/

hope that is helpful. keep me posted...you know where to find me

 

Thanks everyone for the comments and recommendations.

Tim, let me know how those swifts change the BC coil-overs. Should work well with your new wheels and tires.

I wonder if you will be 2 or 3 seconds faster on track?

I will let you know what Tom decides to do with his Cooper. He is talking with TSW.

Thanks all, Don

 

ha ha.....more track time and hp wil help too

my move to swifts actually had more to do with daily driving than the track.

the tsw people certainly know their stuff and are friendly and responsive.... sounds like you friend will be in good hands