This is my setup 08 MCS with factory limited slip
Cross Coilover - I cant go any lower on height
Helix rear control arm
H&R rear sway 19mm - set on stiff
Camber - front = -1.4 to -1.6 toe 0.10
rear = -1.8 toe 0.16
total toe is 0.21

i think i have to get more aggressive in the front.
I went to a local speed shop. I will not say their name. Located in socal. Pure POS experience... the guy didnt even know i had a camber plate in the front and tells me that he cannot make it more negative. I told him just forget it. I got ripped off...


When im doing a S curve, right - left or left-right transition just sucks.. car wobbles and leans too much.

Should I
1) Redo alignment - what settings do you guys recommend? I do spirited daily driving.
2) stiffen up the chasis come how and get rear strut or front strut?
3) better tires in 17 inch.. lower profile


i know stiffening the front will induce more understeer but the car feels not "planted"
Also, when im entering a turn, i have so much body roll (doesnt feel planted) and front tires grip too much and if i tab the gas, it wants to twitch.. does that make sense?

Please help

 

aren't the shocks adjustable

 

dampening yes.. out of 15, i set mine up at F10/R10 any more is too stiff on freeway.. hurts my back.. lol

 

Your camber measurements are fine, but I'm not sure on the toe measurement: is that in degrees, inches, or what?

You have all the right hardware bits [except for decent springs i.e. Swift], but apparently your damper settings and coilover adjustments are severely out of whack. By "can't go lower" do you have any measurements of ride height [axle to wheel arch]? Going too low will induce understeer, but not instability. How are the coilovers setup in terms of spring pre-load and damper firmness?

I'm going to venture a guess that you need to bring it to a real suspension setup guru that's local. I'd be happy to help but distance is a hurdle.

also, FWIW, it's "damping", not "dampening". The latter is the process of getting something wet.

 

LOL my bad. oops.. dampening i meant..
When i say "cant go any lower", i meant in terms of height of the car.

Toe measurements are in degrees. So you think alignment is some what correct?

Im on 16inch oem wheels w 205/50/16 tires, i have 1.5x index finger gap with wheel arch and tires in the front. It isnt that low i dont think.

I wish someone can drive my car around and diagnose and fine tune... too bad you are far away.

Ill take my car to Danny @ MINICORSA here in socal and see what he says...

What "settings" do you recommend on the JIC Cross coilover?

 

I currently run this setup on my mini... It's agresdive without destroying tread on the tires... I say it's worth a try, works just fine for me then I up my camber front to -3 and rear to -2 for track days...
Front -1.75 camber
-0.10 toe
Rear -1.75 camber

I hope that helps some...
0.20 toe

 

I think ill try to get more aggressive alignment..

thanks for the help.. i guess i just need to fine tune it alittle more..
what tires are you running? size?

 

Michelin pilot sport ps2 215/40-17

 

maybe thats the biggest difference... lol i have Goodyear F1 in 205/50/16 softer sidewalls... maybe ill setup my alignment to wear out my tires faster so that i can get 17s inch wheels/tires

So you guys think hardware is good and its just tuning my suspension?

 

From now on change one thing at a time ...for fine tuning

Remember suspension is a compromise.
If you set up for on function you may be off elsewhere.
F1 sets up for the fastest corner and the slowest ...everything else is a compromise.

Here are some items to thing about.
Stock the MINI has quite a bit of rake (low front) many, when going to coilovers flatten the rake .. looks good but actually moves the ballance to the rear.

Stiffer springs may help. or try this (may seem backward) back off on the fronts ... go softer on your adjustment... this will help the front bite better.

You may also want to use the stiff rear bar at auto-x where you want the rear end to "come round" that may be to stiff for track / street

Sounds like you have good "bits"

Our 2 cars are different. For autocross and track we set one of our cars on 15" wheels and the other is on 17s. 17s arn't always best. Heck for Auto - x I would go to 13" if I could. 17s arn't going to fix a problem
fine tuning is where your at.

http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...b00c089576.jpg

 

Thanks for the info.

I know 17s arent the answer.. i was just trying to get better looking wheels for street use.. hahah

I do like your thoughts on the front.. im gonna go adjust it right now and test it out on the road... ill set it around 5 out of 15 and leave the rear at 13 and see how that feels..

I know i need a good alignment regardless.. need to take it to a alignment guru... know any in socal?

 

Adjustable endlinks really, REALLY help in fast left-right and right-left transitions (especially slaloms), as you take preload out of the swaybars...

 

Really helped when I took off the preload off the sway bars. I think the Cross coilovers came with fronts, but I added the rear ones. Makes sense that as you adjust the coilovers up or down, you need to adjust the load on the bars.

Not easy adjusting them with the car on the ground, but it can be done. Easier on a lift that the wheels sit on it and you can get under it.

 

Some guys are suggesting that i raise my car just a tad bit to have more travel on the suspension. I dont think im that low. I measured it (the finger method ) and i have 2 finger gaps - index and middle)

Perhaps end links will help me.. im not sure if i have the fronts since i did not install the CROSS c/o myself. I dont think i got it (got it used with 1000 miles on it)

Im trying to go down to Minicorsa and discuss it with Danny. He's a track junky so he should give me few pointers..

 

Don't listen to any of "the guys" who are suggesting that you "raise my car just a tad bit to have more travel on the suspension"

This is NOT how the coilovers that you have adjust.

Ride height adjustment moves the entire unit up or down in its lower mount.
Does NOTHING to travel !
If adjusting Pre Load that will have some effect on ride height and yes travel... But not the intended method of ride height adjustment or what you should do to set springs..

The adjustable END LINKS are part of your Anti Roll Bar ... not the coil overs (well they bolt to them) they would not come with coilovers unless purchased in addition.

 

i dont think its that low...

 

Great thread! Lots of good info here. I don't have any suspenseion mods as of yet, but they will come in due time.

 

er... can you please elaborate on ths further please.

If the car is sitting flat, to me there isn't any pre-load/pre-tension on the ARBs....... to my understanding anyways.

And while in a corner, the pre-load is there which the th result of the ARB working......

I'm lost here.