[FONT=Arial]In all the articles I’ve read on improving handling for the MINI, adding wheel spacers is never mentioned. Are wheel spacers a bad idea or maybe not allowed for track events?[/FONT]

 

I use 5mm H&R spacers with longer lug bolts. I use them so that my wheels come out to the edge of the fenders and are no longer sunk into the car.

You must not use 10mm spacers on our cars because they essentially cancel out the hub-centric ring. I think H&R might sell 15mm spacers that include an extended hub, but 15mm might be too wide for fender clearance.

Although it is true that spacers can do a little for handling, most would use them to gain clearance for different rims.

 

i have 15mm H&R fronts to clear my brakes with my rims... I think it messed with my geometry as i didnt put the rears on cause it rubbed too much... ima end up machining 3inches off for the front and rears hopefully it ends my suspension geometry problems! I feel like it doesnt handle quite as well as turn in characteristics arent quite as good. it feels less peppy around the twisties :(

 

I put 15mm H&Rs front & back (with longer bolts) to bring the wheels out to the finders about a month ago. I like the look, but I'm not sure if the handeling is better or worst. The Steering seems not quite as accurate and the steering feedback is not as good. The only suspension mods on my 06MCS are front strut bar, UUS , and 19mm rear bar set on the hardest setting.

 

I run 10mm H&R spacers front and rear. No noticeable change in handling for me.

I only put them on there to clear a set of Brembo calipers I installed behind 17" Enkei RPF1s. I also needed to use longer lug bolts.

 

Is it normal to feel the steering become heavier after spacers are installed?

 

sounds reasonable... if you think about holding a bar with a wheel on the end of it. If the bar gets longer, it will be harder to turn it. I don't know how much heavier we're talking, but it probably would get a bit heavier.
Oh, and I'm not a mechanic and really don't know anything except basic physics.

 

Makes sense to me! The more I drive it, the less hefty it feels and the more planted it feels! All in all, a great modification for under $100!

 

It makes sense that you could feel a difference, especially depending on your alignment setting.
However, I did not notice a difference when I added 15mm spacers but at the same time I added a BBK which removed 4 lbs from each wheel plus my alignment settings are probably much different than yours.

 

Yeah, from your list of mods you def. look like you have put some work into the alignment section of your ride! Are you lowered quik?

 

Hey how did you get 10mm spacers?
Thought that 10mm was not do-able?

 

I am using JCW springs so lowered about 5/8".

 

Increasing track width will do incredible things for handling; distribution of work load between inside and outside tires is more equitable.

Increasing track width also increases roll resistance - Mac Strut. Increasing track width on an SLA set up will alter motion ratio.

Increasing track width will help bring the SAI closer to the tire's centroiod axis - where the self aligning torques are - good for feel. Avoid cneter point steering - SAI intersects the ground at the tire's center line...this will cause really spooky sensations. Be aware that the relationship between SAI and the contact patch changes as a tire deforms in a turn. Also, although center point steering isn't great for steering feel - because it dilutes a portion of the self aligning torque at the contact patch - but self aligning torque requires power to over come...gravity racers use center point steering and one experiment I witnessed was sobering; pos scrub vs neg scrub vs center point...center point was shockingly faster.

Increasing track width will soften camber curves...might have to add in more camber...might not. Regarding a mac strut; if the camber curve is softened then the front will not run out of neg camber as quickly...and since a wider track allows the front tires to perform more work, more camber may not be necessary.

Re roll resistance...increase front track increases initial turn-in understeer. Increasing rear track increases initial turn-in oversteer. However, in each case the tires will have more potential grip. Yes, you can control balance and grip with track width.

If track width is increased in the rear of a mini you will need to add in a little more neg camber to compensate.

My final set up was 23mm offset up front and 33 mm offset rear. don't look at those in a vacuum...there were other mods made.

Just in case old friends are reading in, my mini was totalled last December; catastrophic ABS failure during a 70mph panic stop. Car did 2 360s across two lanes of hughway traffic, hit another car and did 1 360 in the other direction...I somehow missed all of the big trucks. My neck and head hurt for a few weeks. Driving a boring A4 3.2 automatic...anyone got a cigar?

 

Great information, I'm thinking of adding this to my suspension list to be done all at once.