For a daily driver, which type of lowering springs gives the better ride, progressive or linear?

 

Typically, progressive springs provide a "smoother" ride.
Reason being is that small compressions on the spring don't exert back excessive jolts back.
As the spring is compressed farther, the spring rate increases; mainly due to dead-coil bottoming out actively changing the spring rate.

- Erik

 

Lowering springs and better ride are mutually exclusive. Lowering springs are going to reduce the suspension travel on an already very short suspension. You will gain some handling performance, but the ride quality will not be better.

 

I am subscribing to this thread.

 

Okay, so the title is a little misleading. My point here is that I couldn't find any quality springs that don't lower the car. IMHO I think the aftermarket suppliers are missing an opportunity here. At least the first supplier to come out with them would have a monopoly.

I have the TSW springs setting in a box waiting for installation so I can't give you an opinion on the ride quality yet. The ride had better be good or my wife will not be happy. I picked the TSW (linear) over the NM (progressive) simply based on ride height. The consensus seems to be that they both provide a better ride than stock.

I think MINI33342 is right in that losing suspension travel is never a good thing, but I also know that if you lose that travel with upgraded components it is still possible to get lower and better. The less travel you have, the better your components had better be.

 

If by "better ride" you mean more car-like vs track oriented you are wrong. Any lowering spring is going to affect the ride by upping the spring rate to compensate for a shorter suspension. This is going to create a "harder" ride. If that is acceptable, great. Going with better dampers is really going to affect the ride quality more than the springs will. Most have found that the Koni FSD's work really, really well with the TSW springs to try and maintain the OEM ride quality.

 

But what if OEM ride quality sucks? Your saying you can't improve over OEM? I would bet FSD's with TSW's are both lower and better. By better I mean soaking up the little road imperfections better as well as resist bottoming out more effectively.

I am hoping I can say the same with the Bilstein HD's and TSW's. I'll know in a month or so if they ever ship my order.

 

All things equal, yes, lowering is mutually exclusive with ride quality.

However, if the OEM suspension system has so much contact with the bumpstops (as ours does). Increasing the spring rate significantly, while lowering a slight amount (like TSW's springs) will improve ride quality, as you do not hit the bumpstops as often.

 

I was looking at releasing a spring that offered minimal lower (5 to 10mm) and a nice bump in spring rate around 250 lbs/in, but there was very little interest in it unfortunately. Especially for R56. That would be quite the set-up with Bilstein HDs or Konis in my opinion.

The other thing I would say is that all OEM fitment springs for the Mini will behave progressively because of the bumpstop interaction.

I do think with the right spring rates, a spring with a mild drop can improve ride quality. Possibly. But those same rates without dropping the car will be better. EDIT: etalj touched on this.

The OEM shock valving isn't very good either though, and that's part of the equation. It's tough. The OEM ride isn't very good. I think with good shocks and good springs you can improve it. Don't know what that combo is for R56 though.

- Andrew

 

I'd buy a set. Your probably right though, seems like there is a significant group of mini enthusiests who belong to the "Fast and Furious" mind set.

I'm not knocking them, it is just that I would think there is another group of mini owners who belong to the grand touring group. Making your mini as comfortable, composed, quiet and powerful as possible. I am not sure how you reach that group though, probably a lot older and don't spend as much time on forums like this one.

I would be curious to know what the average/median age is of the mini owner, and the average age of the mini owner on this forum.

I'm 47.

 

I'm 62. I originally thought that the JCW suspension is the way to go for DD and a bit of HPDE track. I have since changed my mind and think Billy HDs and a good 19mm rear SWB with a bit of negative camber might be best.
Damn car still ain't here so.........its all mere speculation.

 

Billys with ireland engineering fixed front camber plates would be my starting point, then maybe add the rear bar if you like. That should be a great handling set-up and still comfortable.

I'm 25.

- andrew

 

GRAND TOURING!! Now there's a term I thought I'd never see used on NAM or anywhere else for that matter. I'm 66 and when I started modding my MINI a little GT was what I was aiming for. I somehow managed to get it just right. Balanced performance for comfortable high speed long distance fun. Did a 5K run last fall and when I got home and got the laundry done, I was ready to go again! Instead, I'll have to wait for a 6K "run" in May. Took 2yrs and some mistakes, but take a look at my sig. for what finally made my GT. Only two people have driven it since I finished and both made the same comment: OMG, this feels like a totally different car!

 

Wow Dwight, looking at your list of mods, you have been busy. I would say it feels like a totally different car, because it is! Sharp.

Looking at your Gallery, I must concur that Southwestern Colorado and South Eastern Utah is a beautiful area to tour. Headed there this spring on a Kawasaki Concours 14, my other GT.

 

I heard someone say "It's better than an R56!" while driving Dwight's Beelzebub.