AST shocks and Swift springs question
 

Hey guys. I was wondering if a AST sportline II shock with Swift springs would be a good combo for my car which is mainly used for daily driving and a few HPDE's a year. If so, what spring rates would be a good compromise for my usage also? Also will i need any reinforcement strut plates later on since the roads in san francisco aren't that great in the first place. Thanks!

NintenTom,

I think that is the line marketed in Europe. It looks like it is similar to the AST 4100-4200 series here. Check out this website: http://www.ast-usa.com/

I have no experience with the 4000 series. But I can say the AST 5100 with Hyperco springs (450 in/lb F & R) is great. My first opentrack this year at wgi is coming up this weekend so I will know much more next week.

You do not need strut plates if you have fixed or adjustable camber plates which you will need to get more negative camber for the track.

BTW, forgot to mention that probably 350 in/lb F&R would be a good compromise.

I wasn't aware that Hyperco made springs for the R56 already. Which ones would ride more comfortably for the street in this case? The swifts or hypercos?

I got mine at www.vorshlag.com. Speak with Terry when you call. His bio is on line.

All prices and different combo for springs are listed there as well. You should get the camber plates and rear mounts. I have the GTS setup for springs which is a race setup.

Hyperco was recommend by a number of differnet people including Terry and racers at the track among others over swift for this application.

AST's use standard coilover springs, so there is no need for a Mini specific Hyperco spring.

You won't be able to feel a difference between Swift and Hyperco. They're both the best coilover springs available. You also probably won't be able to feel a difference between those 2 and Eibach, the 3rd best coilover spring out there. Hyperco and Swift are a bit better, but it's not a huge difference.

Contact werkin-mini for ASTs....they've done some good stuff and know the line well.

350/350 sounds good to me, and I'd get some camber plates up front as well.

- Andrew

I think the Hyperco spring I have is standard off the shelf and not specific for the Mini. I just went with the majority recomendations for Hyperco including yours Andyroo. I heard Swift was a really good spring as well but I have not tried it.

PS: 450 in/lb F&R is a little stiff for DD.

Just to throw it up, i'm assuming the AST shocks would rape the performance of Bilstein sport shocks with swift/hyperco springs? I'm still undecided at the moment if i'm ready to invest in this setup or start out with something else first like a bilstein/swift setup etc. The setup for my previous car (E46 3 series) was koni yellows/eibach springs and i loved the comfort and performance of that already. Any insights?

The advantage of AST is height adjustability. Also rebound adjustability is from the bottom without having to remove the suspension especially from the rear. According to Terry, the shock dampening is tuned specifically for the Mini.

Have to say that with shocks more than twice as stiff as OEM, the ride is better than stock on the street. I think it is close to Koni fsd for comfort on the street. That is at 2-3 clicks for DD. Add a few more clicks (twelve total) for the track and this is just incredible. The turn in is just astounding. I can post a little more about track use after my open track at WGI this weekend.

+1 On WERKIN MINI, that is where I got my AST's and Keith was a big help. Every now and then I still even get an email from him.:thumbsup:

keith's absolutely awesome to do business with, such a nice guy, and helpful.

I had AST + Swift setup on my R53, and the Bilstein PSS10 on my R56. I think that the Bilsteins are the better of the two. I would love to see what the Swift Springs would be like on my PSS10s. I'm not a fan of progressives, and they are a little soft I think. I'd like to try 8kg/mm fr and 6kg/mm rr linear swift springs, I reckon it'd be amazing

The 8K swifts might be a little stiff for anybody looking for streetability over max performance. I have the Swift 80s on my setup and I'm lifting the rear tires going diagnal through dips, but in the canyons they are amasing. For someone like the OP who is looking mostly for a day to day, go with the 60s or compromise with the 70s for a little more on track performance.

Sorry for sounding like a noob, but when you're referring to 60s, 70s, 80s etc, is this referring to the model number or the spring rate etc.? :confused:

edit: also looks like i'm leaning towards the bilsteins since i really want to upgrade the suspension from stock soon and i'd like to stay within my budget for mods. I'm hoping the bilsteins/swifts will outperform the konis/swifts setup...

Oh for sure, I'm not denying that, I was talking more about what I want, lol (selfishly).

Yes, I had the 6kg/mm swifts on my R53, they rode beautifully.

The ASTs were a great setup as well (I didn't mention that on my earlier post). I loved them.

OP, The numbers that I was talking about are actually Swift's way of marking the spring rate. The higher the number = Higher rate = Stiffer ride. Most tend to produce 6-7K springs for your average aftermarket suspension kits, and I have noticed that most users of this forum prefer the lower rates.:thumbsup:

I don't think there are Swifts for stock or aftermarket fixed perch struts (meaning non-coilovers) for R56, only the older R53. They may have released them but I've only seen the R53 listed.

A Swift 60 coilover spring = 6kg.

6k/6k in my opinion is a good "do it all" set-up. I'd be tempted to go even lower (5k/5k) since the Mini is so light and can't fit much tire anyway.

- Andrew

Swift 060, 070, 080, etc. = rate in Newton millimeters

060 = 60 N/mm http://www.hraefn.net/projects/spring_rates.php

Can anyone confirm this? If the Swifts really don't work with the R56, does Hyperco make springs that work for non-coilovers?

I think Hyperco does not have anything for the OEM perches either.

I thought you were interested in the ASTs?

I was but some things came up and now i'm changing plans. Maybe AST's later down the line after i graduate and get a salary-based job. :thumbsup:

If it was me, I would make sure I have plenty of reserves before getting "extras" for the car.

Already have some saved up. Working on the funds for after the warranty ends already ( standard warranty plus that optional 3 year extended maintenance plan on the car currently). Slowly building that one up already heh; i guess that's my 'rainy day car fund.'