I'm not 100% sure on how the Mini is but the H&R lowering springs on Alta. Is it okay to lower your car without changing the struts? Wasn't sure if it was too hard on them.

Thanks

 

Short answer. it's fine.

 

Haha if my struts go out, I might hunt you down. Then again I cant keep a car more than 18 months lol.
8th vehicle, just turned 20 lmao. Government loves my vehicle sales tax money.

 

Seriously? Really? You are kidding...


Springs and struts//shocks work as a system. The shocks are valved for a specific spring rate that is divined by some test drivers, engineers, and some marketing weenies. In the case of the Mini, I believe that they were all conversing after an Oktoberfest gathering at a beer garden.

Anyway, lower springs should be stiffer springs. That's just the nature of suspension tuning. With a stiffer spring, you need a stiffer shock to control the spring.

Since the stock shocks, (I'll use that term for both shocks and struts to keep it simple), seems inadequate for the stock springs, do you really think they would work with a stiffer spring? Really?



Short answer is, a stiffer spring will cause your stock shock to wear out much sooner, because it will be under valved for the spring rate.

If you use shorter stiffer springs you should get better shocks and struts.


(I'm just a mechanical engineer and member of S.A.E. but what could I know?)

 

Nice trumpet you have...
Honest question, honest answer. I believe the nature of a question posted here is a fact-based answer (without the orchestral pontification). Your input is valuable, valid, and noted. I don't think anything was meant to be personal.

 

To break the tie, I'm with Richard on this.

What kelpqq might mean is that nothing really bad is likely to happen. Many have said they bought lowering springs and kept the OE shocks. Some have posted that they like the handling (as well as the lower look), the ride is fine, and they have tens of thousands of miles on their shocks. Such claims make me wonder though.

I think shorter and stiffer springs need shock valving and lengths matched to the new springs; otherwise the switch may result in loses in handling, ride compliance, and shock longevity. That's probably a major reason why coil-over kits are popular; they come with matched springs and shocks.

On the other hand, one can get lucky and end up with lowering springs that aren't so badly matched with the OE shocks. One can also buy separate aftermarket springs and shocks that are known to be a good match with one another. I did that with H&R lowering springs and Bilstein sport shocks on another car, and it worked out very well in every respect. A year later Bilstein came out with its PSS coil-over kit for my car.

I flunked out of mechanical engineering.

 

Jim and richard gets my vote. I am been tweeking my suspension for three years and finally have something that I like and it has nothing to do with stock shocks.

However, I did not bother to study mechanical engineering.

 

I agree, never said I didn't. I think much more goes in to accurately modifying suspension than drop springs. jim and richard are both on point as far as I'm concerned. It takes a lot of research, consultation, time, and money to do this right. I agree with richard and was simply commenting on the fact that nobody said he DIDN'T know.

That said, I'm not going to advocate being off-topic. I value opinions here, especially seasoned ones from those accredited appropriately (i.e. mechanical engineers, certified mechanics, etc.) I would like to reiterate my thanks to richard for the objective insight he provided, and I'm with him.

 

I've had the H&R's on since March on stock struts and shocks - work was done by a BMW tech on the side. He suggested that I change out the strut mounts so I had him do that at the same time.

I seem to be fine. I'm not exactly sure what would happen if things *weren't fine* but I'm very happy with the stance and handling. I've got 44,000 miles on the car so I should be able to get a few more miles out of them and then spring for the Bilsteins.

 

I'm planning on replacing the shocks eventually anyway, and put limited miles on the car (~8000KM/year.) so I'm going to gamble and get springs, and shocks when I need them.

 

You'll be just fine. I've got a 2006 Mercedes C230 Sport with H&R Sport Springs and stock shocks. Ride is just as smooth at 90,000 miles as it was at 25k when I put them on. I also had another car with Tein springs and stock shocks that I traded in at 125k. Not a single issue......