what can you guys tell me about these and there diferences? im interested in combining them with H&R suspension or NM suspension... you guys tell me! i want it for the looks, better handling and comfort (thats why im not looking into coilovers)
Koni yellow is firmer and also adjustable and appropriate for lowered MINIs.
Koni FSD will give a softer ride while maintaining good control due to differing
dampening rates regarding slow and fast movements of the suspsension.
The FSD shocks are designed to work with stock ride height springs, and are
not recommended for lowered suspensions.
If you want looks, go for the Yellows with a lowering spring set.
If you want best handling, go for the Yellows with stock springs.
If you want comfort, go for the FSD with stock springs.
You can't have all three in equal measure.
Koni FSD will give a softer ride while maintaining good control due to differing
dampening rates regarding slow and fast movements of the suspsension.
The FSD shocks are designed to work with stock ride height springs, and are
not recommended for lowered suspensions.
If you want looks, go for the Yellows with a lowering spring set.
If you want best handling, go for the Yellows with stock springs.
If you want comfort, go for the FSD with stock springs.
You can't have all three in equal measure.
3rd Gear
Cristo, you think Koni Yellows + stock springs handles better than Koni Yellows with a good set of aftermarket springs? Nothing too low, but for example the new Swift springs, or NM?
I couldn't find info on drop or spring rates on Swift - their data sheet just has blank spaces for the MINI application
http://www.swiftsprings.com/file/ss.pdf
The NM are listed as 1.2" drop, no info on spring rates.
I realize that almost no one publishes their spring rates.
I think that a 1.2 inch drop is mild enough that geometry changes are not a major
concern, but losing that suspension travel may hurt handling on less than smooth roads,
unless the spring rate is about 20% stiffer than stock springs.
So I guess my answer is an official maybe, maybe not.
Living in PA with potholes and snow I know what I'd pick (stock springs).
http://www.swiftsprings.com/file/ss.pdf
The NM are listed as 1.2" drop, no info on spring rates.
I realize that almost no one publishes their spring rates.
I think that a 1.2 inch drop is mild enough that geometry changes are not a major
concern, but losing that suspension travel may hurt handling on less than smooth roads,
unless the spring rate is about 20% stiffer than stock springs.
So I guess my answer is an official maybe, maybe not.
Living in PA with potholes and snow I know what I'd pick (stock springs).
OVERDRIVE
I have Koni Yellows and NM springs. Very vvery good combination. Very comfortable but firm ride. Even at the tightest setting they are not that bad.
You should check out our TSW springs, they work great with stock shocks, but using Koni Yellows will improve it even more.
2nd Gear
Impossible to separate the springs from the dampers, but yellows and H&R springs are a mighty fine combination. Not too harsh for nearly all surfaces.
How do you think the stock "Sport Suspension" springs would work with the Koni FSD's? Not interested in lowering.
Both the Sport Suspension and the Sport Suspension Plus springs should work fine with the FSDs.
In fact, they're among the very few springs that Koni would recommend for use with the FSDs.
Koni recommends only stock ride height springs for FSDs on the MINI.
In fact, they're among the very few springs that Koni would recommend for use with the FSDs.
Koni recommends only stock ride height springs for FSDs on the MINI.
3rd Gear
Quote:
In fact, they're among the very few springs that Koni would recommend for use with the FSDs.
Koni recommends only stock ride height springs for FSDs on the MINI.
What do you mean by "Sport Suspension Plus" springs? Originally Posted by cristo
Both the Sport Suspension and the Sport Suspension Plus springs should work fine with the FSDs.In fact, they're among the very few springs that Koni would recommend for use with the FSDs.
Koni recommends only stock ride height springs for FSDs on the MINI.
I have stock MCS springs and Koni Sport shocks and am very satisfied with ride and handling. Next mod is camber plates, then maybe JCW suspension springs.
Yes, whats the difference between "Sport Suspension" & "Sport Suspension Plus"??
If you do not want to change your ride height then what are the advantages of camber plates?
If you do not want to change your ride height then what are the advantages of camber plates?
For the Gen I MINIs, the MC has Sport Suspension standard and
Sport Suspension Plus as an option, and the MCS has Sport Suspension Plus standard.
The difference is about 10% higher spring rates - same height, plus stiffer shocks and
slightly bigger anti-sway bars - it basically upgrades the MC suspension to the MCS suspension.
Over in Europe, where they have the entry level MINI One, that model has
Standard Supspension standard and Sport Suspension as an option, and
Sport Suspension Plus is not an option.
I don't know if they carried over the SS, SS+ nomenclature to the Gen II MINIs or not.
Camber plates will raise ride height a little depending on the model, but the main advantage of camber plates
is being able to adjust camber, which doesn't necessarily have much to do with ride height (at least in the front).
You don't have to lower the car to benefit (improve cornering ability) from adding some more negative camber to the front.
Sport Suspension Plus as an option, and the MCS has Sport Suspension Plus standard.
The difference is about 10% higher spring rates - same height, plus stiffer shocks and
slightly bigger anti-sway bars - it basically upgrades the MC suspension to the MCS suspension.
Over in Europe, where they have the entry level MINI One, that model has
Standard Supspension standard and Sport Suspension as an option, and
Sport Suspension Plus is not an option.
I don't know if they carried over the SS, SS+ nomenclature to the Gen II MINIs or not.
Camber plates will raise ride height a little depending on the model, but the main advantage of camber plates
is being able to adjust camber, which doesn't necessarily have much to do with ride height (at least in the front).
You don't have to lower the car to benefit (improve cornering ability) from adding some more negative camber to the front.
Looking at the current configurator on MINIUSA.com, it looks like they now
have a standard and a slightly stiffer Sport Suspension on the current models.
The FSD shocks should work fine with either the standard or the Sport Suspension option.
have a standard and a slightly stiffer Sport Suspension on the current models.
The FSD shocks should work fine with either the standard or the Sport Suspension option.
Quote:
Sport Suspension Plus as an option, and the MCS has Sport Suspension Plus standard.
The difference is about 10% higher spring rates - same height, plus stiffer shocks and
slightly bigger anti-sway bars - it basically upgrades the MC suspension to the MCS suspension.
Over in Europe, where they have the entry level MINI One, that model has
Standard Supspension standard and Sport Suspension as an option, and
Sport Suspension Plus is not an option.
I don't know if they carried over the SS, SS+ nomenclature to the Gen II MINIs or not.
Camber plates will raise ride height a little depending on the model, but the main advantage of camber plates
is being able to adjust camber, which doesn't necessarily have much to do with ride height (at least in the front).
You don't have to lower the car to benefit (improve cornering ability) from adding some more negative camber to the front.
All I know is that there was the "Standard" suspension, the "Sport Suspension" and the "JCW Suspension" packages.Originally Posted by cristo
For the Gen I MINIs, the MC has Sport Suspension standard and Sport Suspension Plus as an option, and the MCS has Sport Suspension Plus standard.
The difference is about 10% higher spring rates - same height, plus stiffer shocks and
slightly bigger anti-sway bars - it basically upgrades the MC suspension to the MCS suspension.
Over in Europe, where they have the entry level MINI One, that model has
Standard Supspension standard and Sport Suspension as an option, and
Sport Suspension Plus is not an option.
I don't know if they carried over the SS, SS+ nomenclature to the Gen II MINIs or not.
Camber plates will raise ride height a little depending on the model, but the main advantage of camber plates
is being able to adjust camber, which doesn't necessarily have much to do with ride height (at least in the front).
You don't have to lower the car to benefit (improve cornering ability) from adding some more negative camber to the front.
Our 2009 Justa Cooper has the Standard Suspension. Our 2011 MCS has the Sport Suspension Package and there is a very noticeable difference in ride/handling. The Justa has the 19mm Alta Swaybar on the middle setting and the MCS has the 22mm bar on the softest setting; both handle very well but if camber plates would help the next question would be, what brand??
Thanks for the input Cristo!