This is aimed at autocrossers but anyone is welcome to share their knowledge.

From what I've seen, a lot of people run square set ups and some even stiffer front.

This is new to me as my previous FWD car was an RSX. Stock spring rates were 284F/414R and the general rule was make the rear 75-100% stiffer than front.

Now I'm leaning towards the Koni Coilovers here
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...coilovers.html
Due to price and brand. But I don't know the spring rates, and don't see anywhere that I can order custom ones

Alternatively, to be in the know I may go with Fortune Auto 500's.
http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/part...ration_4/20601
Off the shelf rates are 6K/4K but I would definitely raise the rear rate to 6 minimum.

I am considering just getting Koni yellows and running springs or sleeves.
I didn't see ground control offering these on their site but they are here on HPF
http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/part...ilovers/-/1027
I assume custom rates can be ordered but don't see the option

The only regular springs I like are the TSW
http://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-min...6-r55-r57.html
Since their rates are supposed to be linear and it gives just enough drop. But what are they?

If you have none of the aforementioned please let us know what you're running and how well its working

 

Why you no reply?

 

Those Konis you linked to just look like Koni sports with a GC sleeve on them. Also, I would stay away from those because of the springs. The larger front springs could really limit your tire sizes as you'll be rubbing on spring/perches.

We run the TC Kline Double Adjustable setup with Vorshlag camber plates. Stock swaybars. 350f/350r. We tried 450f/350r but didn't like it.

EDIT: I don't know why people like the Fortune 500s. They do the same thing on the STI Forums. People think that because they post up a shock dyno chart that suddenly they're these great shocks. They're not. The adjustability just isn't really there to tune the shock for different surfaces/grip levels/setups/etc. without sending them off to get them entirely revalved.

Unfortunately the off the shelf shock options for R56 minis just aren't that great. So you're looking at custom Konis/AST/Penske/etc. and that's some serious $$$

 

I guess I'm still in the RSX mentality. There are VERY few quality set ups and just having the ability to select your own spring rates is a big deal so Fortune popped up.

And yea someone else turned me off of the Koni coilovers saying that the springs bind.

I'm leaning towards Koni yellow shocks and Swift Spec R springs but I'd like to find the actual spring rates on TSW's before pulling the trigger.

 

Well to be honest there aren't that many quality coilover setups out there for the mini either (IMO). The Koni yellows are a great option. I would suggest pairing them with the JCW springs though as that would be a stock/street class legal option. The Swift R springs would move you to STX where you'd be far outgunned with just shocks/springs.

 

I guess I'm bias being a long time scca junkie in Sts st stc civics

I would say a good "starter feeler" would be the koni coilover from out motoring

As you progress the koni can be serviced and modified to your needs.

But i have no experience with that setup so v10 advice would make these not a good idea

The only true way to figure out setup is find out motion ratio etc etc haha

I don't know any of that, but we run 500 all around and played with sway bars (no front)

Also your gonna want high end set up anyways ohlins/2way konis/ alll the fancy brands JRZ etc

 

Yea I kind of want JCW springs to stay legal in stock class but I already run a Miata in RTRCS.

I want to drop the Mini a bit.

 

my tsw's improve the ride a whole lot and there is more "fun" driving the car, though the front doesn't sit as low as I'd like. since the springs are linear, I cut about 3-4" off the top coil to lower it just a hair, seems good now, rides just as good and won't bottom out with the modified bump stops. i wouldn't cut springs of any other type though, and not more than only a few inches of coil. bang for the buck i'd certainly go with them.

you can't go wrong with koni's either, great struts....

 

Well I wanted to find out the spring rates but the guy on the phone (nice guy) said that they won't give that out since people will copy them.

Seems quite paranoid cause he wouldn't give ANY info about them other than being linear.

 

What class do you want to run in? The JCW suspension conversion is legal in H Stock and D Stock for all 07+ Coopers, Cooper S, and JCWs.

I run the JCW springs over TrueChoice double adjustable Konis with the JCW front bar and the Tarret Engineering rear bar in RTF D Stock. The car is amazing with this setup and still perfectly comfortable for the street. I generally place top 10 in PAX locally vs many nationally competitive local drivers, with a PAX win here and there.

The car can be very competitive in HS, DS, and RTF, all of which you can only have at most the JCW suspension conversion for. The regular Cooper can be very competive in STF, and in that class you could consider coilover kits and custom spring rates. But IMO, the Minis will not be very competitive in any other class where coilovers or custom springs are permitted.

 

TBH it's really just a back up. I'm using the Miata for autocross.

I'd most likely run STX and hope that the RX8's break.

 

Well I finally installed the Koni Yellows and Swift Spec R's.

They are great so far; still needs an alignment.

Only problem is the SPC front plates couldn't work with Koni's. The adjuster **** gets in the way. So until I figure something out, I won't have enough front camber.