A friend of mine who is very knowledgeable about Japanese cars said that unless the strut dampeners are changed along with the springs, they will have a very short life span - possibly a few months. Is this true with MINIs?

 

Every damper has a power band, an area of optimal performance. The closer dampers come to operating outside their power band, the more quickly they will wear. How low is too low depends on the damper, but Bilstein HD dampers for example are not ideally suited to any lowering application - as one example. An inch might be fine for some dampers while not for others.

I have some internal doubts about mating our stock MCS dampers with H-Sports. I'm told by some very knowledgable folks not to worry about an inch.

 

I think the issue is the dampers and springs that come on a lot of japanese cars. Our Civic has soft dampers, and really soft springs. If you go and lower the car 2+" and increase the spring rate by a factor of 3 or 4 - which is not unusual for a lowering spring on a Civic - you will blow your dampers very fast.

The Mini already has very stiff springs, and dampers that control them very well. I think the Mini's dampers will be much more tolerant of an aftermarket spring than our comfy, high-riding Civic dampers would.

Better dampers are always good, though If I was going to tear my suspension apart to replace the springs, I'd get new dampers while I was at it. But that's just me :smile:

 

I had my Mini lowered 30MM (approx 1.3 in) last April and have put on over 10,000 miles simce then I have not incurred any problems with the struts. I asked about excess stut wear with the place that installed my springs (Direct wheels in Los Alimetos, CA), additionally I talked to a tech rep from Vogland springs who concurred that lowering a mini 30MM would not cause excess wear on the stuts.

 

2" plus is a lot. At that point you would be better off having dampers custom made. There are also two considerations here; one lowering the car too far, and really heavy spring rates. A factor of 3-4? 600lb - 800lb springs??? This combination is asking the dampers to work outside of their performance envelope, and, to handle (much) heavier spring rates. Siting just one scenerio; when the body of a car compresses a spring and damper as it moves thru its motions, the damper's rebound force controls how quickly the spring rebounds. If the damper is not well matched, the spring will ocillate many times before rebounding, placing extra strain on the damper. It too will cycle thru a number of extra unwanted rebound/compression strokes.

Rice burners have earned dubious accolades, and the above points to at least one reason; too low, too stiff

 

I had the M7 springs installed.

 

Ech, who cares. If the dampers go south, install new, better ones. Life's too short to worry about stuff like this. Make the changes and enjoy. Screw the naysayers.

Now, if a mod threatens the engine, that gets my attention. Can't afford a new engine just for fun.

 

Or...because life is short, do it correctly as soon as possible and enjoy the quality of the experience.

 

EXACTLY! I hate half-*** stuff. I like to do it right from the beginning.

 

Rick,

Really, I am told by some well respected folk here, Venders too, that our stock dampers can handle H-Sport springs. I just need to clarify a point written in a couple of posts regarding (some) camber plates and their potential to raise the front end. I won't like that.

Ciao,

Michael

 

I think the only high wear item resulting from lowering the suspension will be that little plastic thing that hangs down under the front end which is nearly gone on my stock springs/Koni set-up!

I think the stock shocks are too soft but the springs are fine.

 

FWIW, I ran my H&R springs for a year on the stock dampers... no issues, and the H&R's provide a bigger drop than most other lowering springs.

 

It all depends on the spring rate and how you drive your car.

:smile:

 

Yea, but was the ride overly bouncy? My concerns are the same. Just changing springs on the MINI can shorten the life, but is the ride a all over bouncy mess? I mean the ride is REALLY stiff as is right now. I cant imagine it getting any stiffer. If you hit a bump it bangs hard.

 

Yes, the H&R's were bouncy with the factory struts... I've since switched to Bilstein SP struts and everything's nice again!

 

anyone know how the ride compares between H-Sport and M7 springs with stock shocks? I keep hearing that the H-Sport springs make the ride more bouncy, is this the same with M7 springs (better or worse)?

 

The M7 springs are supposedly smoother than stock :smile:

 

This getting to be back and forth. One person swears by the springs, the next says the ride is bouncy. Bouncy ride = bad.

All in all, when it comes down to it...coilovers are the only way to go.

 

that's a quite a bit of leap in comment. :smile: Need to choose the right
springs to go with the struts and you're set. coilovers can get very
stiff and 'bouncy' for people too. It's all perception.

Im happy with the H-Sports on stock struts. I don't call it bouncy at all.

 

I can attest to more than a few coilover kits that were 'bouncy'. Bouncy is also a personal perception; defining its character is elusive at best.

Now, I'm not a suspension engineer, but from my experience extra oscillations or bouncing is the result of too little rebound control; springs compress under load and their rebound must be controlled by the dampers. The degree of sophistication with which one damper achieves better damping over another has much to do with its rate, and, strength of rebound control. True coilover systems can be better than mix and match systems, but there is no guarantee.

In my experience, Bilstein and Tokico have provided incredible ride and handling compromises for every day aggressive/sport driving. There was always enough compliance to handle bumps and undulations without upsetting path accuracy and enough damping to control body and spring motions.

If I can wait, I'll probaly match H-sports with either Bilstein Sp or Tokico's up coming damper. I need to find out what the spring rates are for the H$R mentioned above as a way of reconciling how the SP dampers might work with H-sports??? Any help?

 

Every ride i have ever been in that have coilovers have NEVER been bouncy. As far as coilovers go, tein, billstein, and any other top names. I've been in cars with those 2 and its never been anywhere close to bouncy.

I'd definately have to say Billstein is the way to go. but, of course more $$

 

I think "bouncieness" has more to do with the dampers themselves than whether or not the dampers are part of a "coilover" system. Tein and Bilstien both make darn good dampers.

 

I agree..but not everyone here knows the difference of explaining
a harsh ride vs bouncy ride.


Bouncy usually means that the springs are under damped causing undulations.

Harsh usually means that the car is using high spring rate and damers to match. but people's heads are bouncing around each bump so they think it's 'bouncy.' :smile:

 

mmm, coilovers would be nice

 

I remember reading some posts from long-term H-sport spring owners and they have noted how the stock shocks definitely do wear out eventually, negatively affecting the handling and ride quality. Maybe in the first year all is fine but I'm sure after that time things will start to go blah.