I just installed my set. I am unsure as to where would be a good starting point with dampner settings. Any tips you can give me will be most appreciated.

I am intending to use the car for Autocross and Open Track days. I have a set of 225/50/16 Victoracers.

 

For the two seasons that I used SPAX, I typically set them between 8 and 15 (same front and rear) for the street. For autocross, the rears were typically set at 26 to 28, and the fronts at 22 to 28, depending on course and surface. Once I installed the Quaife (second season) I was able to run the fronts a couple clicks stiffer than I did in the first season. On fairly smooth concrete, the car did well set at 28 all the way around.

Other important factors - RDR rear sway bar set at stiffest setting, Kosei K1 (16x7.5) with 215/45-16 Azenis, front camber -2.3, rear camber -1.8, zero toe all the way around. I typically don't slide the car around unless the course is really tight but prefer to really focus on line and inputs and try to keep all 4 tires right at the limit.

Good luck
Scott
90STX/SM

 

So you still running your Spax coils? Any problems? I remember you posted back when i asked about the Spax's.

 

The SPAX coilovers were removed last November and replaced by PSS9s. I removed the SPAX because both front dampers had damaged seals and lost all of their oil. The reason for the damaged seals was some pitting that developed on the shaft of each damper. Once the surface of the shaft is no longer smooth, the seals have a very limited life. That would be true of any damper, not just SPAX.

I strongly suspect that the pits developed due to damage resulting from multiple installations and removals while I was dealing with some camber plate development teething issues. The camber plates prevented me from using the flats at the top of the shaft to keep it from rotating when installing the top nut. I was forced to use padded pliers on the shaft to try and hold it while getting the top nut down tight. I tried to be very careful, but it is possible that some very tiny scratches were made at some point that later expanded due to corrosion.

I'm not convinced that there is any problem with the SPAX parts at all. For the record, I didn't have the same limitations when installing the rears, and they were still doing great when I installed the Bilsteins.

Also, the SPAX definately had superior ride qualities compared to the PSS9s, and after 5 events on the PSS9s I'm not convinced that they offer a performance advantage over the SPAX. I really don't like the progressive rate of the front springs, and the damper adjustments are not linear. When I get to an event on smoother concrete I may change my mind, but irregardless there is not an obvious difference between SPAX and PSS9 at the autocross sites I compete at. Track use MAY give different results. For day-to-day driving on less than perfect roads, SPAX is the clear winner. SPAX are also far easier to adjust due the crispness of the clicks between settings and the linear response from one damper setting to the next.

Scott
90SM

 

I have the back tighter than the front...

Front 10
back 20

I do not yet have the rear swaybar but no matter what I would have the back tighter than the front...

 

I would agree with Tuls, though it is less important for putzing along on the street. I tended to run the same setting front and back for general commuting (I probably used 15 all around the most). For more aggressive driving, and especially autocrossing, setting the back dampers fairly stiff helps keep weight on the front wheels when exiting a corner. That reduces wheelspin. If you get to stiff in the front, the damper resists the spring pushing down on the inside wheel and again limits traction coming out of a tight corner under heavy accleration. Also, if you get to stiff on either end it becomes hard for the tire to maintain contact with the road in bumpy corners, and the car gets skittish as each end breaks away and then regains traction. If this is happening, soften the dampers at that end a couple clicks.

I found that I could autocross with much stiffer front settings than Tuls, but I had a stiffer RSB and sticky (for non- R compound) tires. Limiting wheelspin out of corners can be done with suspension setup, but it still won't be the same as having a LSD. Still, it is a big step in the right direction.

Scott
90SM

 

Wow great feedback guys, now i'm back on the fence on if i should rethinking getting the spax again.

The adjustment for the rears can be reached without removing the wheel correct?

 

The adjustment at the rear is made by turning a **** located near the bottom of the unit. The **** has distinct detents and you can easily feel the "clicks". Laying down at the back of the car allows you to easily reach the adjustment ****.

The fronts adjust at the top of the shaft, inside the engine compartment. I used a nutdriver to make the adjustments, and again they are distinct clicks so it is easy to know where you are.

Scott
90SM

 

Trying to decide if i should just stick with my H&R's or go for the Spax.

I would love to go with the PSS9's but even when there is a group buy they're just too much.

They would basically be for Serious autocrossing and some track days. Hmmmmmm..... :smile:

 

I just did my 1st open track day at Moroso in West Palm Beach with her and the new suspension and brakes. I am no stranger to open tracks having run my 460 HP 2500 lb. RX-7 a couple of times. This was a new club for me so I had to have an instructor. This was supposed to be a MINI only event but there were quite a few other kinds of cars there.

My instructor had a hard time turning the racer off in himself. I have the same problem. I see a car in front I want to chase it down and pass it. I call it Grand Turismo disease. Even though this was an open track day all of us know there will be some racing going on within reason.

When we went out for our 3rd run group we ended up going out a little late. So the other MINI's and "other cars" were on track. We got the go ahead to pull out of the pits and onto the track. Nothing in front of us and a couple of MINI's rounding turn 10. We were able to get up to speed quickly and had a wide open track in front of us. 1st time all day.

We cranked out some really nice laps perfect lines the car felt great and I was getting really comfortable with it close to its limits both in turns and in breaking. I was in a good groove thanks to Robin my instructor. He showed me some great lines around the track and the MINI loved it.

We see a red car pretty far in front. It was a C-5 Vette. I said to Robin awesome, we will not catch him we have tons of room to really drive.

2 laps later we are about 10 cars behind and closing. I was content with just pacing the C-5, Robin however wanted to cloe up the gap. (Race Driver - hard to turn off) We did!! I was amazed that my MINI could keep up with this Vette. He definatly had the advantage on the straights...well sort of.

He was not really driving a good line. So he would come out of a turn 10-20 MPH slower than I. On some of the shorter straights he never got to see anything else but me in his mirrors.

For 3 laps I pushed him around the track. Pete from MyMini was watching at the Start/Finish line. Each lap we would round turn 10 and I would be that much closer to him. By the last lap I was 1 car length behind exiting 10 and could have passed him if I was allowed.

I cannot tell you how much of a rush it is to be driving a 205 HP MINI and chasing down a 350+ HP Vette. I could out turn and out brake that Vette by so much it was amazing. When we got to the end of a long straight he would open the gap to about 10 cars only to have it closed by 5 cars just in the braking zone the the other five cars would get eaten up in the turns. I attribute a lot of this to the fact that I have Zimmerman rotors and Metalic Racing brake pads from MyMini along with the Spax Coil over and rear swaybar..... Wow!

I bet that guy in the Vette though he was going to be walking all over MINI's that day. Robin, my instructor was clapping his hands having a ball witnessing a little MINI giving a C-5 such a hard time. Robin has a well set up 911 for track racing.

He was VERY impressed with the braking and handling of the MINI.

God I love this Mini...

 

Opps I forgot to put what I had for settings. I was so excited about my day at the track.

REAR -
I ran 1.5° Camber in the and zero toe I had the Shocks set at 13 clicks from full soft. I have a 19mm rear sway bar set at the midlle hole. I think I am going to change it to the stiffest setting.

FRONT -
I ran 1.3° Camber and 1/16 toe out. I had the Shocks set at 13 Clicks from full soft.

I was running 16" Kosai Rims with Yoko Prada Tires I ran 37 PSI (cold) all around. I was very happy with the balance of the car. There was almost zero understeer with a hint of oversteer only if I lifted slightly. The car was more prone to a 4 wheel drift than anything. It was very easy to adjust my line with the throttle as well.

So far I am not changing a thing. Well, possibly more front camber. I am trying for a street/track setup hence the low front camber. Tire temps indicated a touch more front camber. I might go to 1.5°.

 

Jim,

Where in South Florida are you located? I did a track day at Moroso with the Porsche club last year. My MCS was pretty much stock at the time except for wheels and tires and it didn't dissapoint. Had fun doing the same thing you did except with a 911 cabrio .

I'm in Pembroke Pines and i'm an avid autocrosser with ER. I would love to see your cars setup one day. We're having our next autocross in Hialeah on the 17th, would love to see you come out. Maybe we can swap cars for a run?

 

I have an SCCA event (IRCC) 15 miles from my house. I am trying to get my sons Kart ready for it after storing it for over a year. I would love to come to a ER event, but its hard for me to get down there. I want to do some more Track Events so the Autocrossing will be VERY limited as I phase it out.

Tell Darrin Desimo I said hello. He instructed me with Evolution last year. If I decide to try to go I will let you know. It probably will not be for a couple of months though.

 

Looks like the track bug has gotten you

I'm guessing your up in West Palm then? That is a bit of a drive, especialy if you have to haul R-Compounds.

Maybe we can meet up sometime at a Sunshine MINI's or Mini's of Miami G2G or something. Would love to see your car since i'm seriously considering those Spax's. I have an 05' PW/PW MCS arriving next week, incase we bump into each other. My screen name is also my plate THAMETH.

I talk to Darrin all the time when he shows up for ER events so i'll definitely tell him you said Hi.

Thanx again for your input!