Suspension Suspension setup recommended for track use

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Jun 28, 2005 | 09:40 PM

#51

matma92ser

4th Gear

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 397

Likes: 0

From: SF Bay Area

Thanks MEB. I'm learning a lot about Minis...

Jun 28, 2005 | 10:22 PM

#52

minihune

OVERDRIVE - Racing Champion

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 15,262

Likes: 72

From: Mililani, Hawaii

Quote:

Originally Posted by matma92ser

I am interested in a suspension set up that is a good compromise between daily driver duty plus weekend track days on occaison. I have been reading/searching NAM, and I still have a few questions:

1. Lowering the Mini usually makes the camber go more negative. Are camber plates needed to get more negative camber, for even tire wear at the track? Or are they needed to get less negative camber, for even tire wear on the street? What are some camber settings that would be a good compromise?

2. H-Sport seems to be the most popular lowering spring here on NAM. However, softer front rates usually makes the car worse at turn in. Is there another spring set that will provide sharper turn-in response? Some say that the stiffer rear rates on the H-Sport allows for a more neutral handling car. Shouldn't that front/rear balance be tuned with sway bars rather than spring rates?

Thanks for any input.
matt

matt,
1. The front camber in a stock MINI runs about -0.1 to -0.9 degrees and most are about -0.5 degrees before and after lowering. Front camber plates are not required with lowering springs. The camber plates do allow for some adjustment of camber from roughly -0.8 to -2.5 degrees but it does vary somewhat with each car. Most that have front camber plates want MORE negative camber which helps with cornering and good front tire contact in autocross and at the track. Extreme negative camber isn't such a good thing for tire wear or straight line acceleration or braking.

I have front camber plates and set my front camber to -2.2 degrees for autocross but I still run them on the street with good results. I have Bilstein PSS9 coilovers and set the dampers to softest settings for street use. When I had H-sport springs the ride was OK on very smooth roads and jarring for most other roads. Rear camber is set to -1.6 degrees.

2. All lowering spring sets are a compromise. H-sports work well on the track or at autocross but can be a bit rough for daily use. The more you do aggressive performance alignments the rougher the ride tends to feel for daily use. Some owners like the M7 springs that are a bit better for street use with a lower 1.3" drop but not quite as stiff. Having an adjustable rear sway bar helps. Once lowered the rear tends to run more negative (-2.0 to -2.4) camber than what comes stock (-1.0 to -2.0 degrees).

Try talking to Randy at Webbmotorsports.com or Eric at Helix13.com and explain what you want.

Go for a ride in a MINI that has the suspension set up you are considering.
Go on roads that you'd be using- check how comfortable it will be. That's your best test for a MINI that is used as a daily driver.