Suspension Springs, struts, coilovers, sway-bars, camber plates, and all other modifications to suspension components for Cooper (R50), Cabrio (R52), and Cooper S (R53) MINIs.

Suspension M7 SRP's installed?

Old Jan 26, 2006 | 07:30 AM
  #1  
jggonzalez's Avatar
jggonzalez
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
M7 SRP's installed?

Has anyone installed a set of M7 SRP's (strut tower reinforcement plates) on their MINI yet? How well do they match the contours of the sheetmetal? Do they seem like they add a lot of reinforcement to the strut tower area? We've got a lot of construction and bumps in my area and I'm thinking they might be a good idea.
 
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2006 | 07:57 AM
  #2  
SpunkytheTuna's Avatar
SpunkytheTuna
4th Gear
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
From the pics I've seen they look like a modification of the mounting plates for the M7 strut bar. I have the M7 strut bar and the mounting plates fit the shock towers very well. Is it a molded-to-fit-with-no-gaps fit? No. But it's a real good fit for a production product. If you're worried about mushrooming your towers, they'll probably work just fine. Particularly if you sandwich your shock tower tops between either a good strut bar mounting plate or the M7 reinforcement plate and a set of good camber plates.

IMHO, YMMV, Close cover before stiking, Do not stand in front of yellow line while bus is in motion, Do not take of you are pregnant, think you are pregnant, or have the capacity to become pregnant in the full of the moon in the dark of the night with a hirsute stranger in a beautifully cut Armani suit and a gray sweatshirt, Delivered by a brown-shoed square.
 
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2006 | 08:43 AM
  #3  
Cooper_Si's Avatar
Cooper_Si
4th Gear
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 429
Likes: 1
From: Newcastle, England, UK
Just had a set of these come in today...well done peter on getting them here into the UK so fast

Ive took a picture of the top and bottom to show how they fit, these are going to look awesome once theyre fitted

And theyre just over half an inch thick if that helps anyones decisions on these.



 
Reply
Old Jan 26, 2006 | 01:56 PM
  #4  
jggonzalez's Avatar
jggonzalez
Thread Starter
|
3rd Gear
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Thanks for the input. I just ordered a set for my car. They sold out on the initial run in less than 10 days, but Peter said they are anodizing a new batch right now and should be shipping them again in a day or so.
 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2006 | 06:05 PM
  #5  
chaincoopers's Avatar
chaincoopers
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: Princeton, NJ
I am having an issue with mine. They don't fit quite perfectly, it seems the grooves on the underside to form fit the strut tower is off by about a mm or 2, which won't allow it to sit down right.... Anyone else with this issue?
 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2006 | 09:05 PM
  #6  
M7's Avatar
M7
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 2
From: los angeles
Had some Sake and gave your problem a thought.....

I have now personally installed 2 sets without a hitch, others have no problem
and all I can come up with, is that you have a mushroomed strut tower
that has stretched and or distorted mildly.....to severly.

Have a good night, call me in the morning, but remeber we (M7) is on California time

peter
Team M7
562-608-8123
 
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2006 | 09:16 PM
  #7  
MSFITOY's Avatar
MSFITOY
OVERDRIVE
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,926
Likes: 41
From: Greensboro, NC
Jeeesh...I thought I was a little farther ahead in line
Originally Posted by Cooper_Si
Just had a set of these come in today...well done peter on getting them here into the UK so fast

Ive took a picture of the top and bottom to show how they fit, these are going to look awesome once theyre fitted

And theyre just over half an inch thick if that helps anyones decisions on these.



 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2006 | 04:53 AM
  #8  
chaincoopers's Avatar
chaincoopers
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: Princeton, NJ
Originally Posted by M7
Had some Sake and gave your problem a thought.....

I have now personally installed 2 sets without a hitch, others have no problem
and all I can come up with, is that you have a mushroomed strut tower
that has stretched and or distorted mildly.....to severly.

Have a good night, call me in the morning, but remeber we (M7) is on California time

peter
Team M7
562-608-8123
Hi Peter,

Thanks for getting back so quickly. I tried to fit the plates on two Jan. 05 build MCS's, one with the stock SS+ setup, and mine thats been upgraded with H-sports. Both have the same fitment issue. I don't know, I find it unlikely that both cars, driven in completely different environments (Boston for me, and philadelphia suburbs for the other), have exactly the same symmetric distortion issue. Its not that the towers aren't flat, its that the groove on the underside of the plate is about 2 mm disposed from where it should be. If I could turn the plate a few mm's, it would sit right down. I think I'm going to just take a bench grinder and knock 2 mm off the edge/corner of the groove, and it'll fit perfectly.

If anyone else has this issue when you receive your plates, please report in. I again repeat that this product is a great idea, and I suggest getting a set. Its a cheap insurance policy to help prevent a nasty repair. From the aestetic standpoint, the finish is really nice, and in my case looks great in the engine bay against the dark silver towers. Just need to sort out this issue.

Thanks all, and thanks Peter for checking in.
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2006 | 06:47 PM
  #9  
chaincoopers's Avatar
chaincoopers
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: Princeton, NJ
Alright, I tried knocking a little material off with a grinder, and I'm still not happy with the fit. I'm convinced the relief groove on the underside is just a little off, specifically the one toward the front of the car -- it needs to be a bit more (my guess is about 3-4 mm) toward the middle of the car. Has no one else tried this install yet?
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2006 | 07:05 PM
  #10  
dave's Avatar
dave
pug poo picker-upper
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,803
Likes: 30
From: California
Originally Posted by chaincoopers
Has no one else tried this install yet?
They installed cleanly on my MC.
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2006 | 07:08 PM
  #11  
chaincoopers's Avatar
chaincoopers
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 350
Likes: 1
From: Princeton, NJ
Would it be possible for you to post a photo, looking at the gap between the plate and the strut tower? I'm really eager to see a successful install from that angle.

Originally Posted by DiD
They installed cleanly on my MC.
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2006 | 11:22 PM
  #12  
marvinthemanic's Avatar
marvinthemanic
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Peter, would these fit with my OMP strut brace or other braces for that matter? Product looks great but need to know if theres any problems with a brace once these are fitted. Im guessing if they do work, they'd fit underneath....?

Thanks for the info, in advance.

Mr. Xanax
 
Reply
Old Jan 28, 2006 | 11:29 PM
  #13  
M7's Avatar
M7
Former Vendor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,594
Likes: 2
From: los angeles
Sorry man...

It's not possible as the strut brace will come in contact with the hood/liner.

peter
Team M7
562-608-8123
 
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2006 | 05:59 AM
  #14  
jlm's Avatar
jlm
6th Gear
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,253
Likes: 0
From: NY NY
If you modify the triangular profile a bit and add a tapped hole, you could use this style heim-jointed strut bar (the pic show a spacer, later omitted, bewteen the 5/8" heim and the plate).

this was an early version of the now discontinued P&D camber plate
 
Attached Thumbnails M7 SRP's installed?-final4.jpg  
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2006 | 06:09 AM
  #15  
pooch1's Avatar
pooch1
5th Gear
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 1
From: toronto area
Great idea hope they fit I was going to order some.Will wait and see.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
adrchn
R56 :: Hatch Talk (2007+)
7
Aug 13, 2019 02:11 AM
minimofo
JCW Garage
7
Nov 5, 2015 08:40 AM
minimofo
JCW Garage
23
Oct 25, 2015 05:53 PM
minimofo
JCW Garage
3
Sep 9, 2015 10:29 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:21 PM.