https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=84625

We launched our new performance springs today... Moderate drop, superb ride, top quality materials. They play well with OEM shocks/struts, Koni Yellows, Koni FSD's, and Bilstein SP's.

$199 a set...

 

spring rates?

 

17.5% more than OEM front and rear (OEM's are 165 lb/in front and rear)... 200 lb/in, linear, and each one's tested at the factory before they leave. They're made right here in Texas!

http://www.metroplexmini.org/forum/s...5&page=9&pp=15

For some feedback on the prototypes (which were hand wound)... the production springs are even better...

While we were having fun with the spring tester, we found some interesting things about spring rates - and there are a lot of springs out there with some interesting rates.

 

Do you have any pics of a MINI with them installed?

 

They're in the first link above... But:


Before:





After:




Photoshop Merge Image:




After close-up front:




After close-up rear:



Ze springs - powdercoated black for that stealthy look!

 

Just thought it would be a little easier for people to check out if the pics were actually in the thread.

 

Agreed!

 

And what are the advantages over the most popular springs, such as
H-Sports, S-techs, M7's, etc.? (just helping you advertise, thats all).

 

I too am curious. Aaron has been helpful via PM, only think I am worried about is the drop, not sure it will be enought, visually, for my new rims.

I know, I know..what looks best isnt always best. but a concern none the less.

 

yah, the best compromise in appearance, ride, and performance has
been the H-Sports and M7's. i personally think the H-Sports is the
benchmark. basically wat did the engineer take from the benchmark
and made it better?

is it to remove the soft initial bump of the H-sports (progressive rate)
so that one would not have to get stiffer swaybars just to keep the
car from rolling too much during turns, or wat?

you need to let people know why they should pay you 199 for a brand
no one's ever heard of. thats all. how do you plan to break into the
market?

 

That is the biggest thinig that has kept me from lowring, the progressive rate. Thats why I like these...

 

see, there are benefits...the creater needs to elaborate more on the product,
not you and me.

 

He needs to get out there and SELL that thang

 

thats right, you need to sell it like you mean it if you want to
sell something new in a saturated market.

 

1. Conservative drop - for those out there that do NOT want a 1-1.5" drop. Not everyone wants a huge drop, and in our experience with the MINI's suspension, anything more than a 1-1.2" drop is not optimal for handling. There is such a thing as too low. While testing our coilovers, we found that lower is NOT better. We had plenty of travel left, yet, the lap times actually increased. There is a happy medium. Also, the world is full of things that like to eat cars that are too low... And, not all aftermarket struts play well with lowering springs - case in point, the Koni FSD's, which are designed for not much drop.

2. Linear rates - why? Well, linear rates provide more predictable performance. It's been our experience in racing that linear springs are the way to go. The idea of a progressive spring is great, but IMHO, it leads to less predictability at the limit. The OEM MINI springs are linear for a reason - their engineers spent countless hours setting up the suspension. We've spent countless hours engineering and testing spring rates and designs... Linear is the best setup, bar none, for the MINI.

3. Increase in spring rate over OEM - why? We've take 3/4" (average) of travel away, so we want a slightly higher spring rate to compensate for the loss in height. And, the OEM springs are NOT well matched to the OEM shocks/struts. In our testing, the OEM shocks/struts need a slightly higher spring rate - they have too much bound/rebound. Our springs match well with virtually any strut. They ride better with the OEM shocks/struts than any other spring on the market - period. We've been on all of them and they all have some disadvantage - we evened everything out, and ended up with a superior compromise in asthetics and performance.

4. Same spring rate front and rear - why? It produces the best handling. We've tested all sorts of offsets, and matched rates work best. ALL of our suspensions come with the same spring rates front and rear. It allows you, the user, to dial in the car with your choice of swaybar(s) and camber plates to your liking. When you have high offsets in spring rates, or mix linear and progressive, the car is MUCH harder to dial in...

4. Material - same as most high-end springs in the market. Cold winding and the highest quality material ensure that the spring rates stay the same, there's no sagging, and you get a great product.

5. Cost - our springs cost less than the others on the market.

So, conservative drop, matched, linear spring rates front and rear, plays well with ANY choice of shock/strut including OEM, and they're made from excellent materials... that sums it up in a nutshell!

 

^^ nicely done.

 

Thanks for thr write up. I will look into your springs a bit more after the holidays are finished and the wife has had her filll of spending car money. The price is well worth the springs and I hope the forum members post there opinions here so others will no also.

Allen

 

the higher spring rate and it being linear rate might make the car
bounce more.... can anyone elaborate on this or have actual
experience on these springs? other then that, it sounds like a
good deal.

 

Yes, thanks, I may be considering these now.

Paul

 

Actually, the OEM springs bounce more because the OEM shocks/struts bound/rebound is too high for the OEM spring rates... the ride's actually smoother with our springs.

PM agranger for a firsthand account, or click on one of the links in this thread. Aaron's wife actually fell asleep in his car on a recent - a first, ever, and complimented the ride (whereas before she complained). S.O. approved!

 

I like these springs. I'd like about a 1" drop and not any more. Too many speed bumps and low driveways here.

Combine these with some FSD's maybe...

It's been years since I've put springs on a car and I'm not sure I want to compromise my warranty yet. (My car is still 100% stock and has two more years of warranty.)

I like the look though.

 

Are you saying Aaron drives like a grandpa..bord her to sleep? thats good to
hear that they work well with OE dampers.

 

Looks can be deceiving, but the rear looks a tad lower than the front. I've played with more sspring rates than I care to think about at this point, but a slight rake to the car, a bit more roll couple up front provides a nice balanced transfer of weight...

 

The rear IS lowered more than the front - 5/8" up front and 7/8" in the rear... But, it still retains some rake for the reason you mentioned.

 

Does anyone else besides agranger have any experience with the new springs from Texas Speedwerks? These are just about what I am looking for (mild drop, works well with OEM shocks), but I am also considering the H-Sports and wanted to get impressions of these before making a decision.