This is an open question to all of you who have put much thought and consideration into upgrading your suspension. I've been looking at the KONI FSDs since, well, they came out. I'd also like to get some fixed camber plates and some progressive rate springs (this is a Daily Driver/Touring Car, Tracked maybe 1-2x/year). Hadn't given much thought to WHAT might work together until The Good Dr wrote the article in MC2 Iss 6. Any suggestions out there?


As an additional consideration, I know that all the Prog Rate Springs currently made for the MINI are lowering springs. I'd want the absolute least lowering possible, because I'll have to get adjustable end links for my Anti-Sway bar (don't have to with stock height). If anyone knows of prog rate springs that maintain stock height, let me know!

FYI, I've looked at the IE Fixed Camber plates (about $175) and the DINAN ($160ish). I've posted this question in the MC2 Forum as well.

 

I'll let others chime in - but our TSW springs with FSD's and IE fixed plates is a very, very nice street setup that's fully capable of autocross and track fun, too. The ride is great and the handling in the twisties is excellent... Drop with the springs varies between 5/8" and 3/4" average, depending on your car's options. They are NOT progressive springs - IMHO, and based on our testing, progressive springs do not match as well with the FSD's as a linear spring.

 

FWIW, I've had H-Sport springs (progressive) on my two cars for over 100 thousand miles.

Although I have no personal experience with them yet, I'm ordering the TSW linear springs. Actually replacing a set of H-Sports with only 10,000 miles on them. The H-Sports are fine, it's just that from all the research I've been able to do, a good linear spring appears to be preferable, at least in predictability in handling.

My interest is swayed (no pun intended) due to auto-x and occasional track day use.

Mine will be used with my Koni Yellow adjustable shocks.

 

I'm getting similar feedback on this and my local forum. Similar in that MANY have pm'd stating that the IE Fixed Camber plates and Koni FSDs are the sweetest set-up imaginable for street driving.

I've gotten about 60/40 on the whole linear/progressive question. I have been told that given my usual driving (spirited, but not aggresive) and lack of Track time, the stock springs will do me just fine when coupled with the FSDs. Some have said (like Tex) that the 'progressive spring' thing is a bit o' BS. Others have said that once they got used to the different driving style required by progressive springs, they thought the corner control was much better.

So now it's looking like the suggestions are:
1) IE Fixed Camber Plates
2) Koni FSDs
3) Stock Springs (b-cause it's more of a D/D) OR Linear (60%) over Progressive (40%)

If anyone else wants to contribute their $0.02, please feel free to comment. Also, could anyone tell me why the IE Camber Plates are given great marks by the people who own them, but the DINAN Camber Plates seem to get Negative Feedback? I thought DINAN was up there w/JCW when it came to MINI Motoring.

 

If you don't want to change ride height, I'd say stock springs with FSD's would be a great setup for you...

 

 

I have what I believe is a very good combo:
Koni FSD
H-Sport progressive springs (lower about 1")
Ireland front fixed camber plates
Rear Ireland adjustable camber arms.

It all works great, wouldn't change a thing!'

Paul

 

pberry51,

You fall in with the 40% or so that have pm'd me or chated on the other two forums I posted this question on who really love the progressive rate spring. My biggest issue is ground clearance. Maybe if I was a waif with a supermodel in the passenger seat, I could afford to drop the car. But I am a 'large American', coming in at 6'5" and topping 250. And then there's the wife and two kids, kids' luggage, etc., etc.
Although progressive rate springs get a good write-up, and I have gotten some positive feedback, the lowering aspect forces me away from them more than the change in drive style.

 

Again then, I'd recommend FSD's with the OEM springs if you don't want to change ride height... The FSD's will smooth out the ride of the OEM springs out considerably and still provide better performance than the OEM struts/shocks when you start pushing the car in the twisty bits...