North American Motoring

Mini Cooper 2007-2013: Suspension Modifications

Finding suspension parts for your car isn't as hard as you may think. Take a look at what upgrades you have available.

By Neftali Medina - July 5, 2016

This article applies to the Mini Cooper (2007-2013).

You've seen track monsters, and know the potential a Mini Cooper has to offer. Even though you want it to handle like the ultimate Mini, there has to be a place for you to start. As with any car, upgrading how it can deliver its power to the ground is often the best way to ensure its maximum performance. Some upgrades to consider involve lowering kits, strut tower bars and bushing upgrades. Shocks help improve the ride quality, along with turning capability. Sway bars help stiffen the chassis and prevent body roll, while bushings help prevent vibrations from entering the cabin. Check out this list of available suspension upgrades for your car.

Suspension Modifications

Mini Cooper 2nd gen on lowering springs
Figure 1. Lowering springs on 2nd gen Mini Cooper.

Shocks and Lowering Springs

mini cooper r55 r56 suspension modification bushing chassis spring strut shock swaybar anti roll bar coilover strut tower brace

DIY Cost – $500-2,500+

Professional Cost – $750-3,000+

Skill Level – Easy; replacing the struts is fairly simple, just loosen the bolts and replace them.

Shock sets aim to increase the ride quality of your car, while often allowing a full range of suspension adjustment. Adjustable shocks can tune the up (rebound) and down (compression) motions that the suspension experiences. Alternatively, for the budget minded enthusiast, non-adjustable shocks are also available. Pair those shocks with a set of aftermarket springs, which are stiffer and lower the car's ride height, giving you sharper looks and handling.

For those interested in greater adjustability, coilovers are the way to go. Full coilovers include the spring, with an adjustable perch that lets you set the height and then adjustment of the dampers. Although coilovers are often the best suspension upgrade you can have, they often cost hundreds or even thousands more than a standard spring and shock setup.

Chassis Bracing

mini cooper r55 r56 suspension modification bushing chassis spring strut shock swaybar anti roll bar coilover strut tower brace

DIY Cost – $320

Professional Cost – $400+

Skill Level – Moderate; depending on the location and intracity of the brace, you will have to remove most of the interior in order to mount it.

Bracing revolves around strengthening the entire body of a vehicles chassis to reduce flex, increasing response. Some common examples of bracing components include strut tower bars and rear suspension tower braces. For more in-depth bracing you can also install a chassis brace, or roll cage. So Mini owners opt to create their own custom braces, mounting and welding it into the body. Bracing is not recommended unless the vehicle is going to be tracked. M7 makes a very popular rear brace.

Sway Bars

DIY Cost – $100-400

Professional Cost – $200-700

Skill Level – Moderate; the rear bar is pretty easy, the front can be a bear.

Anti-roll bars, commonly called sway bars, connect the suspension from side to side. It works like a push-pull system; when you hit a really hard left turn, the outside (right side) suspension is fully loaded and the inside suspension is unloaded, the sway bar tethers each side together, which reduces load on the outside wheel by reducing lean and roll. Your Mini uses a sway bar for the front suspension, and one for the rear. Most Mini owners upgrade the rear bar because it's easier to install, and helps the very rotate (by promoting over-steer) through tight corners. If you're inclined to do so, upgrading the front bar is an excellent idea as wheel to increase steering response and aid turn in, as well as front tire wear at the limit.

Bushings

mini cooper r55 r56 suspension modification bushing chassis spring strut shock swaybar anti roll bar coilover strut tower brace

DIY Cost – $50-400

Professional Cost – $200-100

Skill Level – Difficult; replacing all the bushings is a very tedious process and will require you to take a part and assemble the majority of your suspension components.

Chassis bushings are a very commonly overlooked modification. Your Mini uses bushings to mount the control arms to the chassis in the rear subframe and under the suspension knuckle. The factory-equipped bushings are made of soft rubber to allow for compliance. Soft bushings means a lot of deflection, or excess movement. Stiffer, polyurethane bushings prevent excess movement between the suspension mounting points, meaning that the suspension has a sharper response and less delay. Additionally, poly bushings will really wake up the steering feel in your Mini.

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