What’s better........hydro or rubber cone suspension (ducks for cover)

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"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity!"
1972 Mini Clubman 1098
1978 Leyland Mini 998 - she’s gone to a good home

What do you want better? Ride, Reliability, Resale Value, Ease of servicing?
What use? (Road, Rally, Race)
What car? Genuine Cooper S or crappy clubman

If the car (or the guy rebuilding) has a GOOD hydro set up then use it. But if it's got leaks and in poor condition then get rid of it and use a cone or coil setup.
Hydro is smoother and gives a better ride.
Cones are more reliable.

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Righto.......

So it’s a reasonably unmolested 1972 Mini Clubman that I’m going to restomod for fun road and limited classic road/rally use (maybe). So I guess it’s a crappy Clubman

The system is fluid tight (no leaks visible) but I’m in the process of doing a full strip to do rust repair, body work and paint meaning it will need to come off........I’m a bit concerned about pressurising the system afterwards plus future maintenance if the bags fail.

Love the amazingly quick replies in this place.

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"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity!"
1972 Mini Clubman 1098
1978 Leyland Mini 998 - she’s gone to a good home

If the hydro system is fine then I would keep it and add some front shockies. If you find you want a little less pitch and roll then add competition bump stops.

Dry is more reliable and the perfect time to change from wet to dry is when the car is pulled apart.

If keeping the hydro - I would recommend buying or building a Hydro Pump as it will pay for itself after the first pump up.

I don't think gtogreen1969 was saying all Clubmans are crappy (but he can reply if I'm mistaken). A unique and rare model like a Cooper S or Clubman GT will maintain its value if the original suspension type is retained. Models that are plentiful and have already been butchered a bit can have their suspension modified without greatly changing their resale value.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

Yep thanks Doug. I would say that a genuine Cooper S for sale at $60k would loose $5k if you ripped out the hydro and stuck in a dry suspension.

All good guys.......it was taken in the spirit intended

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"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity!"
1972 Mini Clubman 1098
1978 Leyland Mini 998 - she’s gone to a good home

If all the hydro stuff is ok I would keep it.
Most hydro leaks are at the hydro bag hose connection, hoses can be replaced, by Pirtek or others.
My son is restoring a 71 hydro Clubby at the moment. Front bags have been re-hosed.
It's getting front shocks added and competition hydro rear bumpstops.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Dry is lighter than Hydro and Hydro only gets heavier when you add shocks, bump stops etc.

I have the three types at the moment. Hydro i find rides nicely but dry handles better. I have coils in my 1275LS yet to be tried.

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The bitterness of poor quality (or Crappy Workmanship) remains LONG AFTER the Sweet Taste of Low Price is forgotten.

If you are serious about a bit of classic road / rally use I would go rubber with new rubber cones, shockers and Hi Lo's, as I have had more success getting good reliable ride heights, and with quality Hi Lo's it will be more reliable with some abuse compared to old hydro units.

Thanks to all who responded.

I'm weighing it up but I think it's going to be a dry suspension conversion for reliability and ease of maintenance

_________________
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity!"
1972 Mini Clubman 1098
1978 Leyland Mini 998 - she’s gone to a good home