I've heard the term used a lot, I searched and couldn't find any info on the forums about them. I've even heard talk of hilo kits at my local mini joint. What are the benefits, avg cost (I think it was a couple of hundred for a 'hilo kit" I overheard from memory?

Are they worthwhile and what's installation difficulty level?

tommorow night on twenty questions..... thanks guys.

Shard

Hi-Los are adjustable trumpets that go between the rubber donuts (springs) and the knuckle joints in Mini suspension.
If your car has dry suspension (ie it's not a hydrolastic) they provide an easy means to adjust ride height at each corner.
Alternative height adjust method is to shorten existing trumpets or add spacer washers. Messy and time consuming job compared to using Hi-Los.

Hi-Lo kits are available from most Mini suppliers.

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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.

Messy??? whaddya mean doc. Doesnt getting in your car car involve being covered in crap, and barking your knuckles anyway?? I thought all Mini's were standard that way

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"He's always been a dickhead, He always is a dickhead, He will always be a dickhead. So stop complaining when he acts like one."

Phil,
When I said `messy' I meant you will probably need to stuff about doing it more than once, ie it won't be right height first time.
Hi-Los are the best height adjustment method since Hydrolastic...!!

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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.

oh yeah, I seem to recall doing that job once. maybe why I havent done it since, and my tyres keep chewing out because of the wrong height LMFAO

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"He's always been a dickhead, He always is a dickhead, He will always be a dickhead. So stop complaining when he acts like one."

Can be purchased fairly cheap on Ebay....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=2492366307&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

I have bought some things off this lady. Very good to deal with.

Northern Mini Parts sell them for $190? (don't quote me).

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Karcraft prices- front $57.90 (pr?), rear $57.34/pr.
According to their catalog. Ring & check..

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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.

Now, I'm no expert, but I heard from a bloke who is (Builds race minis that take 1-2-3 in the championships).

Hi-los are adjustable struts which replace the trumpets (front and rear) which allow you to adjust the length of the strut between the trailing arm and the rubber cone.

They allow you to therefore adjust the ride height, but also (and few people seem to know this) adjust the corner weights of the car. If you imagine if your chassis is twisted to some degree (and almost all willl be), then some wheels will exert more pressure on the ground (and take more suspension loading) than others. Adjusting the Hi-los allows you to get consistent weight (measured with big scales or other methods, esp the front which weighs a fair bit) and therefore much better handling. Doing so will also put you in the category of "expert mini tuner"

my chasis is not twisted, (last i checked i didnt have one)

any marginal effect you would get from that would be outweighed by uneven damping from rubber cones on any bend you take,

you cant get the load even because of the postion of the driver/fuel tank, weight ditribution left/right of the engine/transmission

that bug stuck on the window

hilos adjust ride height which inturn effects suspension geometry ( at the front) but also lowers center of gravity and reduces body roll
lower the car, less air pressure under the car too

what you saying sounds like a load of crap to be honest, i dont see myself jacking up the left hand rear of my car high enough to 'even out the load of my fuel tank and jacking up the left front to counteract my fat ass in the drivers seat, mini would handle like crap, driving on a slope.. would look funny though

when buying hilos make sure the supplier gives you the extra strut required for the rear (long bits sticking out of two of them) (my local one doesnt even sell these at all)

he says i need to source a hydro mini and 'modify' its struts to fit

so just the cone bits he sells for 50 bux a pop

so anyway i bought these ones (full set) for 160 bux delivered.. dunno of the quality yet (havent arrived)

Be careful buying MiniSport Adjustarides (their brand of Hi-Los). They take a 14mm knuckle joint, available only from MiniSport or their dealers.
Or, you can do what I'm doing to Gafmo's ones- make some steel bushes in the lathe to fit 1/2" diameter stock Mini ones in there.

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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.

actully static weight of a race car is important in the setup if you get the weights correct it will actully handle better oh and btw it is not bs just have a look at a v8 super car being set up they do this as corner wait is very important
makka

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