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Suspension Geometry - Kit's installed, now I'm worried!

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject: Suspension Geometry - Kit's installed, now I'm worried!

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:02 pm

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Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

I'm about to order the MSSK3013 kit from Minispares in the UK and I have a couple of questions.

Firstly - does anyone have this kit available in Australia? Postage is a killer even with this months discount coupon code!
Will there be any dramas with 12" wheels?
Are there any guides around on how to fit?
How much adjustment can you do yourself/are there any old school tricks for determining °'s?
Anyone have any pics of fitting theirs?

I've trawled through Ausmini looking at different posts on geometry and I get the impression that you install and then take it to the 'suspension man' and have it adjusted. Would be kind of cool if they had markings to denote °'s but I doubt it!

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Last edited by Cooper_Matrikon on Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

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sgc

Post subject: Re: Suspension Geometry

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:07 pm

This space for rent

Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:40 pm
Posts: 5455
Location: Melbourne

Cooper_Matrikon wrote:

I've trawled through Ausmini looking at different posts on geometry and I get the impression that you install and then take it to the 'suspension man' and have it adjusted. Would be kind of cool if they had markings to denote °'s but I doubt it!

The sad fact is that no two Mini's are the same, especially after 40 years. You really do need to fit them and measure, then adjust, then measure, then adjust, etc. To do this properly, yes, you need alignment equipment and the best place to do this is ...

You can do it yourself, though. It's not hard to make up a reasonably accurate camber gauge, and a castor gauge for that matter too (I have made both). Toe is pretty easy to measure using either string lines or bars, but frankly I'd rather pay $60 and have it professionally adjusted and measured within a poofteenth than frig around for a few hours and get it there-or-thereabouts.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:15 pm

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Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

Thanks for the tips Simon. Any pics of your camber gauge/how to make one???

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sgc

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:23 pm

This space for rent

Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:40 pm
Posts: 5455
Location: Melbourne

Cooper_Matrikon wrote:

Thanks for the tips Simon. Any pics of your camber gauge/how to make one???

Have a look at this thread - photo's and tutorial are there or linked

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:02 pm

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Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

Just found this... A few apps out there including TiltMeter and Clinometer. Will be handy.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=325556

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:09 pm

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Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

Even more speccy...

http://appshopper.com/utilities/ialign

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sgc

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:45 pm

This space for rent

Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:40 pm
Posts: 5455
Location: Melbourne

Yeah, if you trust the sensors in an iPhone. I've never found them to be terribly reliable..

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

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Morris 1100

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 3:53 pm

Causing or creating vexation

Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 10:32 pm
Posts: 19124

It surprises me how someone can spend a lot of time and effort to make a cars suspension fully adjustable without having to tools or the knowledge to actually make the adjustments.
Just buy a camber/caster gauge and learn how to use it. You can pick them up for less than $100.

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:05 pm

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Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

Thanks for the tip Morris1100, but it all comes under 1 word - "budget". Does that surprise you? I'm looking at getting the thing into some semblance of a reasonable setup and then fine tune with the pro's from there.

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 4:09 pm

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Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

And I profusely apologise for the lack of knowledge! :oops:

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Morris 1100

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:03 pm

Causing or creating vexation

Joined: Wed Jul 21, 2004 10:32 pm
Posts: 19124

Sorry, I am not trying to bag you for a lack of knowledge. :oops:

I just can't see the point in fitting adjustable suspension if you don't know how to adjust it or even how to adjust it.
Wheel alignment is not a black art performed by scientist/magicians. Most wheel alignments are done by lowly paid and poorly trained monkeys.

You either need a very good and trustworthy alignment place or you need to learn how to do it yourself. The middle ground is very worrying.

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graham in aus

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:07 pm

1098cc

Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2004 9:53 pm
Posts: 1768
Location: Lake Macquarie NSW

You could always borrow somebody elses gauge

I wonder who might have one? :lol:

Let me know when the parts arrive!

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:10 pm

998cc

Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

The plan is to find out as much information as I can from Ausminiers (tips, tricks, pitfalls, suggestions, horror stories, etc) and learn. I can assure you that the adjustability of this suspension and the hours of tweaking and tuning will not be lost on me.

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mini_mad_matt

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 5:47 pm

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Joined: Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:03 pm
Posts: 1479
Location: Qld, Brisbane

I found less then a year ago, it was cheaper to buy the same sort of kit from huddersfield spares and pay postage then to buy the equivalent here (not including postage). And when i say cheaper i'm talking like roughly 30% if i'm remembering right

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Cooper_Matrikon

Post subject:

Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 6:15 pm

998cc

Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:17 am
Posts: 1130
Location: Newcastle

I think it comes in around $260 landed (and that's with a set of new mats for $30). So I guess I cant really complain. Will order tomorrow.

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