ausmini :: View topic - Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.

You've also got to take into account modern seats, seat belts, tyres, suspension geometry, steering feel and refinement.

If your mini had fully rebuilt suspension front and back, steering, bushes the lot I'm sure it would be a huge difference.

The biggest thing I've noticed in the mini is when you put it hard into a corner, and it feels like the front inside wheel is going to lift off! It seems to pitch diagonally.

Irish Yobbo wrote:

The biggest thing I've noticed in the mini is when you put it hard into a corner, and it feels like the front inside wheel is going to lift off! It seems to pitch diagonally.

I've never felt that

Under heavy braking and cornering I've had the rear try (and on some occasions) get nice and light and it wants to pass the front, of course being a FWD car you get understeer if you try to accelerate too much in a corner, but never felt like the inside wheel was going to lift.
Have you had a proper wheel alignment :?:

It might also be my basis for comparison - a 2WD '86 Hilux (which handles like a bag of molasses), a daewoo lanos, and an AP5 valiant.

Adding an anti roll bar to a Mini would surely be a bit of a waste of time on the road - there's next to no suspension travel as is. I have a fairly hefty set on my MR2 and it will pick up a wheel going in and out of driveways regularly so I think that would be even worse on a Mini.

Author:	Irish Yobbo [ Thu Dec 18, 2014 11:46 am ]
Post subject:	Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
I recently had the pleasure of driving a 2006 MINI Parklane, and I was quite surprised at how much it does resemble driving a classic mini. But I really noticed the suspension - I'm not going to say it was better or worse, but the amount of roll was significantly less. I also drove my father's Landrover Freelander II and noticed the same thing - although such a big car and a 4wd, it felt very 'square' on the road - it didn't feel like it would tip at all. This got me thinking - is this purely down to the anti-roll bars? I was thinking that the rubber cones being the profile that they are might have more give with a small amount of travel, and firm up quicker than springs. I've noticed that most people seem to dismiss anti-roll bars unless racing. Thoughts?

Author:	Kennomini [ Thu Dec 18, 2014 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
Are you saying these cars have less body roll than your mini? I haven't really noticed body roll in my mini on rubber cones...every other car I've driven have rolled all over the place so I'm not sure what your experiencing in your mini.

Author:	69k1100 [ Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:29 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
New cones might be the answer, but anti roll bars should be fairly simple to engineer, just have to get the spring rate right so it isn't too stiff.

Author:	wannanuddamini [ Thu Dec 18, 2014 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
If you think your dry Mini rolls then you need a well sorted hydro Mini. Don't roll much, bounce a bit, still more comfy than a dry one. Just don't make the mistake of lowering it too much cause you loose the sweet ride and make the handling worse!

Author:	timmy201 [ Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
You've also got to take into account modern seats, seat belts, tyres, suspension geometry, steering feel and refinement. If your mini had fully rebuilt suspension front and back, steering, bushes the lot I'm sure it would be a huge difference.

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Author:	drjbeam [ Thu Dec 18, 2014 8:22 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
timmy201 wrote: You've also got to take into account modern seats, seat belts, tyres, suspension geometry, steering feel and refinement. If your mini had fully rebuilt suspension front and back, steering, bushes the lot I'm sure it would be a huge difference. It is a huge differance since doing mine you dont feel bumps you feel in cars less then 10 years old My mini had fully rebuilt suspension front and back

Author:	drmini in aust [ Fri Dec 19, 2014 7:18 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
My hydro with front shocks rides & handles better than the wife's Fiesta, and has way less road noise. Pity about the induction noise..

Author:	Irish Yobbo [ Fri Dec 19, 2014 8:07 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
My mini's suspension isn't bad, I've replaced the front cones with good old rear ones and new gas-a-just shock absorbers and replaced all the worn bushes when putting them in with new hilos. It's not a matter of which is 'better', but I was very surprised to find how little roll a new land rover has. I've never driven a hydro car, but I have heard from many people how amazing they are, and the other half how utterly awful they are. The biggest thing I've noticed in the mini is when you put it hard into a corner, and it feels like the front inside wheel is going to lift off! It seems to pitch diagonally.

Author:	Kennomini [ Fri Dec 19, 2014 11:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
Irish Yobbo wrote: The biggest thing I've noticed in the mini is when you put it hard into a corner, and it feels like the front inside wheel is going to lift off! It seems to pitch diagonally. I've never felt that Under heavy braking and cornering I've had the rear try (and on some occasions) get nice and light and it wants to pass the front, of course being a FWD car you get understeer if you try to accelerate too much in a corner, but never felt like the inside wheel was going to lift. Have you had a proper wheel alignment

Author:	Irish Yobbo [ Sat Dec 20, 2014 1:07 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
Kennomini wrote: Irish Yobbo wrote: The biggest thing I've noticed in the mini is when you put it hard into a corner, and it feels like the front inside wheel is going to lift off! It seems to pitch diagonally. I've never felt that Under heavy braking and cornering I've had the rear try (and on some occasions) get nice and light and it wants to pass the front, of course being a FWD car you get understeer if you try to accelerate too much in a corner, but never felt like the inside wheel was going to lift. Have you had a proper wheel alignment Wheels were aligned last month, but I don't have everything adjustable so it was pretty much just the toe done.

Author:	Mr Orange [ Sat Dec 20, 2014 3:44 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
I wouldn't say there's much body roll in a classic mini at all, though I do also own an old Valiant so I may be biased. Are you sure you're just not feeling the stabilising effects of a wider track? I wouldn't say 4WDs body roll less than a Mini... Adding an anti roll bar to a Mini would surely be a bit of a waste of time on the road - there's next to no suspension travel as is. I have a fairly hefty set on my MR2 and it will pick up a wheel going in and out of driveways regularly so I think that would be even worse on a Mini.

Author:	michaelb [ Sat Dec 20, 2014 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
After a days outing from Sydney this morning going down on the M1 to Gerringong on the NSW South Coast and returning up the coast road via the Royal National park I am very impressed with my mini which has the latest MiniSport Smootha Ride suspension kit. This rides much smoother than my Cooper S with hydro and handles very well, even with 13x7 wheels. Great confidence when going into 35km corners... I feel i need to be much younger to be able to explore the handling limits

Author:	Irish Yobbo [ Sat Dec 20, 2014 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about my mini's suspension, I am much more confident throwing that into a corner than the 4wd. I haven't really pushed the freelander or the bmw mini, I was just surprised how little roll they had for general cornering, especially the 4wd. At light cornering both felt very firm. It might also be my basis for comparison - a 2WD '86 Hilux (which handles like a bag of molasses), a daewoo lanos, and an AP5 valiant.

Author:	michaelb [ Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:26 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
Quote: It might also be my basis for comparison - a 2WD '86 Hilux (which handles like a bag of molasses), a daewoo lanos, and an AP5 valiant. My comparison is 4 different model minis, new BMW mini and HSV Clubsport

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Author:	smac [ Sun Dec 21, 2014 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Mini Suspension vs Modern Suspension.
Mr Orange wrote: Adding an anti roll bar to a Mini would surely be a bit of a waste of time on the road - there's next to no suspension travel as is. I have a fairly hefty set on my MR2 and it will pick up a wheel going in and out of driveways regularly so I think that would be even worse on a Mini. The only way it would be a waste of time is if you never 'push' the mini's handling. As soon as you want to enthusiastically corner in a mini a rear bar helps flatten the whole thing through the corner, allowing power to go down way sooner. I have also heard some people comment that they think their modern car has less roll than their mini. However having followed their mini's on the road I know this is simply not true. I think a lot of people confuse side support of seats (or lack thereof in the case of a mini) with body roll. You don't notice the roll in a modern ride because you are still held securely, conversely any roll (or simple lateral G) in a mini is exaggerated by you sliding off the seat and hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life!