With the rebuild, I figure why skimp on the suspension - a lot of people have said "just whack in some good donuts, use rear ones in the front as well as the rear (compression is not as great in rear as front)."

But is this the right thing to do?

Should I consider the competition rubber cones that are available?
Example
( http://minisport.com.au/prod873.htm )

Has anyone on here used them, and can compare them to standards?

Quite open to all suggestions and input.

Thanks, willy.

Why bother they will be perished and cracked before you use them!!!!!!!!

Thankyou 55.

I should have specified.
Some positive input would be great.

willy, I have used a couple of sets of the Mini Spares competition ones, all around (front and back) on a competition Mini, and just the front on a road car. I am happy that they did exhibit the type of improve,ment I expected, i.e. stiffer and more progressive.

The car with them on the back is more "twitchy" probably due to induced oversteer from stiffer rear springing.

I think these on front and new genuine Rover on the back is a good compromise for a road car.

Another benefit is that the competition ones seem to not collapse like some, I have seen some supposed genuine (standard) donuts collapse (on the front) within six months of daily use.

One other thing, if you get the comp ones, paint the steel, that silver is not plating, but bare uncoated steel, it rusts quickly!

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

Fantastic, thanks for that Graham.
While we're at it , what shock absorber setup would you recommend?

I'd like to get the fundamentals correct from the start, rather than be potentially buying things twice.

Thankyou

What does it matter, don't your wheels end up pointing to the sky anyway?

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One should never skimp on the zip ties.

Thankyou Ben?

I've used Spax all round, which are OK, but built to a price (In my opinion) and also Koni on front with spax on back (purely to allow adustment of rears without taking two tanks out ! Koni's seem a bit better on the front.

Last set I bought were GAZ, these were nicely put together and so far have porformed well, Bling plating too!

If it were a true race car, I believe there are better quality units out there, but big $$, talk to some Mini Miglia racers!

I want to try the Kyaba low cost ones too, make sure you check out Mini Spares 'kit' buys, I seem to recall I bought a kit of new cones, shocks and adustable suspension as a kit part number and made a further saving. I'll check out their web site...

Don't forget the "lowered or standard" ride height issue too!

Cheers......

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Sir Alec! we are not worthy!

willy

A couple of years ago I had a good chat to Grieg about the setup in his car, after sitting on a couple of flag points and watching how he could attack the ripple strips and how the car reacted I just had to ask him and he told me that he was running some old normal cones aaaand just ssome decent shocks. His car robe the bumps better than any other mini there including the superminis he wqas running with so I reckon if you want a really good setup give him a ring, he has no problems telling people and helping othets

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Roundies and Clubbies(except vans) are both ugly that is why I have Midas and a van
1293 Mini Midas Bronze,1275 Clubman van

Feral, I will give him a call during the week. Its sometimes the case that the standard/cheaper items can be better than aftermarket hey!

During the past 50 years they have changed the rubber compounds in the springs. The older ones were better quality.
The springs in the Australian cars (pre 78 ) will last longer than the springs in a 99 model.

I would go for good old ones. I am sure there is other things to spend your money on.

Absolutely. But I'd like to get the fundamentals right. And with so many options/choices, it's hard to get lost amongst it all!

KC had a warning on his web site but it is no longer there. He was saying there were some real cheap crap( as in quality) in cone springs on the market that were very short lived. Problem is how do you tell the quality by looking at them?

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!