Hi all

Starting from scratch, what is the best way to improve the handling of a hydro based mini.

(eg for track use, not road use)

thanks

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Rear Competition bump stops, check your helper springs. Front shock absorbers, check all the rubber stops at the front and trailing arms and bottom arms, a full wheel measurement including geometry check of the back and front which will give you an idea of how much adjustment the back will need for toe in and camber settings. Full front adjustable suspension at the front and set to desired camber castor toe settings. Do get the hydro pumped to correct/desired running height before doing all the measurements. I'd also do it with all the right running gear on such as the racing setup tyres and wheels. (don't do it on some old steelies then change them to the racing hoosiers, cause it will change!)

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

The first thing to do is to take all the hydro out & fit adjustable dry



seriously tho, if you`re really keen then you can fit restrictors in the line/hose joiners at the front,,,, fit a good pair of koni shocks,,,, use thick hydro fluid,,, fit competition bump stops,,,

have fun

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

Just think about how it all works.
The hydro displacer has a rubber spring and damping valves.
The interconnection is only there to improve the ride.

After all these years the damping valves have probably turned to grit and the rubber springs have sagged.
Adding competition bump stops is basically increasing the spring rate.
Adding external shocks is making up for the lack of damping in the units.
Fluid does not compress, so thicker fluid will not help the spring rate but it will help the damping if there is any valves left in the bags.

I have heard of people trying adjustable damping (i.e. a needle valve in the line between the front & rear bags) but they found it worked best for track with the valves closed.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

That will not help the damping, the damper is inside the unit. It will improve the car on the track as it controls the dive and squat.

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

I would like to know more about this mod, I figure it's easy enough to make caps to sit inside the hose ends where they attach to the steel lines, but what size of hole would the restrictor need to make this of any use?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

The Morris 1100 has these from the factory. The hole is about 3 or 4mm.

Anyone ever heard of someone changing the piping so instead of left hand and right hand, diagonal?

If you did that, the thing would roll onto the bump stops on the outside through every corner, and would still dive and squat with acceleration and braking.

Connecting the front and rear on the same side means that during lateral acceleration (i.e. cornering) the suspension cannot compress. If you cross them, compression of the outside front wheel will cause deflection of the inside rear, which will exacerbate roll.

Not a good idea.

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

Yes

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Too many cars, and too little time.

They don't need the pipes to work.
The interconnection is there to improve the ride.
The displacers will work as stand alone units.

But if you are going to do that you may as well run rubber cones and shocks.

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.