beam rear axle
Turbo Mini Forums

hi guys,

you'll have to forgive me if this is an inappropriate place to post this.

i'm currently looking at a beam rear axle, and wondering if anyone here has had any experience with them, and am just after some general pointers really as to exactly what was involved, or is involved in the fitting to the car, as i have heard so many different stories about how it is best done.

but i have also been told that on a track, it can give you a few seconds a lap, so i think it has got to be worth the work.

any pointers would be greatly appreciated

cheers

Dave

Edited by AlexF2003 on 18th Dec, 2004.

www.mini-roadster.741.com

Roadster conversion kits on the way!

I havent fitted one myself but have a freind who runs a mini company, was asking him about them and in his opinion they were better suited to the track as they gave quite a harsh ride over a well setup rubber cone option! Im not sayin his opinion is tha correct one though!!

i have had i go in a motor with a beam and coilovers. on the mainroad and my fillings dropped out, me personally i would stick to the subby for road applications especially now there are more speed humps than cars, great on the track saves weight some 30pounds.

i dont like them
its the only protection the tank has for when you get rear ended

also the weight of the subframe makes minis a little more stable imho

ive got one and it saves so much weight its a must, im not fussed about the rough ride, but get rammed up the ass is a worry!?!?!

like greypride, im not too worried about the rough ride, i used to drive a race prepped capri as a daily hack, that used to hurt!! and it will be primarily used on the track and strip anyway.

how did you find the fitting?? was it a particually difficult job? ie did you have to cut new holes etc. to mount it?

cheers

www.mini-roadster.741.com

Roadster conversion kits on the way!

it was easy, on mine there are 2 bolts near the middle for extra bolts that go through the heel board, i forgot to drill them and they were a right swine

i cut into my arches because i didnt want to use offset coil overs, i folded up some boxes out of sheet steel, cut the arches and had them welded in. Im going to brace this area a bit more though, just incase!

some pictures of it can be seen at the link at the bottom

Are you sure the rear end is strong enought as is...

most racers reinforce the rear is they run a beam...

alex

AlexF

What do you mean by beam rear axle.

This is what I would call one,

I know lots of the mini spares companys sell what looks like a cut down subframe which you simly use coil overs and your radius arms. Which type do you mean?

Team Racing

You could re-locate the fuel tank couldn't you?

If you look at where all the weight in the rear suspension is you'll find it's in the radius arms and drums and not the subframe.

I think spending money on lighter radius arms and drums is therefore a better way to save weight.

acctually that's given me an idea, now what is KAD web address...........

Edit: Who knows how much KAD alloy rear radius arms are then? KAD like to keep prices secret, and I can't be arsed e-mailing them.

Wil

Edited by wil_h on 21st Dec, 2004.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

not sure on exact prices, saw a 2nd hand pair at MITP04 and they were ?250!

Edited by dan on 21st Dec, 2004.

Ouch. Could probably just strech to that but no more.

Wil

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

?311 +VAT +post
ouch!

the aftermarket ones ive seen, like what huddersfield mini spares sell must save a lot of weight but what puts me off is they dont look very strong, only seem to be made from a bit of angle iron, surely if you hit a pothole or brick then theyd bend easy?

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

my friend is running one from huddersfield minispares they are very light weight i think they are about ?120 ish? made from 25mm box section 3mm walling with some angle tacked on here and there about a tenners worth of steel
thats all,
But they do seem to work ok! he has run the mini at harewood hill clime with no broblems with it breaking.
But needed the services of a osteopath at the end of the season.
iam sure you could knock one up in the shed if you are that way inclined, if you have a welder hacksaw and grinder, sanding discs etc in under two hours, if you had the steel as well no big deal i will try and post a pic of it for you to view.

For track work wouldnt that "beam" be a retrograde step?

You'd be going from away from good independant rear suspension!!

Alex

AlexF

yes i think it would in my view alos alex. but my friend seems to be happy ish? but he did not do any sparkling times at the avents he got thrashed by many subframe versions LOL
the original suspension its hard to beat if well set up (IE) Hi lows, neg camber, rear anti roll bar etc. you have only to see the mini miglias going for it to see how good the near original setup is to beat.
i watched them at cadwell park about six years ago and was extremely impressed how they Handled, my mini is standard except for high lows & neg camber, 1.5 front 0.5 rear & i have alterd the caster slightly to aid torque steer which helps and nowts bet it on the road !
beams save weight if they are well thought out maybe ok to compliment a lightend setup up for drag events....... BUT not for me.

Edited by BENROSS on 22nd Dec, 2004.

Heres a thought though alex...

the beam with 2 tyres is "independant" of teh chassis. so in my mind atleast when the shell rolls on teh suspension, the beam wont roll as much, it will remain pretty level.

if you have a little bit of negative camber on teh rear wheels then even under severe cornering the wheels wil both remain on the tarmac, and the "outside" rear wheel will remain nice and flat on teh road.

wel thats my reconing anyways

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

hence why every manufacture of cars has or is moving to independant rear suspension!

alex

AlexF

yeah but how many car manufacturers make a car which is so heavy at teh front and light at the rear (like a race prepped mini) . was jsut looking at it another way .. im not convinced proper"beam axles" are any good either. but like to try justify to mysoef why other people do ti to try envision the benefits.

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Looking at the Piccy Jim supplied, it's pretty obviously a grasstrack/autograss motor.

I reckon that with the lower grip levels, and hense lower weight transfer, the beam axle could work (and obviously does as plenty of grasstrack minis use this system successfully).

However, for tarmac use I can't see it is an advantage, the inside rear wheel is doing bugger-all when cornering so better to have an independant system I think

Wil

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

your right wil...

look at formualr 1... LOL

alex

AlexF

If the inside rear wheel is doing nothing, then youre suspension setup is faulty, don't you think?? I've seent he video of your car, lifting the inside wheel, and although it looks great, more speed could be carried in corners if thre was more grip.
Don't you agree??

Edited by Vegard on 27th Dec, 2004.

Surely, that's just mini's being a different angle. Personally I use an antiroll bar and more -ve camber than usual.

Regarding lightening the back end more, I don't like the idea as the reality of having to brake IN a corner makes it even more likely to swap ends, so without brake bias, I don't like the idea. The back of a mini is overbraked anyway. Also, I personally like my back as stiff as possible and cones do the job a treat.

I suppose it is one of those things which comes with personal preference. Like Cones over Coils. I'm a traditionalist and all my rants are directed at proving that is the best way.

Bugger off, I'm getting there.