handling
Turbo Mini Forums

what's the best set up for a mini: solid front sub frame and rubber bushes at the rear whats the best suspension to get. i want to get the maximum handling out of my mini

Maximum handling... Open your wallet you can go into the thousands, need more of a description like budget, and what you want.

well i race karts and i like the feel of this mini but its very twitchy done everything like tyre pressures rear tracking but its only on standard suspension and on 13's

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Just kidding Evo.

If something is worth doing, it's worth doing half of.

Dont worry John, I got it!

I have fairly limited knowledge on suspension but I'll throw in my two penneth.

Firstly, are you staying with subframes and shock absorbers or do you want coilovers?
If it's the first option then you could look into different rubber cones or springs and running hilos.
You've then got the different types of adjustable shock absorbers, do you want to run it stiff and feel all the bumps in the road or a bit softer?
And then you have coil overs which is a whole other kettle of fish as you start going into rear beam axles and what not.

With the front subframe you've got adjustable tie rods and bottom arms, or rose jointed bottom arms to keep it a bit more solid. This means you can then adjust the camber and how many degrees you want that out by.

Bushes and subframe mounts play a part too, as you've said. I've barely scratched the surface with the different options and things you have to ask yourself...

As you are new to Minis I would suggest doing the following.

1) Replace front subframe mounts with solid
2) Fit fixed 2 deg neg camber lower arms with poly bishes
3) Fit uprated tie rods with uprated stiff rubber bushes. Have geometry set to give 4-5 deg caster.
4) Fit a decent set of adj dampers, Gaz, Koni, Spax, etc.

That should give you a good starting place without spending a fortune.

i think evrything tom has said but with the addition of rear arm tracking brackets and hi-los. i would also go and get it set up by someone who knows minis as this makes as much difference as the parts themselves. then if your doing that you might as well get adjustable bottom arms while your there and save money in the future for when you want to change it again.

thank you for all your reply's ive got some little problems to sort out like the clutch slave cylinder to replace and the o/s rear brakes are leaking im of to mini spears to buy the parts and going to sort them out on Thursday them im going to start on the handling im going to start with the sub frames and make them solid, next week and then start to replace the all the bit and bobs to uprated tie rods with uprated stiff rubber bushes. wheres the best place to take to get it checked and set up.

Tom

http://www.minispares.com/Product.aspx?ty=pb&pid=38460

that basicly everything you said is it not? except the lower arms are adjustable not 2.0 degree fixed and comes with hi los and rear tracking brackets....

and sorry to hijack thread a bit but..
is this expensive as it is what i will be uprating to during the summer?

Edited by Gaball on 21st Mar, 2011.

I looked at that kit Gaball and wouldn't mind suggestions as to whether it would be worth buying. It will only be going on my non turbo mini as I have other stuff lined up for that.
I don't know much abut AGX dampers but the rest of the kit seems pretty sound.
The only thing I'd change is the bushes.

Handling is a very personal term.

A car could handle very well for that driver...yet perhaps not be the fastest thing around a track.

Handling is about perception, not how fast it can go around a corner.
But often a car that does handle and communicate well with the driver, will allow them to be able to drive it faster under most circumstances.

Either way, you dont need an expensive setup for it to "handle", you just need one set up to suit your driving style.

And as important as the rest of the setup....tyres.

Edited by stevieturbo on 22nd Mar, 2011.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will