SUSPENSION - Basic set-up method

Time to arrange all those agonised over, carefully selected and applied suspension components to give of their best.

Suspension - Basic set-up method

part numbers: TOOL10, TOOL11, HILO, HILO-01

Time to arrange all those agonised over, carefully selected and applied suspension components to give of their best.

This is one of those subjects viewed as a ‘black art’, largely because of lack of understanding and confusion. The confusion part is because folk encompass the whole suspension set-up deal with suspension arrangement and design, lack of understanding instilling terror at the thought of ‘fiddling’ with the suspension components. The latter also fuelled by the knowledge that expensive specialist measuring equipment is needed. Well, there is no black art – you can work the magic. More a case of a long day...

SUSPENSION GEOMETRY - Buy the right parts to do the job correctly

It is baffling to see so many companies advertising mini suspension geometry parts in kits that are a waste of time as they rarely complete the job on either the front or the rear.

Wheels & tyres - Bigger wheel fitment consideration

Predominantly 13-inchers, but 12s as well, the main thrust of the questions being 'what do I need to do?'

This subject is a regular visitor to the message board and 'Knowledge' section of Mini Magazine for whom I write - fitting bigger wheels. Predominantly 13-inchers, but 12s as well, the main thrust of the questions being 'what do I need to do?' along with 'which wheel arch extensions will I need?' The answer has always been somewhat 'clipped' purely because of the space availability issues both in the magazine and on the message board, so something a little more detailed was required. Although the Mini suspension was designed around the use of 10-inch wheels with cross-ply tyres, a quick dash through history reveals that fitment of these bigger wheel sizes isn't a recent, 'modern' application.

Wheels & tyres - Problems with 12-inch wheels rubbing

Having applied Hi-Los and some smart 165/60/12 profile tyre shod12 x 5-inch ally rims, discussions get around to a subject that has cropped up a zillion times in the Knowledge, at shows, my e-mail address, etc. - just why does this combination cause the tyre to hit the front arch?

To be more exact - why does the tyre just rub, twang the plastic arch off, or foul the arch to the point of bending it? Even if the genuine, original fitment 'Cooper' alloy 12-inch rims are used with the 165/60/12 tyres? Well, it's all a question of alignment - either subframe to body or suspension to subframe. When trying to source/cure the problem, many folk have discovered that shim plates have been used between the front panel to subframe teardrop mounting and the subframe - and wonder if the car has been in an accident and been 'fudged', so could be causing the problem.

Mini Production dates

We have tried to get together as complete list as possible to show all the models made from 1985 onwards, hopefully this will help identify those cars that have been modified over the years. If you have any information that you know is correct or anything that you think is not right please let us know.

Historical Article - Nov 1991 - MINI SPARES 1000CC STAGE ONE KIT

Both Keith Calver and Keith Dodd have fitted the Mini Spares kit to their 1000cc cars. Keith Calver was involved in getting the ignitions and needle settings correct at Peter Baldwin’s (Marshalls) rolling road in Cambridge.

Many people already have some of the parts on their car without know how close they are to extra power. The parts required are the original Competition Silencers exhaust RC40, Mini Spares special inlet manifold, Maniflow freeflow exhaust manifold...

Historical Article - Nov 1991 - MINI SPARES 1000CC STAGE ONE KIT

Both Keith Calver and Keith Dodd have fitted the Mini Spares kit to their 1000cc cars. Keith Calver was involved in getting the ignitions and needle settings correct at Peter Baldwin’s (Marshalls) rolling road in Cambridge.

Many people already have some of the parts on their car without know how close they are to extra power. The parts required are the original Competition Silencers exhaust RC40, Mini Spares special inlet manifold, Maniflow freeflow exhaust manifold...

Historical Article - March 1992 - Wild Thing!

In 1988, a humble 1973 Mini 1000 was minding its own business somewhere in London, when along came a young Mini freak called Jason King, who wanted to change it for ever, and make it famous.

Jason persuaded the owner to take £450 for the car, and then proceeded to throw £12,000 worth of presents at it for the next 3 years. Every minute of Jason’s spare time was spent working on his new car and every minute of his working time was spent looking for spares.

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Visit Across the Pond

Every year in America and Canada, Mini enthusiasts get together for a Mini “Convention”. In fact there are two held, due to the copious quality of “surface area” that makes up North America and Canada! One designated Mini Meet West and the other (Surprise surprise) is the Mini Meet East. Each year one of the numerous Mini owners Clubs volunteers to arrange and conduct the meeting at a venue in their area.

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Visit Across the Pond

Every year in America and Canada, Mini enthusiasts get together for a Mini “Convention”. In fact there are two held, due to the copious quality of “surface area” that makes up North America and Canada! One designated Mini Meet West and the other (Surprise surprise) is the Mini Meet East. Each year one of the numerous Mini owners Clubs volunteers to arrange and conduct the meeting at a venue in their area.

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - History in the making

Having built one Cooper ‘S’ for Timo Makinen to use in Historic Rallying, in which he won two International Rallies, I decided to build another one with more power and less weight than the previous one.

One lesson I learnt the hard way building the first car, was that a reliable source of new parts with in-built quality, especially where obsolete parts were being remanufactured, was essential. Mini Spares of London...

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - History in the making

Having built one Cooper ‘S’ for Timo Makinen to use in Historic Rallying, in which he won two International Rallies, I decided to build another one with more power and less weight than the previous one.

One lesson I learnt the hard way building the first car, was that a reliable source of new parts with in-built quality, especially where obsolete parts were being remanufactured, was essential. Mini Spares of London...

Historical Article - Nov 1992 - Little Red Booster - fastest road legal mini

In the November 1991 issue of Mini Tech News, we found ourselves with a half page to fill, and for no particular reason really, decided to throw a picture of our man Phil Oram’s recently departed Riley Elf racer...

Historical Article - May 1993 - Mini Spares Project Min

Mini Spares Project Min With so many new products being developed at Mini Spares, we decided - well actually, Keith Dodd decided - that instead of using staff cars, we should get ourselves a proper donor car for testing parts.

Historical Article - October 1993 - Mini Spares Project Min

Mini Spares Project Min

Mini Spares decided to produce an up market twin headlamp grille, because so many Cooper owners needed to renew their grille or replace the front valance mounted spotlamps. Their location means that they get damaged so easily on impact. whether it be by cars reversing into them when parking or from minor accidents.

To produce this grille with stainless steel slats meant that we had to use the back plate from the current cars. which goes back to the first MK2 in 1968. Using this back plate would obviously govern the size of the lamps we could use. Originally it was hoped that a 6" lamp could be used. but because a reinforcement ring was required only a 5.75" or 5.5" lamp could be used which was not what we re...

Historical Article - April 1994 - 8-Port Project Min

Mini Spares - 8-Port Project Min If you refer back to the October 1993 edition of Mini Tech News, we were about to embark on modifying the suspension. As luck would or would not have it, we had the advantage of setting up and sorting out the Monte Carlo Mini, which would help us in some directions. After checking the ride height of the car, it was higher on the left hand side by 1 Vs' at the front and W' at the back.

Historical Article-August 1994- 8-Port Final Set Up

8-Port Final Set Up The final setting up of the Mini was accomplished over the Easter holiday and in April I played around with the different Konis and ended up with Koni sports as supplied new, set soft on the rear, with the Monte specials set fairly hard on the front to stop the tramping effect (throttle steer)....

Historical Article-August 1994- 8-Port Final Set Up

8-Port Final Set Up The final setting up of the Mini was accomplished over the Easter holiday and in April I played around with the different Konis and ended up with Koni sports as supplied new, set soft on the rear, with the Monte specials set fairly hard on the front to stop the tramping effect (throttle steer)....

Historical Article-August 1994-8-Port Power

8-Port Power The Arden 8-port cylinder head was designed over 25 years ago, yet it remains one of the most powerful and effective heads available for the Mini A-Series engine today. Designed with racing in mind, the alloy Arden 8-port head was conceived by Jim Whitehouse in 1966/67 to take full advantage of a change in Group 2 regulations, which allowed more freedom in cylinder head design.

Historical Article-August 1994-8-Port Power

8-Port Power The Arden 8-port cylinder head was designed over 25 years ago, yet it remains one of the most powerful and effective heads available for the Mini A-Series engine today. Designed with racing in mind, the alloy Arden 8-port head was conceived by Jim Whitehouse in 1966/67 to take full advantage of a change in Group 2 regulations, which allowed more freedom in cylinder head design.