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ChallengeRacer · Apr 30th, 2006, 07:21 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Capsaisin

Have seen a few posts about "mushrooming" of the strut towers due to the hard ride on the Mini and maybe other factors

I see EssentialMini are selling M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates. I have a couple of questions.
Is it a good idea to fit these, even on a road going Mini (no track use)? But plenty of speedbumps and potholes around here.
If I were to consider fitting these plates, would I actually be better off fitting the whole M7 strut brace?
Need I say that the plates are considerably cheaper than the whole brace.

Good question...Must say I haven't heard of this "mushrooming" problem. Can you describe it? Is it a physical deforming of the unibody? I have the strut tower brace and have had no problems (and we race our Minis on high-grip tarmac, over curbs, etc.)...biggest problem is with the windscreen cracking, which the brace helped to fix. So did the JCW cage.

I can tell you that the strut brace really makes a nice difference in the turn-in. The suspension takes a "set" just that little bit quicker and is more positive. Add a bigger and adjustable rear anti-roll bar and the Mini's handling is transformed....

Apr 30th, 2006, 07:21 AM	#2
ChallengeRacer Hormonal ProKartMini Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bahrain Local Time: 07:40 AM Posts: 48 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by Capsaisin Have seen a few posts about "mushrooming" of the strut towers due to the hard ride on the Mini and maybe other factors I see EssentialMini are selling M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates. I have a couple of questions. Is it a good idea to fit these, even on a road going Mini (no track use)? But plenty of speedbumps and potholes around here. If I were to consider fitting these plates, would I actually be better off fitting the whole M7 strut brace? Need I say that the plates are considerably cheaper than the whole brace. Good question...Must say I haven't heard of this "mushrooming" problem. Can you describe it? Is it a physical deforming of the unibody? I have the strut tower brace and have had no problems (and we race our Minis on high-grip tarmac, over curbs, etc.)...biggest problem is with the windscreen cracking, which the brace helped to fix. So did the JCW cage. I can tell you that the strut brace really makes a nice difference in the turn-in. The suspension takes a "set" just that little bit quicker and is more positive. Add a bigger and adjustable rear anti-roll bar and the Mini's handling is transformed.... *ChallengeRacer* *Bahrain; Vector Motorsports Engineering* *www.teambdm.com* *2003 JCW Minis #17 & #18*