Hi everyone, I am looking for some suspension advice.

Love this forum. My 05 MCS is in need of some TLC. I have about 84,000mi on her. I have the alta cai, msd ignition, and just put on the 15% pulley. I run 17 wheels with non-runflat tires(215/40/17) toyos getting down to wear bars and cupping. I have 2 10" subs in rear hatch in a homemade box with 2 amps underneath (heavy at least 50 lbs.), been in back since new.
Right now the mini handles pretty sloppily. Choppy ride, really loose on road, follows ruts instantly, can be scary on freeway going 80, especially changing lanes quickly. I have to really pay attention. Not tight at all like it used to be. Seems ok cornering but just looser. Get quite a bit of steering wheel grab when accelerating and breaking.

My goal is to return the handling back the way my mini handled new. Which was just fine for me. I am going to get the Koni FSD shocks for sure. And new tires of course, damn mini tire eating monster.

Questions:
1. How hard is it to replace the shocks myself (I did the pulley myself)?
2. Should I replace the springs as well. Do they wear out?
3. What other suspension parts should be replaced?
4. Do I need to upgrade the sway bars or add braces?
5. Do the engine bushings need replacing?
Thanks for any advice. Eric

Hi everyone, I am looking for some suspension advice.

Love this forum. My 05 MCS is in need of some TLC. I have about 84,000mi on her. I have the alta cai, msd ignition, and just put on the 15% pulley. I run 17 wheels with non-runflat tires(215/40/17) toyos getting down to wear bars and cupping. I have 2 10" subs in rear hatch in a homemade box with 2 amps underneath (heavy at least 50 lbs.), been in back since new.
Right now the mini handles pretty sloppily. Choppy ride, really loose on road, follows ruts instantly, can be scary on freeway going 80, especially changing lanes quickly. I have to really pay attention. Not tight at all like it used to be. Seems ok cornering but just looser. Get quite a bit of steering wheel grab when accelerating and breaking.

My goal is to return the handling back the way my mini handled new. Which was just fine for me. I am going to get the Koni FSD shocks for sure. And new tires of course, damn mini tire eating monster.

Questions:
1. How hard is it to replace the shocks myself (I did the pulley myself)?
2. Should I replace the springs as well. Do they wear out?
3. What other suspension parts should be replaced?
4. Do I need to upgrade the sway bars or add braces?

Thanks for any advice. Eric

What I've had done at 60K on 03 MCS, Koni FSD's, poly' bushes on wishbones, engine and gearbox, top, lower and middle strut GTT braces. I'm running same tyres and wheels but a 17% pulley etc with no IC upgrade but I'm in the UK :)

If you did the pulley well you should cope with shocks, mine were all fitted though, springs I doubt you will need.

It's early days for me to comment as a lot was only fitted in the last week or so but the car is a tight as a "Ducks A--E" I can assure you :D

My mini specialist advised against lowering on FSD's as there designed to run on factory springs so you lose a lot of benefit if you do.
Graham