[AndyH_MCS]

Can anyone help with my Mini?

On a recent activity @ North Weald Airfield (with Hondas On Track) there were 3 time attack courses. Each time the Mini entered a corner, which usually were hairpin type turns, the car would understeer MASSIVELY!

Now whatever i did to try and improve the situation the car would not have it. The back would never step out, even with lifting off and touching the brakes, and the car would take massive detours. Now i am sure that some of this was down to my lack of talent but after a couple of people driving the car and getting the same results (better drivers) i think something may be amiss.

The car has S Spokes with Yokohama Parada Spec2s on, the surface was good tarmac and dry, the ambient temps were between 15 and 17 degrees with no wind.

I am aware that the bushes are prone to wear on the front. Would this have been an issue? What mods should i get done to sort it out? Spacers? Coilovers? Strut Braces?

Help please

Andy

[alski]

not cheap, but anti roll bars might be worth a look, have you a budget in mind?

[AndyH_MCS]

Well i'd probably do each mod month by month to spread out the cost. I've got a mate who is a mechanic to help with the fitting side so thats not too spiteful.

IIRC the Eibach front roll bar is £300?

[MINIdriver85]

I'd say the first thing to buy is a 22mm rear antiroll bar, I have one and the understeer is almost forgotten. Then I'd fit camber plates on the front and set camber 1° degree negative on each side, and possibly have some better shocks and springs, I have JCW shocks and Eibach springs, and finally since lowering the car you'll get lots of camber on the rear, I'd fit adjustable rear control arms, so that you can put it at 0 or 1° degree negative each side too.

I know fitting all these things is pricey, but I've done it and the car is changed completely, I tested it more than once and just Saturday night I was impressed at how much it would follow the path I wanted it to! Of course, coilovers would be even better than JCW shocks + eibach springs but also much more expensive...

[rkw]

You can affect the understeer to some extent through adjusting tire pressure. Reduce understeer by increasing pressure in the rear tires (and/or decreasing in the front).

You could also try the hand brake

[steve11]

Definitely bigger rear sway bar. 22mm at least.

[MINIdriver85]

Yes, increasing the rear tyres pressures is another good way to keep understeer at bay.

[AndyH_MCS]

Thanks for the replys

I'll definitely get the Alta 22mm Rear ARB then.

With regards to tyre pressures, we were advised to pump the tyres up to their maximum capacity so they didn't run on the side wall. However i did put 40psi in the rears and 37psi at the front (not that 3psi will make much difference).

I see that Roland of GTT fame suggests fitting spacers to increase the front track. Would this make a big difference?

Before i do any mods i'm going to do a couple of laps of Brands Hatch to get a bench mark. Then see how much the mods improve the lap times.

[1320autos]

When are you going to Brands Andy?

[AndyH_MCS]

Either Friday 16th Nov or Sunday 2nd of December. They are both novice track days on the Indy circuit. I don't fancy doing an open pit lane as my first session.

If i don't do it on these dates then i'll book it for the new year. I'm also looking at hiring someone for tuition.

[MINIdriver85]

Quote: Originally Posted by AndyH_MCS (original)

Thanks for the replys

I'll definitely get the Alta 22mm Rear ARB then.

With regards to tyre pressures, we were advised to pump the tyres up to their maximum capacity so they didn't run on the side wall. However i did put 40psi in the rears and 37psi at the front (not that 3psi will make much difference).

I see that Roland of GTT fame suggests fitting spacers to increase the front track. Would this make a big difference?

Before i do any mods i'm going to do a couple of laps of Brands Hatch to get a bench mark. Then see how much the mods improve the lap times.

Ah, Brands Hatch...had the pleasure to try it only virtually on videogames but i love the track. If I ever come to UK with my car i'm gonna pay a visit there.

As for the spacers...I dunno, I don't have them but I don't think they will change much.

[Damo]

Rear Anti Roll bar would be great way of reducing understeer as already said. But a quicker cheaper way is to play around with your tyre pressures first. Having said that I've always run either equal front and rear, or a little more in the front than rear with no problems.

I have both front and rear eibach, but I feel the improvement the front gave isn't worth the cost of fitting it. Although I'm quite happy with my setup. (I had just rear first then front and rear)

[MINIdriver85]

yeah, I did the same, rear first and then the front one, however the best result came from the rear one.

[minigolf]

Rear sway bar. Definitely.

Hand brake. Yeah, give that a whirl as well. Then you will have comical oversteer.