[cooper.PT]

Hi all!

I've been reading about this item in several places and I've seen the types available on the net. But one question remains:

How will this item affect the turning of my Mini?

I tend to understeer while turning very hard, while this can be due to my skills, would an upper strut brace help anything?

Thank you, in advance, for any experienced comments

[Barnabas]

Strut braces basically stiffen up the front end, resulting in less body roll, and thereby increasing the car's ability to evenly distribute the forces on the tires. That's my understanding of them anyways, if I'm mistaken someone correct me please.

As for understeer, that's a given since it's a FWD car, but MINI should feel very neutral, and if you're understeering I'd suggest you brake earlier before a turn, or lift throttle mid turn and then step on it again.

[SteveM3]

The strut brace will stiffen up the front end keeping the geometery of the suspension
optimum for longer making the car a little more predictable at extreme cornering
force. I doubt you need one for road use. It may also act like an anti-roll bar stiffening
the front suspension which will increase the understeer. Stiffen the rear springs or the
rear anti-roll bar to decrease understeer. Personally I'd trust the experts and look
around for a suspension package that has been tested to decrease understeer whilst
not going so far as to make it oversteer easily.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Quote: Originally Posted by SteveM3

The strut brace will stiffen up the front end keeping the geometery of the suspension
optimum for longer making the car a little more predictable at extreme cornering
force. I doubt you need one for road use. It may also act like an anti-roll bar stiffening
the front suspension which will increase the understeer. Stiffen the rear springs or the
rear anti-roll bar to decrease understeer. Personally I'd trust the experts and look
around for a suspension package that has been tested to decrease understeer whilst
not going so far as to make it oversteer easily.

SteveM3 is on the right track. You need to stiffen the rear to decrease understeer. The quickest and easiest mod is to change to s stiffer anti-sway bar. One that is adjustable will give you some choices as to how much stiffer you want to go and still keep a smoooth ride.

On any of the adj. anti-sway bar kits I would start off with the softest setting, which, depending upon the manufacturer, will be 15% - 20% stiffer than the stock MCS bar. Even stiffer than a stock Cooper bar.

Enjoy.

[cooper.PT]

Thank you very much for the usefull info.

A friend of mine talked about that today but the only problem is that I can't seem to find aftermarket anti-sway bar, and my dealer seems to be against selling me a Cooper S suspension kit!?

Can you suggest a site, please?

[CoryB]

Please note that I'm not recommending any of these over any other. Just some links for you to look at:

Alta

JSC Speed

Mini Mania

Or just a generic Google search

[LordOfTheFlies]

I'm getting the RDR adjstuable sway bar from Helix Minisports. Thinking about the H-Sport Competition but it might be overkill:

http://www.helix13.com/html/products/suspension.htm

[rasp]

I have the Madness adjustable swaybar and am very pleased with it....

[flyboy2160]

do a search on this; it's been discussed before.

since i just reamed some guys on nam about the pilo rear strut brace, mr. strut braces are stupid on the mini may as well chime in here, too.

for starters, NO ONE has reported measured deflections of the rear or front strut top area. given the geometry of the rear links and their rubber bushings, putting a bar there just shows one's ignorance.

IF the front strut top structure were "soft", say like some 1960's mustang, a brace would help. but the mini structure looks stout and well boxed in there AND there are a million rubber bushings in the front end. so it's another waste of time and $$ pretending that one is a good enough driver "drifting through corners at 120 mph" to actually tell the difference, if there was one.

spend the money on a driving school.

[kyriian]

Quote: Originally Posted by LordOfTheFlies

I'm getting the RDR adjstuable sway bar from Helix Minisports. Thinking about the H-Sport Competition but it might be overkill:

http://www.helix13.com/html/products/suspension.htm

u get a few advantages over the competition with the h-sport.. even if it is the most expensive
-light weight (5lb, even if it's in the rear, and lifting both is a huge difference)
-lube that will rarely squeak... so far 2 months i've got it on and yet not a single squeak from them and very please with the standard setting

dependent on the suspension of the mini... the cars with ss+ will enjoy the competition bar.. while stock suspension should just go with the street... even on it's softest setting i can still throw the rear out at higher speeds... so if you are not ready to change your driving style.... be aware

[SteveS]

I'm very happy with the Alta 22mm bar, set on stiff setting on my MCS. It still understeers a little at the limit, but proper driving can make it neurtal. On speed bumps, though, you are " encouraged" to take them straight on, as taking them at an angle accentuates the stiffness of the rear of the car. I put it on 8 months ago with liberal coating of synthetic grease (amsoil) applied to the bushings and so far no squeak. I really appreciate the stiffened ride and go-kart like handling. Next up, camber plates for front to save tires in autocross conditions.

Oh yeah, get yourself some 215-45-16 falken azenis. They really stick! (I'm in SoCal).

Had the H-sport 25 mm bar been offered in black, I would have gotten it, though, as lighter with zerk fittings is better

[LordOfTheFlies]

Quote: Originally Posted by kyriian

u get a few advantages over the competition with the h-sport.. even if it is the most expensive
-light weight (5lb, even if it's in the rear, and lifting both is a huge difference)
-lube that will rarely squeak... so far 2 months i've got it on and yet not a single squeak from them and very please with the standard setting

dependent on the suspension of the mini... the cars with ss+ will enjoy the competition bar.. while stock suspension should just go with the street... even on it's softest setting i can still throw the rear out at higher speeds... so if you are not ready to change your driving style.... be aware

I ended up getting the RDR as per Eric's suggestion and have it at the middle setting. I don't plan on tracking at all....and the way he lubed up the bushings that clamp down on the sway bar I doubt I will get any squeaking at all.....and so far have not gotten any yet....