Coilovers on the Back of My Scamp

[steveg]

I'm thinking of fitting coilovers on the back of my Scamp instead of the normal Mini rubber cones. My reason for doing this is to gain some ground clearance (it's going to be quite low) and to save remaking a lot of rusty bits I need to cut off. The Mk2 Scamp does away with a normak subframe and the cones fit directly to the chassis.

I 've read a bit about coilovers not working that well on Minis because the springs are too small in diameter to be made with a progressive rate, not sure if this is true. I did think that by mounting the shock at a reasonable angle it might give an amount of progressive rate but wondered if anyone could suggest how much angle it would need.

I have a couple of suspension book but they don't go into too much detail can anyone help or point me in the right direction to get some info ?

This is what the standard, rusty and slightly bent chassis looks like. To get the back end down I will move the trailing arm pivots upwards and then remake the wheelarches etc to match. I could do anything really but it would be easier to keep the standard trailing arms.

[dodgerover]

I've got progressive springs on thr back of the motorbike so I doubt size is an issue.

[steveg]

Thats a good point I shouldn't believe everything I read on Mini forums. I wonder if the springs aren't the whole problem. I've seen the rubber cone replacement springs which are supposed to be quite good but you would still need to fit the trumpets and mounts in the same position.

[welshpug]

the main issue you have there is the high ratio in movement from wheel to spring, if you go for an upright damper they have to work far less hard and you need a lower spring rate to control wheel movement.

[composimmonite]

I'd fit vertical coil overs. Follow other peoples methods but I assume attached to the shock mounts with reinforcing as necessary.

[steveg]

I had another read through what I have previously seen and whateve expert was giving advice seems to have mixed up coilovers with the type of coil springs that replace the rubber cone itself.
It seems that the shockabsorbers are the problem not the springs.

Thanks for your comments though. I am right about angling the coilovers to get a progressive springs and damping effect though aren't I ?

[ettorebugatti]

Use the coilover ones that go into the shocks place. You will need to beef up the mounts on the chassis.

Inclination gives you progressive rate, but not in the way you want it.
The effective spring force will become less as the spring is 'pushed' in (and giving more angle).

Didn't the Miglia racers used a beam axle? These are quite low too.

[stealthstylz]

Looking at how much that's gonna weigh I'd be sticking some motorbike coilovers on it.

[93fxdl]

Couple of alternatives, how about a beam axle? Afaik used to be a race car modification in the past, or how about a couple of indespension style trailer units? Remember seeing this done on an autograss mini
Ttfn Glenn

[steveg]

I had briefly though about a beam axle but it would be quite a bit of work, and wouldn't leave much space in the back. Saying that raising the trailing arm pivots will loose the flat floor anyway.

I hadn't thought of trailer units, I wonder if something like that would be OK to MOT.