Im not a fan of how the rear of my mini sits high. I would prefer it sitting level with no rake. the front height is just fine. Im cheap af. would cutting a half or full coil off the rear spring do this? I think the rubber pad floats so it can rotate to match the spring pocket. many moons ago (1983?) I cut two coils out of my '72 510. looked fantastic and rode even better. lets have this an interactive discussion and not a flaming session please...

 

With the rear suspension travel being as short as it is, cutting a coil will just put you on the bump stops 100%. If you are dead set for cutting a coil in the rear, at least pull apart the rear shock assembly and also cut the bump stops in half.

 

Are our rear coil symmetrical in their winding at the seated ends? I can't remember if the ends flatten or not consistent in spacing with the core middle of the spring. The consideration here is how much spring area is used in the seat comparing the before and anticipated after.

I would think cutting a little will net a pretty good swing in where the preload takes place (ride height).

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2007-2013-M...oAAOSw339elhMw

The bottom of the spring flattens to the shock mount. The top looks like it might be the better option for cutting. Not sure I would cut my springs, but if that's what you want to do... I might cut a half coil from the top and see where it ends up.

 

It's not 1983...and MINI use progressive springs....the ones in your 1972 were prob linear....

 

I'm not convinced the rear R56 springs are very progressive...

 

I'd measure the diameter of the loops at either end....I'm betting the inner coils are of diff dimention and will not seat properly in the perches. And guessing too when hit the first good bump they will unseat = dangerous.

GL!

 

Cutting coils sounds like a Honda Civic kind of thing. Never cut coil springs because safety related issues but also for other reasons. But your car. Do as you wish.

 

Mini springs are about as linear as can be without being a linear spring for coilovers. Cutting your coil springs is what I call old school. It's what we did when we were young and poor and aftermarket springs were expensive 30 years ago. I have to be honest I did this just recently. I was really just trying to do something cheap that was equivalent to the look of my JCW springs but a little softer. I failed for a couple reasons. My car is a base mini and my stock springs are base not sport. So I figured they would be to soft to cut and make as short as the JCW's. So I bought clubman rears and MCS fronts. The rears are at least as stiff or stiffer then then the JCW's of a lightweight base mini. That was my first mistake. The 2nd is I cut a full coil of the front and rear and that ended up being 1/2 inch lower then the JCW'S. Rears were so stiff I had no issues with ridding or hitting the bump stops, the fronts hit them and damaged them. Maybe because they were old. So be careful how much you cut. When I did a 1/2 coil to start with the rear it was not much, but again they were from a clubman S. Start with a 1/4 and drive it around because mine settled about a 1/4 inch after driving it. Pulling it in and out of the garage did not do it. After all of that I put the JCW's back on with my orginal stock shocks vs using off the shelf single adjustable Koni's and the custom double adjustable koni's was not even a thought. I did have fun doing all of this and it kind of brought me back to my 20's and being stuck at home the last few months gave me something to do.

 

I had a 2010 Justa. Had the same thoughts as you. I cut ¾ coil off the top of the rear coils, was able to reassemble the struts without any compressor. I used some older “S” shocks and an S RSB 17mm. Handled great. By 60,000 mi the original fronts were shot, used new strut tops, S struts w stock springs. Car was handling fine when I sold it.

 

now thats what I was looking for! how much drop in the rear did 3/4 of a coil net you? is there a difference between S and just a shocks and struts? 17mm usb just bolts in?
thanks!