Unless he was shipped the wrong springs - the ones for the R53 drop the rear more than the front.

 

I am wondering if I had more drop in the rear because I used R56 TSW springs on a R55?

Does not matter anymore now that the NM springs are on, the ride is better. I will pay attention to see if anything changes as the springs settle in. The drop looks very nice on the R55. So far very happy, thanks for Danny at MiniCorsa squeezing me in and installing them so fast.

 

before and after pics?

 

Here are some pics of what the Clubman looks like after the swap out to NM springs, I will look for some before pics.





So far I love the NM springs

 

Looks great, rasputin!

How's the clearance in the front bumper to the ground?

Which RSB do you have (brand)? What setting did you put the sway bar in (which hole did you mount it through)

You have my setup, just curious as to what I should expect...I have the RSB sitting on the floor in my office now, just waiting for the springs to come in (finally ordered them last week)!

 

Before:



After:

 

Are you guys just changing out the springs? Not shocks?

 

Yup just springs in my case. I did a rear 25mm sway bar the weekend before. Looking back, I should have ordered them for delivery the same week. Install those two mods together.

 

I ordered the Alta 19mm sway bar almost a month ago, it's just sitting on the floor in the box in my office. I ordered the NM springs last week and planned to install them both at the same time. Made the most sense to me to do together! Hopefully I'll try to get them both in this weekend!

 

just a suggestion, look into getting sway bar end links to install when you get the springs, especially when going to a 22mm/25mm hollow bar. After upgrading the bar the weak link in the swaybar system is the end link. Plus, with springs you're changing the geometry of the force on the swaybar and not fully using the capabilities of the bar...

 

I don't think I would have a problem using the 19mm bar...

 

^probably not, the 19 is close to stock, but i wouldn't be surprised if it deforms on you in a few years.

 

One of the biggest handling complaints I have about my JCW with Sport Suspension is the amount of squat/dive when accelerating/hard braking. With the NM solution is this effect reduced considerably? Would a bigger rear bar help with this as well?

Thanks!

 

Now, I'm no professional advisor, but if you want to eliminate the squat/dive, shorter/stiffer springs will help with that somewhat, but changing the shocks should help that even more. The sway bars help when taking a turn, not when driving straight. When you have a stiffer sway bar, it reduces the side to side lean when taking a turn.

 

Actually when experiencing the dive/squat in a straight line, it's not really a problem. It is however, when braking hard into a corner, or coming out of one. The car can get pretty unsettled.

With a bigger rear bar I thought it might help keep the inside rear planted a little better (the force going more sideways and less up/forward). Is that not the case?

 

Than a sway bar will make a difference.

 

So, I guess it is my turn to chim in with a question... I've got an 08' S without the sport supension and the stock 16's. (Sorry still on a college budget) I've noticed that most everyone here either has an upgraded sway bar or is putting one on with these springs. What would these springs bring to the table without the sway bar? Also is there potential issues with camber and alignment with a stock setup + NM springs.

 

The springs are going to give you a lower stance (if you put lowering springs), and anywhere from a 15% to probably 35% more stiff ride over stock...

The primary reason that most of the Mini drivers choose to change the rear bar only as opposed to both front and rear for street use is that the Mini has the tendency to understeer (front end going out) more so than to oversteer (tail sliding out). Most agree that it's easier to control a car when it is oversteering versus understeering, and by changing the rear bar alone neutralizes the handling to reduce the tendency to understeer. The main thing the sway bar will do is reduce the lean in hard cornering and flatten the handling a bit. I had a '99 Acura TL that I put springs alone, and a few months later added sway bars (front and rear in this case), the difference was like night and day. I definitely suggest changing the rear sway bar if you're going to invest in the suspension and want overall better handling for street use and the occasional "spirited driving" urge you may have.

And remember, I'm no pro, but these are my thoughts.

 

I think it actually might be the other way around. When you're cornering, the displacement of the rear outside spring causes the swaybar to twist, which in turn causes the inside rear spring to displace, which in turn lifts the inside wheel off the ground. This will cause the weight to be transferred to the outside front wheel, and will reduce understeer by increasing front-end grip (if I'm not mistaken).

 

 

I have NM springs - NM sway bar - Koni FSD Strut/shocks and the ride is very good (I live a metro area also) , the handling is terrific (probably better than I drive).
The height has not been a problem, I am careful climbing steep inclines as I have splitter on the front.

 

Finally...I'm officially 1.2" closer to Earth... I didn't have time to put the RSB in, even though it probably would have been easier to do it while removing the springs, but I guess I'll do it next week. With the help of my friend's shop (using a lift and air tools) and one of his tech's, we finished the task in about an hour and a half! We didn't even take off the rear wheels while working in back, but we did take off the front wheels because we didn't have much of a choice. Anywho, here she is! Don't mind the brake dusty wheels, I need to wash it again tomorrow...

 

Looks Great!

 

very nice, now.

 

All I need is a set of JCW Challenge wheels to complete the look...