I think I am almost done with my MINI mods. For several months I have contemplated my suspension. I wanted to change the springs, but every time I start up my driveway at any angle I hear a scrape from the front. I was almost ready to order JCW springs, but can not get around the scrape. My car is a daily driver anyway, but I am going to do at least two HPDEs in it. I am intermediate-solo level at VIR.
My next mod was going to be Vorshlag camber plates. but I wonder if the IE fixed camber plates would be just as good for my needs. Please note, I already have Koni Sport shocks and the plastic pins in the front towers are cut, and I had my installer cut an inch off the bump stops + H-Sport 19mm adj. RSB.
OK--Vorshlag or IE fixed camber plates??

 

Novel idea... Fix the driveway..

Seriously, I had the curb entrance part of my old driveway ripped out and remade. It was seriously a 6" rise in about 2 feet. What moron designed that, I'll never know. There were 5 or 6 of us in the neighborhood that got it done at the same time, we got a pretty good deal.

 

I wish!! The drive way itself is very steep. I was just wondering if the 1.2 degrees of front negative camber would be good enough with about the same or one degree on the rear. Any problems withe the IE fixed camber plates?

 

The IE plates use an open single row ball bearing for the steering motion, and rely on rubber bedding for suspension articulation.

The Vorshlag plates have a double row sealed bearing for the steering motion and have an oversized spherical bearing for suspension articulation.

And the Vorshlags are adjustable! They are also upgradable to 60mm or 2.5" springs if you change things up in the future.

 

They arrived yesterday. I'll have them installed ASAP. They were somewhat inexpensive. I expect there will be some improvement since my alignment is set up stock with .5 degrees of negative camber on the front and 1.5 degrees in the back. What I'm hoping for is 1.2 in the front and 1 degree in the back for more balanced handling.
If they suck at track or daily drive, I'll replace with Vorschlags. I will post on this thread initial impressions after a couple of weeks.

 

Looking forward to it claud, thanks.

- Erik

 

Got IE camber plates installed today. Alignment set at 1.4 neg degrees in front and 1.0 degree negative in back. Also increased Koni yellows to a full turn from softest setting all round. Car feels very planted. It lost all its giggly motions. Turn in is much better. Car is starting to feel very responsive and tossable.
I'm doing a fast run with the club in the mountains on the 28th. That should reveal any weakness or downside.

 

did they raise the ride height?

 

Good question since some camber plates do. It looks the same as before. I guess I should post a pic, but except for the twin 3.5 inch exhaust pipes, car looks stock.

Edit. I looked at it closer today and the front may be a bit higher than before. I'm going to give it two weeks to settle and post before and after pics.

 

thanks claud

 

I went for a day's run in the mountains with the guys. Just think of the Dragon times two without cops and most of the time without locals slowing us down. See it here:

http://www.tarheelminis.org/showthre...2012-Rally-221

My MINI is now well balanced. I can get the tail out if I try and it turns in and tracks much better. I was about number 5 from the front. I'm 63 years old and my old lady nwas riding shotgun. The 20 somethings ahead of us were unable to run off and hide from me unlike the rest of our group.
Pics are from starting point in North Wilkesboro:

 

Overall, it seems like you are happy with the IE fixed plates, correct? Has anything changed? ie ride height, front end noise, steering feel, awkward sounds?

Thanks,
aaron

 

First weekend in April I was at VIR doing HPDE on North Course. Car is mostly neutral handling and very tossable. I can say that ride hight in front has not been affected by the camber plates. It scrapped going in my driveway before install, and after three weeks, it scrapes as much as it did before.

 

I also installed the IE fixed plates, and am happy. For my street car, they are the best choice. They are built similar to the factory strut bushings, with rubber isolation. The higher end plates are solid spherical bearings that may transmit more noise on a street car, but they would have an advantage on a track car (less deflection under load).

I have no strange noises or change in steering feel. The car does feel better with a bit more camber. Highly reccomended for a street car.

Mike

 

Ditto . . . on all the above.