Rear suspension

Is the rear suspension on a mark3 a mini rear subframe or radius arms / coil suspension fitted to the metal frame ? Thanks

Hi Billbod,

The rear suspension on the MK3 is the same as a MK2 - Standard Mini radius arms, cones and trumpets but all held in place with Scamp chassis mounting points and brackets.

I think people have tried to use coil overs mounted directly to the Mini radius arms but with varying success as to whether it sheared the mounting or not - there could be an alignment thing going off I feel.

Thanks , I was dreading replacing the dreaded mini subframe, especially if I get a six wheeler !!!!!!!!!!!!
( less to fail on the MOT ) Thanks again.

Six Wheeler !!!!! Good man

A couple of us were discussing the lack of 6 wheelers in the club these days and that fact that we have a soft spot for them. Will we be lucky enough to see you at some meetings with it if you get it? Are you looking at a MK2 or MK3? I'm guessing MK3 based on your original question.

BTW, if it is the part built MK3 that has been floating about E-bay for the past few months then don't bother as you won't be able to get it registered.

SUMB wrote:Hi Billbod,

The rear suspension on the MK3 is the same as a MK2 - Standard Mini radius arms, cones and trumpets but all held in place with Scamp chassis mounting points and brackets.

I think people have tried to use coil overs mounted directly to the Mini radius arms but with varying success as to whether it sheared the mounting or not - there could be an alignment thing going off I feel.

My GT3 has coilovers front and rear. Only problem I've spotted so far is the top mounts aren't strong enough at the rear and the plate has bent. I'm having some 1/4" plate washers made up to add some strength.

One of the first MK3's was owned by Steve Taylor,he converted the rear suspension to coil over's only to find himself unstuck in the deepest depths of one of the Peak District's trails.The 3.8" stud,that normally holds the shock absorber,had broken,so with the radius swinging and someone sat on the oppposing corner of the bonnet,they managed to get it back to base.The ultimate outcome of this story is that if you are going to offroad it with coilover rear suspension,beef up the lower mounting.By the way,his Mk3 eventually went Lancia powered!!

Which I beleive Chaz has in his new shiny garage

Following on from Chris' comment about coil overs at the rear, Stub axles with 1/2" studs are readily available to prevent you shearing it off at an embarassing moment.

TRR Motorsport wrote:Following on from Chris' comment about coil overs at the rear, Stub axles with 1/2" studs are readily available to prevent you shearing it off at an embarassing moment.

Interesting I'll have a look at those.

We were having a look at it last night and half the problem is the bolts are in single rather then double shear. Triangulating the top mount is a possibility but would be a faff to do as you have to avoid fouling the top of the coil over stud and it's likely to make the nut very awkward to access. Welding some extra plate on underneath add some thickness to the cross plate is looking favourite at the mo. I think I'll be designing some extra brackets for the bottom to put the bolt into double shear.

Just to add - I was the first kid at school to have a Moulton bycycle - Moulton also made the rubber doughnuts for the classic Mini

OSR wrote:We were having a look at it last night and half the problem is the bolts are in single rather then double shear. Triangulating the top mount is a possibility but would be a faff to do as you have to avoid fouling the top of the coil over stud and it's likely to make the nut very awkward to access. Welding some extra plate on underneath add some thickness to the cross plate is looking favourite at the mo. I think I'll be designing some extra brackets for the bottom to put the bolt into double shear.

If memory serves me right the fact that the bolt is in single shear is not the whole problem. There are 2 inherant problems with the coil over on the back of a Scamp. If you look closely from the back of the car I think you will find that the coilover is not 90° to the radius arm (they lean in slightly) and will obviously cause a bending load as well as shear. The other problem is that when the radius arm is in the full compression possition the coilover is more than 90° to it, thus causing a 'Cam' effect.

So, really the top mount needs moving sideways so that the radius arm and coilover are 90° to each other to stop it bending the bottom bolt and also mouving forward so than on full compression its relation to the radius arm does not exceed 90°

SUMB wrote:mini things blah blah etc.....

An interesting answer Chaz, and an excellent side step avoiding mentioning when the Lancia will be done!

Regsmonster wrote:An interesting answer Chaz, and an excellent side step avoiding mentioning when the Lancia will be done!

Now his has to be the ultimate suspension conversion - http://airride.co.uk/?page_id=36

SUMB wrote:

Now his has to be the ultimate suspension conversion - http://airride.co.uk/?page_id=36

£2k and it's powered by diet coke!!!!!!

Powered by Diet Coke mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I think the bottle is there to show how big the compressor is - if you want a lowrider effect there are hydraulic kits on the market

Just to be correct Martin.

Alex Moulton designed the rubber cone.

Dunlop made it.

3.016 nuts and bolts in a Mini and I had my hands on every one.

Martin & Nettie wrote:Powered by Diet Coke mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I think the bottle is there to show how big the compressor is - if you want a lowrider effect there are hydraulic kits on the market

I was joking about the diet coke!

Technically it is a hydraulic kit. Air is a compressible fluid from a thermodynamics/engineering point of view.

I bow down to Mr Bridger's overwhelming knowledge