Tuning Suspension upgrade on my Twinair : )
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Tuning Suspension upgrade on my Twinair : )
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The Twins
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Did a few miles today on new suspension today. Body control and steering response is really improved! Can carry so much more into the turns and around islands. The suspension is a lot stiffer but no crashiness over bumps now.
But... The strange thing is, whilst the rear ride high is clearly reduced, the front is not changed from the stock suspension even tho supposed to be 25mm drop! I cannot understand why this is so. Please, ideas anyone? Instead of the usual slightly nose down stance, it now looks dead level. The front should have dropped tho : /
But... The strange thing is, whilst the rear ride high is clearly reduced, the front is not changed from the stock suspension even tho supposed to be 25mm drop! I cannot understand why this is so. Please, ideas anyone? Instead of the usual slightly nose down stance, it now looks dead level. The front should have dropped tho : /
Also, you need to factor in the additional weight of the 1.4 engine with turbo as the spring rates would have been calculated based on this amongst other factors.
I wonder how much less the TA engine and transmission weighs.
I wonder how much less the TA engine and transmission weighs.
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Yes, I though that but too but that would mean all the aftermarket kits that fit all models would be affected too.
The ride height doesn't really (couple of mm) change even if I sit my weight 80ish kg on the front of the car (sitting on the part where bonnet shuts onto)
So I don't think the extra weight if a 1.4 would make that much difference.
The ride height doesn't really (couple of mm) change even if I sit my weight 80ish kg on the front of the car (sitting on the part where bonnet shuts onto)
So I don't think the extra weight if a 1.4 would make that much difference.
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The Twins
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My car is lower than yours and the front camber is closer to spec.
That said, there's enough play in the holes of the upright>strut mounting to get yours back into spec, as one of mine was giving that reading and loosening the bolts, followed by moving the upright brought it back to being spot on. You'll find the car tramlines a bit and tends to wear the inside of the front tyres when they're reaching the end of their life.
The toe reading you've got there isn't quite on spec and they really should have spent a little more time (i.e. a few seconds) getting that close to the 2 minutes on each side.
Something not quite right at the back too - had a little clattering with a kerb on one side by any chance? It's within limits, but to get it spot on you might want to shim the stub axle to get the camber closer to spec.
That said, there's enough play in the holes of the upright>strut mounting to get yours back into spec, as one of mine was giving that reading and loosening the bolts, followed by moving the upright brought it back to being spot on. You'll find the car tramlines a bit and tends to wear the inside of the front tyres when they're reaching the end of their life.
The toe reading you've got there isn't quite on spec and they really should have spent a little more time (i.e. a few seconds) getting that close to the 2 minutes on each side.
Something not quite right at the back too - had a little clattering with a kerb on one side by any chance? It's within limits, but to get it spot on you might want to shim the stub axle to get the camber closer to spec.
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Not sure where you're based, I took my car to Wheels In Motion in Chesham and it was a refreshing change to have someone really take care over the measurements and bring the car into spec.
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Based in Staffs but make take a trip there. I had a quote from Centre Gravity in Nuneaton and I'm sure they would get it 100% but wanted £££!
I'm not worried about the -ve camber though, up to 1.5 degree on Abarth suspension is fine.
At the moment I'm more worried about the ride height at the front : /
I'm not worried about the -ve camber though, up to 1.5 degree on Abarth suspension is fine.
At the moment I'm more worried about the ride height at the front : /
Go to Demon Tweeks, it's closer to you 
ahmett
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Hey guys drove a Mini Cooper S yesterday. Now the suspension of that was amazing if a bit hard and the car handled so much better than the Fiat 500 and even the normal Mini Cooper!
Quick question, if i change my stock suspension to the Bilstien B14's, will my car handle more like the Mini Cooper S?
Because after driving the Mini Cooper S, the Fiat 500 felt VERY UNSTABLE haha.
Quick question, if i change my stock suspension to the Bilstien B14's, will my car handle more like the Mini Cooper S?
Because after driving the Mini Cooper S, the Fiat 500 felt VERY UNSTABLE haha.
AFAIK the Cooper S borrows its multilink rear suspension from the 3 Series Beemer so I doubt a 500 will ever match that without serious fettling.
ahmett
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I remember Bgunn saying that with the B14's suspension feels close to the orginial mini so that means B14 changes the 500's handling considerably compared to the original suspension.
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Yes Ahmett, the B14 or Koni FSD will make the 500 feel more mini like in it's handling. I think bgunn was referring to classic Mini Cooper when he made the comment tho.
The lack of body roll and extra stability on the Koni kit is really amazing. I feel so much more confident pushing hard through bends and islands now.
Feels very go kart like but no jarring or crashiness, even quite big bumps/holes do not cause much of a thump.
I'm guessing the Koni's are a bit softer than the B14.
I still can understand why I got a good drop at the back but not at the front.
Even the Abarth dealer master tech is baffled. He says springs must be wrong ones. We are checking this out.
The lack of body roll and extra stability on the Koni kit is really amazing. I feel so much more confident pushing hard through bends and islands now.
Feels very go kart like but no jarring or crashiness, even quite big bumps/holes do not cause much of a thump.
I'm guessing the Koni's are a bit softer than the B14.
I still can understand why I got a good drop at the back but not at the front.
Even the Abarth dealer master tech is baffled. He says springs must be wrong ones. We are checking this out.
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ahmett
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Nice one! Let us know! I think I will take the plunge at the next service and fit the Bilstein B14's together with the service so maybe the labor will be more agreeable! = )
When I was driving in Turkey on dodgy roads at high speed the cars moving about was really starting to worry me and force me to drive slower. The fact that the Michelin Pilots are so good compared to the Conti Premiums and the fact that I now have 195's instead of 185's makes the fact that the suspension cannot keep up with the grip levels all the more pronounced.
That would be a proper 'full fat' service as i plan on changing:
oil+filter+sparkplugs+cabinfilter
Front Discs+Pads
transmission fluid
timing belt+water pump!
Bilstein B14's.
I guess i need to change my top mounts when I replace the suspension? I hear some knocking over the bumps.
And i guess a wheel aligment would be necessary.
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Ahmett, also consider the Koni FSD with Eibach Sportline springs. This combination feels 'race car' accurate but hardly any loss of comfort. I'm really amazed at this combination. Far less roll than with SS springs too!
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Please don't overplay these things. I would hardly class my 500 as 'race car' accurate. It feels like a stiffly sprung and well damped shopping car, that's all.
Fun, make no shadow of a doubt, and a million times better than the wayward/wobbly car it was..
