Adjustable rear shocks for the Mini

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:10 am

I’m just a little social butterfly this morning, moving from thread to thread, but here’s a question for you Mini guys-or anyone who might know.

I’ve been thinking about putting Koni adjustable shocks on the rear of the Mini. So, I started my research. First I talked to a couple of guy who run rear ajustable shocks to better understand the gain in rear control I might expect. Then I crawled around in the trunk, such as it is, back seat and under the Mini. I can’t see anyway to “adjust” shocks once they’re installed. There are no pop outs of any kind that I can find. Then, I went to several Mini sites looking for adjustable rear shocks and all that I could find seemed to indicate that adjustments had to be made before installation. Ok, so I know I’m on the steep side of the learning curve, but would that be a pain in the a$$ or what? Bernie’s a good ole boy, and all that, but I don’t think I could get him to do re-installs during the T & T. Any ideas? Remember, it’s got to stay in stock.

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:35 pm

Sorry I can't help you Gwen but I bet Spratte knows the answer and will likely chime in when he sees this thread.

Jim

WalterHouston · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:51 am

Some Koni SAs are adjusted by turning the bottom of the shock when it is unhooked. My E30 rears are like that. I don't know about a Mini, but it isn't too bad on the BMW.

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:02 am

Gwen Baake wrote:

I’m just a little social butterfly this morning, moving from thread to thread, but here’s a question for you Mini guys-or anyone who might know.

I’ve been thinking about putting Koni adjustable shocks on the rear of the Mini. So, I started my research. First I talked to a couple of guy who run rear ajustable shocks to better understand the gain in rear control I might expect. Then I crawled around in the trunk, such as it is, back seat and under the Mini. I can’t see anyway to “adjust” shocks once they’re installed. There are no pop outs of any kind that I can find. Then, I went to several Mini sites looking for adjustable rear shocks and all that I could find seemed to indicate that adjustments had to be made before installation. Ok, so I know I’m on the steep side of the learning curve, but would that be a pain in the a$$ or what? Bernie’s a good ole boy, and all that, but I don’t think I could get him to do re-installs during the T & T. Any ideas? Remember, it’s got to stay in stock.

Gwen, I'm sure it's on the bottom, for if you go to www.Koni-na.com and search, all of the Minis, including the convertible, have the same part number.

It's listed like this:

Mini 02-06 Cooper, Cooper S (production date on or after 3/02) Including Convertible. - Sport (Yellow)

If the adjustment is on the top, it is legal to drill the 3/8" holes needed for adjustment. On the Celica, we needed to cut the plastic interior trim to get to the adjusters. All completely legal. - AB

David Spratte · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:08 am

Hiya Gwen. You're not crazy. The OTS Koni yellows are adjusted from the top and with the way the MINI's are designed, there's not way to adjust them while installed. Dropping them isn't a big deal. Once the wheels are off it's three bolts to drop the assembly adjust and three bolts to reinstall.

But to be honest it's really not that big a deal. I put mine at 3/4s stiff and forgot about 'em. You have adjustable on the front (right) and you can tune the balance from the car from there.

I ran most of last season on OTS Konis and never once felt the need to change the rear (or the front for that matter). I'm still a fairly blunt instrument when it comes to car tuning as I'm convinced that 99% of it is a matter of adjustments to the big nut behind the wheel.

Don't get me wrong, the car is a total blast to drive on OEMs. But the Koni's will let the car rotate without needing real aggressive inputs to do it.

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:45 pm

Thanks, guys, for all the good info on the rear shocks. Aaron, thanks for the web site. The first thing I read when I got there was “must be removed to be adjusted”. I just didn’t have the correct sites when I was looking on my own.

David Spratte wrote:

Dropping them isn't a big deal. Once the wheels are off it's three bolts to drop the assembly adjust and three bolts to reinstall.

David, You’re the funniest guy I know. Easy is: reach in glove box for shock knob. Pop hood latch, attach knob to top of shock tower. Turn. Shut hood. Throw knob in glove box and walk away. Easy lost me at: once wheel is removed!
No kidding. Thanks for all the info. I’ve played with my front shocks til I’m pretty happy with where I’m comfortable and only really adjust then if it’s freaky hot or cold. Even then, there are so many other factors that it may be 90% mental that I think I have them where I want them. At any rate, since I’m already adjusting the rear action of the car by how I set the front, rear shocks that have to be adjusted and THEN installed probably wouldn’t buy me enough for me to notice.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:45 pm

Hey, I didn't say it was easy lady.

It's interesting when you starting thinking how many Evo schools a set of shocks will get you. . .

The couple of times I drive the MINI this year, I think I'll work on running it even looser. :twisted:

Gwen Habenicht · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 12:00 am

David Spratte wrote:

It's interesting when you starting thinking how many Evo schools a set of shocks will get you. . .

Yea, they look like two days of EVO Extreme to me.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 1:09 am

So how obscured are they exactly - can you actually see the adjusters?

Reason I ask is that I've got a "star adjuster" on its way to me from Koni. On S2000s (and apparently RX-8s and NC Miatas as well), the adjusters are difficult to get a conventional tool on. So they've come up with a clever thing that looks like a Chinese throwing star. Would such at thing work on the Minis?

JamesFeinberg · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:48 am

David Spratte wrote:

The couple of times I drive the MINI this year, I think I'll work on running it even looser. :twisted:

You should get plenty of practice with that driving my car.

Jim

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:56 am

Karl Shultz wrote:

So how obscured are they exactly - can you actually see the adjusters?

Reason I ask is that I've got a "star adjuster" on its way to me from Koni. On S2000s (and apparently RX-8s and NC Miatas as well), the adjusters are difficult to get a conventional tool on. So they've come up with a clever thing that looks like a Chinese throwing star. Would such at thing work on the Minis?

You should call it the "Ninja" adjuster. I can't get the koni adj tool on my front shocks. I use a 6mm socket on an extension.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:23 pm

Karl Shultz wrote:

So how obscured are they exactly - can you actually see the adjusters?

Reason I ask is that I've got a "star adjuster" on its way to me from Koni. On S2000s (and apparently RX-8s and NC Miatas as well), the adjusters are difficult to get a conventional tool on. So they've come up with a clever thing that looks like a Chinese throwing star. Would such at thing work on the Minis?

]

Obscured to the point of being physically impossible to see or touch via any earthly means.

Seriously, the mounts are sealed off between the exterior sheet metal and the interior, unibody stuff thingies.

David Spratte · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2008 8:23 pm

JamesFeinberg wrote:

David Spratte wrote:

The couple of times I drive the MINI this year, I think I'll work on running it even looser. :twisted:

You should get plenty of practice with that driving my car.

Jim

I have feeling stuff is going to dry quickly in that car when I drive it.

Chuck Frank · **Posted:** Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:08 pm

The rear shocks makes a significant difference. Order them from Koni directly and have them revalved to the "Mark Chiles" valving before shipping. Chiles and Jacobs could drop and adjust them in < 5 minutes, but the only time they did was when it would rain heavily.

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Adjustable rear shocks for the Mini

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