Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

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MiNiKiN
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Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by MiNiKiN »

I am going to retain the old rear Dunlop cones (in really good shape, not overly hard or crazed and not donut shaped :!: ) and have bought a set of red spot MS cones. Both will be fitted using an MS HiLo-kit.

Now a friend and Mini tinkerer told me I should fit the Dunlops in front and the red spots in the rear - I would have done otherwise.
What would you guys suggest?
Yes I am a nerd: I am researching the Austrian Mini-racing scene of the 60s and 70s :ugeek:
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by GraemeC »

What dampers are you using - I wouldn't mix and match cones if the dampers aren't adjustable as you'll get different bump and rebound rates at either end of the car - could make for some very 'interesting' handling.

However if you must use a mix, I personally would think to use the standard ones on the rear where there is less weight and which would be better suited to the lower spring rate.
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by MiNiKiN »

Well it's not a real 'must' - it's rather a matter of my obsession to re-use as many OE parts as reasonably possible.

Dampers are going to be KYB gas-a-just
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by CooperTune »

Depending on what you are expecting, good ride quality or rock hard ride. About 6 years maybe more ago after 70 to 80 thousand
miles on the OE rubber ( 85 1000 E ) I replaced the fronts with MSC red dot and the rears with new std MSC. As a daily driver and
my only transportation for 18 years I was accustomed to the ride and handling. I found the fronts to be really harsh turning into
driveways or over heavy tar strips. I do a lot of rubber spring replacement and a good quality spring std all around with HI Los to
get correct ride height gives a very nice ride. Most people are surprised having never ridden in a freshly sprung mini. Steve (CTR)

Edit: I also was using and still am KYB Gas Adjust.
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by MiNiKiN »

In case I fancy a "smooth ride" I take one of my hydropneumatic Citroëns ;)
The Mini is meant for cutting corners, do a couple of historic rallys or ride outs into our alpine pass roads. So road holding clearly surpasses comfort in my check sheet.
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by IslandBlue »

GraemeC wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 5:37 pmHowever if you must use a mix, I personally would think to use the standard ones on the rear where there is less weight and which would be better suited to the lower spring rate.
Interestingly this is what MS recommend in their product description: http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search
I have a pair on the shelf to fit to my car at some point...
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by AndyPen »

I pulled these off the alloy cones from an old 64. The front and rear look rather different don't they?


Going for these new MiniSpares ones I reckon, anyone tried them?

https://www.minispares.com/product/Clas ... o%20search


cones-3quarter-view.jpg
cones-side-view.jpg
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by Chewie Baker »

hello Andy

how did you get on with those Mini spares 'evolution rubber' type donuts?
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by hanlminiman »

AndyPen wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:23 pm I pulled these off the alloy cones from an old 64. The front and rear look rather different don't they?


Going for these new MiniSpares ones I reckon, anyone tried them?

https://www.minispares.com/product/Clas ... o%20search



cones-3quarter-view.jpg

cones-side-view.jpg
I assume the lower rubber ones are the front? Perhaps more stress with the weight of the engine over time?
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by Spider »

The later Moulton Cones do stand in a static state much higher than stock cones as they have a softer rater, so they compress more in normal use.

Any original Dunlop Cone would be at the very youngest 24 years only now and would be considerably harder than designed. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, just they'll have a higher rate and as they compress, the rate they have isn't linear either, but goes up rather sharply.
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by Exminiman »

Chewie Baker wrote: Mon May 20, 2024 5:38 pm hello Andy

how did you get on with those Mini spares 'evolution rubber' type donuts?
They don’t seem to be in stock, hopefully not discontinued ?

https://www.minispares.com/search/class ... 0cone.aspx
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by AndyPen »

Chewie Baker wrote: Mon May 20, 2024 5:38 pm hello Andy

how did you get on with those Mini spares 'evolution rubber' type donuts?
The car doesn't have the engine in as yet so can't be too sure I'm afraid, but they did take a lot of compressing to fit.
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by t3gav »

Exminiman wrote: Tue May 21, 2024 6:12 am
Chewie Baker wrote: Mon May 20, 2024 5:38 pm hello Andy

how did you get on with those Mini spares 'evolution rubber' type donuts?
They don’t seem to be in stock, hopefully not discontinued ?

https://www.minispares.com/search/class ... 0cone.aspx
Not discontinued no, although no stock for a few weeks at least.
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Re: Old Dunlop rubber cones and new Red Spot - which where?

Post by 100BUR »

I had minisport smooth a ride all round, after about five years the ride felt very hard and choppy and I needed to adjust the ride height at least two or three times during summer use.
I've kept the smooth a ride on the back and changed the front to minispares evolution.
For me the car felt like it did when initially fitted the smooth a ride but a bit more precise.
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