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Hello - I have been looking to replace my suspensions cones on my 96 Rover Mini Cooper with standard FAM3968 Mini rubber cones and have received a lot of very helpful and good advice in this regard. Someone has also suggested that I should look at using the new style Mini Spares FAM3968EVO suspension cones instead, therefore I would appreciate to know if anyone recommends using these suspension cones rather than standard type rubber cones and if so, how do they perform or feel?

I understand that Mini Spares FAM3968EVO suspension cones will make the Mini sit higher at first, however this settles a bit over time - is this correct?

On test, I found the EVO Cones have an approx 20 % increase in rate over the stock Cones. They will settle some once fitted, but not nearly as much as the stock cones do. While Mini Spare say it's not necessary to fit them with Hilos, I would actually suggest fitting them as once they do settle, I'm sure you'll find the car s a bit higher than you'd like.

They appear to be made by the same firm who does their Red and Yellow Spot Cones and could also be the same firm who does the Avon Cones too.

I have fitted a set, but not done enough with them just yet to make proper comment.

Thanks for the info Spider

I have hilos on the front presently which must be an aftermarket set and standard trumpets on the rear. Could you keep the front hilos and leave the rear with the standard trumpets if you fit the EVO suspension cones?

Those MS rubbers are FAR & AWAY the best currently available. I know that they have spent a LOT of time & money investing in these as rubber options have been extremely variable over the last few years.

The ones to use WERE the M-Parts ones, but the quality of these has deteriorated over the years to the point that they are now useless. M-Parts are swamped with returns & each one they get back, the stock answer is "No one else has complained".

Anyone who has used the MS Red or Yellow cones know that these work well & remain consistent over many years, the new FAM3968EVO cone is made in the UK by the same company with the idea of replicating original rubber as close as humanly possible.

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

Snoop wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:18 am Thanks for the info Spider

I have hilos on the front presently which must be an aftermarket set and standard trumpets on the rear. Could you keep the front hilos and leave the rear with the standard trumpets if you fit the EVO suspension cones?

The Hilos in the Front aren't standard, but may as well keep them. I'll add here though, that all hilos I have seen do have a bigger flange on them than the stock trumpets, so the 'early part' of the compression of the cone will be the same, but with the bigger flange, the increase in rate as the flange starts to make full contact does go up more than the stock items.

I'd say they rears too will need some adjusting, but I'm not crazy about any of the adjustable rear offerings. I've seen some good ideas from others here on the forum, and yes, I have made my own versions too.

mk1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:49 am The ones to use WERE the M-Parts ones, but the quality of these has deteriorated over the years to the point that they are now useless. M-Parts are swamped with returns & each one they get back, the stock answer is "No one else has complained".

Thanks for your feedback on the EVO Cones.

I found with the M-parts Cones, you need to sit them on the shelf for at least 6 months (preferably 12) to allow them to finish 'curing', then they are consistent.

Great info, thanks. I have attached a photo shown the front hilos and the rear set up. The hilo photo doesn't show the flange but does show a washer or spacer fitted which I don't know is standard?

So, to recap, its a good idea to use the Mini Spares new EVO suspension cones either with or without the front hilos, however fitting them on the rear would work as well. Just worried if fitting the EVO cones will make the Mini sit too high

Sorry, the flange that I was referring to is up the other end (out of sight - almost), it's the flange that contacts the Cones. Sock ones are circa 80 mm dia and most Hilos are circa 90 - 95 mm.

The knuckle joints you have do look odd. Possibly nothing wrong with them, but it is considered good practice to replace at least the cups of them when swapping cones.

It looks like you have Hilos in the back too. It could be the angle of the photo, but the strut on it appears bent - as they all eventually do - unless they split first.

I think it's just a shadow on the trumpet that make it looking like it's bent...

In short you have two options -

Fit standard cones & trumpets - car will sit high initially then settle over time. The front will drop quicker than the rear due to the additional weight of engine etc. The drop will be 1-1.5" from what I've seen.

Fit adjustable hi-lo style trumpets with new cones - Ride height can be set so car sits at level required for either looks or comfort depending on your objective and be maintained at that height by adjusting the trumpets as cones settle.

I have now have red and EVO cones back in stock since you messaged me the other week.

Another thing that helps is fitting parts carefully.......here's the carnage from a car I fixed last week. Cone and trumpet were not lined up presumably as the compressor tool was being released causing the trumpet to cock over to one side and in turn rip out the retainer in subframe.

OUCH!

I took out a cone just like that from my pickup though fortunately it hadn’t ruined the subframe like that!

JR

I fitted a set of the EVO cones along with MiniSpares genuine HiLos and KYB gas shocks to my old '91 Mini Neon early last year, and put a good couple of thousand miles on it after doing so (it was my daily driver for about 18 months but has now been sold). It handled brilliantly, and the cones settled nice and evenly. They were a touch firmer than standard cones but the overall package offered excellent handling without being too uncomfortable. I'd definitely recommend fitting them with HiLos as others have said - although MiniSpares mention that they don't need HiLos on the part listing online, when I rang them up they actually advised fitting HiLos due to the EVO cones not settling as low, so HiLos are a good idea if you want to dial in your ride height from both an aesthetic and performance point of view.

Great info, thanks.