Ireland Engineering Fixed Camber Plates

[k-huevo]

Front camber on the MINI is non-adjustable and the stock setting of -.5 degrees is very close to no camber at all. That’s fine for straight line driving but we get more enjoyment on the curves. Without negative camber the tire tends to role over on its sidewall during a turn distorting the contact patch and reducing available traction. Most of us have experienced unpleasant noise feedback from the front tire and a feeling like the car is taking a wider arc than we planned for. One treatment for that symptom is to smooth out driver input; a good habit and something to strive for, tire pressures are critical as well. Another approach is to increase negative camber so that when weight transfers to the outside wheel, more tread surface area, instead of tire shoulder, is placed on the road. Think about running around a corner, the outside leg is extended to gain traction.

To gain camber adjustability on the front the stock guide supports must be changed. Slotting the tower mounting points could also yield some adjustability but at the expense of structural integrity; not the route I would want to take given the vulnerability to deformation our strut towers have. Adjustable camber plates are available for which an individual can dial-in the amount of negative camber he/she desires. The downside to most of the adjustable plates is a hard mounting of the strut shaft and spring hat; not a concern for competition use but for the daily driver this can be uncomfortable. Fixed camber plates become an attractive option because they retain a spherical bearing housed in a vibration absorbing bushing resembling the stock method. Because the daily driver is more accepting of compromises a middle ground of camber can be useful without increasing tire wear and still be an improvement over stock settings.

I installed a set of Ireland Engineering fixed camber plates to increase negative camber. These plates have a thicker mounting plate which may help prevent tower deformation when an unusually strong jolt is encountered. They also have long mounting studs which would benefit those who have strut bracing. The stock studs don’t have much extra thread available for the added thickness of strut brace construction.
http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/gallery/files/2/0/DSCN0312.JPG

Unfortunately my build is somewhat of an oddball; this is nothing new to me, I’ve had to deal with many situations where my car doesn’t fit the usual mold. A little research reveals I may have European 2002 spec body parts. There is a ridge behind the driver’s side strut that prevented mounting the original -1.25 degree plates. The spring would bind against the ridge when the strut was compressed. I also tried to mount with stock springs and still had contact.
http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/gallery/files/2/0/DSCN0316.JPG

Jeff Ireland agreed to make a one-off custom set of plates to accommodate the impinging ridge; notice the offset bearing placement.
http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/gallery/files/2/0/DSCN0341.JPG

Moving the mount back .200” gave me this clearance and allowed me to get all the benefits of these plates. The alteration provided -1.3 degrees camber after settling using JCW springs which lower the vehicle a little more than .5 inch.
http://www.lonestarminiclub.com/gallery/files/2/0/DSCN0349.JPG

This is a very worthwhile modification on par with adding a stiffer rear anti-sway bar without most of the drawbacks. In the hierarchy of changes on my vehicle I would put this near the top and wish this would have been done much sooner.

More photos are in my gallery that wouldn't fit here.

[weezer2282]

I almost installed these when I installed my JCW suspension, but I chose not to at the time. I was going to install them for the tire wear benefits because my first set of tires were very worn on the outside edges. When it comes time to replace my strut supports then I will most likely replace them with these. They are a great value compared to the adjustable plates too. :thumbsup

[Mike02MCS]

I've been thinking about going with the M7 reinforcements to prevent mushrooming. These do as well, plus give a little negative camber? No issues with stock suspension? I bought my MINI in Germany, I wonder if I might have some of the same "Euro" issues. :confused:

[k-huevo]

No issues with stock suspension; camber more than – 2 degrees places the CV joints in an “unnatural” situation for which some report vibration under acceleration, a drastically lowered vehicle would exacerbate the possibility. A lowered vehicle would also increase negative camber beyond -1.25 degrees when using these plates. The point at which tire wear increases is also beyond the -2 degree mark. Increasing negative camber in the front also increases toe-in so an alignment is needed after making this or any other major modification to the suspension.

To test if the ridge might be in the way, put the tip of the index finger between the driver’s side front strut spring coils and the inner wheel well wall while the strut is compressed, if it won’t fit up to the first knuckle, there might be some interference with the original fixed camber plates.

Adjustable camber plates allow more latitude for possible fitment compensation and provide extra camber for those that want it.
http://www.helix13.com/images/1cambers.jpg

[Will]

Good write up :)

[azuul]

Good write up :)True, I wish I understood it all. :confused: