Actually while I'm here I should mention a little about shock absorbers too. On the rear with leaf springs you can get quite technical and use adjustable shocks to really good effect. On the gentle surfaces you will be able to retain a smooth and pleasant ride but the adjustable shock absorber will allow you to set a compromise for those pot holes! Yes! you can't iron out all events and retain a comfortable ride but a good balance can be achieved in the limited 42mm of spring travel! However there is a cheaper way and that is to fit a good mid range effect shock absorber and if you have the cars with the suspension hoop mounting, I think post 1979 and with mono tube shocks ask Roger for a set of his progressive bump stops. These work in conjunction with the rear suspension helping to smooth out that jarring bottoming out as it adds another suspension element much like the rubber cone suspension employed on the original mini and is hugely cheaper than SSL 5 point, yes nowhere near as sophisticated by by heck damn good nonetheless!
On the front suspension, believe it of not the rebound springs take care of a lot of the damping and the shocks in the standard range are really very weak and only provide a subtle damping effect. Fitting hugely expensive adjustable items to standard cars can't really achieve much whatever the setting you set them too! More, the reality is the steering/driving set up is via the springs and you will chase it forever if you are not satisficed with the standard set up. Really the only way to go is with progressive rate springs if you want more. shock absorbers are described by their name, they damp shock effect and slow wheels dropping into holes etc.
If you start with soft springs and set adjustable dampers to a hard setting you will get a harsh drive on less than smooth surfaces, yes, you'll get some slowing of body roll but it won't help the handling or roll in a cornering situation.
Now lets look at those 180lb foot springs, that'll stiffen it up wont it. Well yes, for the track which is really smooth! Harsh ride again on general road driving as the suspension won't give on a light car and the shocks won't even come in to play!
Better to fit a shock absorber that will work well with the initial soft end of a progressive rate spring and into the start of the stiffer area where the spring will then take over. Then as the spring relaxes back into and through its early soft compression, again you will benefit from the action of the shock absorbers. So in conclusion, with this set up you will get the best i.e. most achievable comfort for general road driving and if you push it now and then, a good balanced and well behaved car that won't catch you out!
