89 mini brake/suspension upgrade help

[Mr overkill]

i am most likely picking up a 89 mini this week and wanted to ask a few things.



its gonna need new shocks what is out there to firm up the van to handle better withough breaking the bank???


i see a few people put on rear disks on the minis whats the donor car??? how does it work out ??

thanks all

[turbo84voyager]

A set of sensa-trac's should be fine. Tires made the biggest difference on mine. I also upgraded mine to the larger brakes and rotors ( larger bolt pattern as well) from a Grand Caravan with 15" wheels. That improved braking.

[turbovanman²]

If your lowering it, stay away from Sensa tracs. Gabriel, KYB, Bilstein are good.

If your on a budget, then make a 2nd Gen rear sway fit, not that hard.

Get polybushings front and rear.

For rear brakes, see the KC and Fab section for mine and AJ's conversion.

Front's, you have 3 options, find a large bolt pattern 1st Gen grand Minivan and use the knuckles and brakes, swap out the wheel bearings for car ones, find a Shelby Z with 11 inch brakes or put a 2nd Gen K-member, control arms, knuckles and brakes off a 2nd Gen-swapping out rotors and wheel bearings to small bolt pattern or R/T, GTC.