Suspension Tech: Bring It!

[dirtyd88]

Kelly, I have a question for you, unless it's already been asked.

As far as a panhard brace goes, what is their intended use in the suspension, and are there really any major benefits to upgrading the stock brace to the brace BMR offers?

 

[BMR Tech]

Kelly, I don't want to hear "hopefully" lol. As per our discussion a few weeks ago, I'm eagerly awaiting this and then a torque arm from you guys so that I can have almost all BMR suspension components, both front and rear (still probably going for the Cortex coil overs and hopefully that's it from them since BMR will have the rest...eventually...hopefully, lol).

Bill (from Wildwood)

I just got out of a meeting about it. We are working on finalizing our new F/R Sway Bars.....the new UTCA033 Bearing UCA....the new Rod-End UCA....and 6 different sets of S197 Springs (Performance, Drag, Handling - GT500 and GT)

Our R&D Engineer (founder of BMR) is going to be working heavily on the Watts within the next few weeks. It is much more complicated from start to finish, for a system like the Watts Link....AND we have 3 different designs that we still have to eliminate down to (1). It's coming!

What sort of price range and release date are you shooting for with the watt's link? Torque arm would be very nice too.

I am really hoping for mid-year release....and we are going to try to keep it in the $800 range, or less. It depends on how fancy we get with the components. The most cost effective way, is for the system to be primarily composed of BMR Welded Steel components. The "Billet" stuff really starts jacking the price up. As of right now, the only "Billet" piece is our center pivot / propeller:

Kelly, I have a question for you, unless it's already been asked.

As far as a panhard brace goes, what is their intended use in the suspension, and are there really any major benefits to upgrading the stock brace to the brace BMR offers?

A panhard brace is designed by OEM / Engineers to structurally support the Panhard Mounting bracket / system.

Over time, on a panhard bar suspension, the panhard bar mounting bracket tends to get fatigued. When this point is fatigued, it wants to distort....and when it distorts, the factory POS support brace allows it to do-so, to a certain "degree".

We have been building parts for panhard bar suspensions longer than any of our S197 competitors....so this is of course why we came to the market with that piece before anyone else. We see it everyday, a customer with a 1982 Camaro that has a panhard bar mount that is all out of whack.

Great question! I am surprised more people do not ask me this. :beer:

 

['14 Shelby]

No need for Panhard relo.

You want these:

TCA019
CAB005
UTCA032
UCM002
PHR006

That will do wonders, both in results and the feeling you get when pushing the car hard.

Thanks for the assistance, ordered all of the above :rockon:

 

[BMR Tech]

^ Well heck, that was easy.

I should make more threads!

 

[86Fbody]

I am really hoping for mid-year release....and we are going to try to keep it in the $800 range, or less. It depends on how fancy we get with the components. The most cost effective way, is for the system to be primarily composed of BMR Welded Steel components. The "Billet" stuff really starts jacking the price up. As of right now, the only "Billet" piece is our center pivot / propeller:

Is it going to be diff mounted or mounted to the axle housing like the Fays2 and Steeda?

 

[BMR Tech]

Was just joking about the above comment, but, it is you guys (our customers) who have put us in the position for me to be able to sit here all day long and chat about suspension.

I love my customers! :banana:

 

[BMR Tech]

Is it going to be diff mounted or mounted to the axle housing like the Fays2 and Steeda?

We have both designs made up.

I am pushing more towards the diff mount, for a few different reasons. ;-)

 

[86Fbody]

We have both designs made up.

I am pushing more towards the diff mount, for a few different reasons. ;-)

Awesome, I prefer the diff mounted option, don't let Steeda know your going that route or they make call you guys Company Y and write an article about you.

 

[dirtyd88]

A panhard brace is designed by OEM / Engineers to structurally support the Panhard Mounting bracket / system.

Over time, on a panhard bar suspension, the panhard bar mounting bracket tends to get fatigued. When this point is fatigued, it wants to distort....and when it distorts, the factory POS support brace allows it to do-so, to a certain "degree".

We have been building parts for panhard bar suspensions longer than any of our S197 competitors....so this is of course why we came to the market with that piece before anyone else. We see it everyday, a customer with a 1982 Camaro that has a panhard bar mount that is all out of whack.

Great question! I am surprised more people do not ask me this. :beer:

Awesome! I figured it was acting as a truss (in sorts) to help keep everything where it's supposed to be. And I can definitely see why it would allow for a decent amount of deflection after the initial "out of plumb" is caused by fatigue.

I shall add this part to my ever growing list.

 

[ExTurbo]

@ BMR TECH

I have the FR handing package with the adjustable Tokiko struts and shocks on P springs, i already have your lower control arm relo brackets, and ford racing lower control arms, but havent done anything with the Upper control arm and bracket just yet. I daily drive the car and occasionally take it down the strip, hopefully will be running a sticky tire eventually and hoping for some decent times. The P springs lowered the car about an inch but i worry about the pinion angle being off and doing damage, im assuming an adjustable UCA would correct the issue. Having said all that is there an UCA you recommend?

Part 2 of my question is about the Tokiko shocks and struts, they are adjustable, would you recommend a certain setting or at least a general idea of what would work best? (ex: stiffer in the rear softer in the front?)

Thanks in advance

 

[BMR Tech]

Awesome, I prefer the diff mounted option, don't let Steeda know your going that route or they make call you guys Company Y and write an article about you.

I'm not worried about it. We share mutual respect for each other (BMR/Steeda). I even recommend a few of their components, when ours won't cut it...or we do not offer it. It's natural for Company Y to think their parts are better than Company X.

It will more than likely be diff mounted, so no worries. :beer:

Awesome! I figured it was acting as a truss (in sorts) to help keep everything where it's supposed to be. And I can definitely see why it would allow for a decent amount of deflection after the initial "out of plumb" is caused by fatigue.

I shall add this part to my ever growing list.

Gotta love growing lists!

@ BMR TECH

I have the FR handing package with the adjustable Tokiko struts and shocks on P springs, i already have your lower control arm relo brackets, and ford racing lower control arms, but havent done anything with the Upper control arm and bracket just yet. I daily drive the car and occasionally take it down the strip, hopefully will be running a sticky tire eventually and hoping for some decent times. The P springs lowered the car about an inch but i worry about the pinion angle being off and doing damage, im assuming an adjustable UCA would correct the issue. Having said all that is there an UCA you recommend?

Part 2 of my question is about the Tokiko shocks and struts, they are adjustable, would you recommend a certain setting or at least a general idea of what would work best? (ex: stiffer in the rear softer in the front?)

Thanks in advance

You want the UTCA032 UCA....paired with the UCM002 Upper Mount....and you want to install the UCA into the upper-most hole on the UCA Mount.

I like to recommend starting with the settings on the struts and shocks softer, and neutral.....THEN adjust based on what the car is doing, or what it "wants" to do when launching, or cornering.

If I had to guess, you will have the best luck with the rears at 3/4 stiff and the fronts 3/4 to full loose. ;-)

 

[5.0_SD]

Kelly you're awesome bro! Apologies if I let the cat out of the bag!

 

[ExTurbo]

Thanks kelly!

 

[BMR Tech]

Kelly you're awesome bro! Apologies if I let the cat out of the bag!

No problem. :rolling:

It was going to come out some time or another.

 

[nonliberal]

I just got out of a meeting about it. We are working on finalizing our new6 different sets of S197 Springs (Performance, Drag, Handling - GT500 and GT)

Whats the word on this? Improved drag rates over your current? ETA, ect.
Very interested!!

 

[BMR Tech]

We will be testing the springs in about a month.

I have a few sets out being tested now.

The drag springs will be a similar rear spring that we offer in our SP009 kit.....but I have designed the front to be slightly taller, and softer. The rate for the front is likely going to come in around the 150lb/in range....compared to our current 165 on the SP009 Fronts.

 

[nonliberal]

We will be testing the springs in about a month.

I have a few sets out being tested now.

The drag springs will be a similar rear spring that we offer in our SP009 kit.....but I have designed the front to be slightly taller, and softer. The rate for the front is likely going to come in around the 150lb/in range....compared to our current 165 on the SP009 Fronts.

Perfect! If I was going to make a request for a spring change that would be exactly what I asked for.

I'm ready!

 

[DSG2003SVT]

If you end up building a custom diff cover with incorporated mounts, will you please add drain and fill plugs/diff cooler provisions?

I'm interested in the differences in your current springs versus the forthcoming handling and performance springs. I was almost ready to buy BMR springs, but you have me hesitating now. I'm planning to buy the Koni str.t struts and shocks all together.

 

[BMR Tech]

^ If you are not competing in drag racing, or road coursing....and the car is more of a street based performance car, our current SP009 Springs are likely the best choice.

I have guys going very fast at the strip with them, and guys with them (along with big bars) going quick on road courses / auto X.

 

[DSG2003SVT]

That's probably just what I need then. Thanks!