In order to correct the factory rake, we decided to install a set of BMR lowering springs on this 2012 Boss Mustang. This kit is not as aggressive as some, and still has a mind for performance. Unfortunately, it shipped without a single piece of paperwork, instructions, or even a sticker, so these steps are to the best of our knowledge and experience.
Experience necessary: Moderate technical knowledge
Time: 2-3 hours
Tools needed:
Ratchet
18mm Socket
15mm Socket
13mm Deep socket
10mm Socket
13/16 Deep socket
T40 Torx
18mm Wrench
Torque Wrench
Interior clip popper
Spring compressor
Impact gun
Jack & Jack Stands or 2-post lift
Although we performed this install on a two-post lift, we are writing this how-to using a jack and jackstands. We started this install with the rear springs.
Rear bolt sizes:
Lug nuts 13/16
Panhard Bar 18mm
Shock 15mm
rear swaybar endlink 15mm
Bump stop T40 torx
1. Break rear lug nuts loose.
2. Working on a level and solid surface, jack the rear of the vehicle up, and place vehicle on jackstands. It is never a good idea to do work with just a jack supporting the car, as jacks have been known to collapse. Refer to the owner's manual for jacking points.
3. Remove the rear wheels.
4. Place jack under the center of the rear end, making sure that the jack is clear of the rear axle cover.
This figure illustrates the names and locations of the bolts removed in the following steps:
5. Remove 18mm bolt from the panhard bar where it attaches to the axle tube.
6. Remove the 15mm bolts from the rear shocks, 1 per side.
7. Remove the 15mm bolts from the rear swaybar endlinks, 1 per side.
The swaybar will fall away as shown in the picture below.
8. Lower the rear end with the jack until the springs can be removed.
Install the new springs.
9. Remove the T40 torx bolt holding each bump stop in place, 1 per side. Trim the bumpstop and reinstall.
10. Reinstall the trimmed bumstops. Reinstall the shock bolts, rear swaybar endlink bolts, and panhard bar bolts removed in steps 5, 6, and 7.
Reinstall tires, lower car from jackstands. Torque wheels to 110 ft-lbs.
Front bolt sizes:
Upper swaybar endlink 18mm
Spindle 18mm
Strut upper mount 13mm
Brake line bracket 10mm
11. Break front lug nuts loose.
12. Working on a level and solid surface, jack the front of the vehicle up, and place vehicle on jack stands. It is never a good idea to do work with just a jack supporting the car, as jacks have been known to collapse. Refer to the owner's manual for jacking points.
13. Remove front wheels.
14. Remove the 18mm bolts from the upper swaybar endlink, 1 per side.
15. Remove the 10mm bolt from the brake line bracket, 1 per side. Remove the Christmas Tree clip holding the brake lines to the strut.
16. Remove the 18mm bolts holding the strut to the spindle, two per side. (So sorry, I seem to not have a picture of this step for some reason. The two bolts are located at the bottom of the strut and can be seen from the rear in the photo above.)
17. Remove the 13mm bolts at the top of the strut.
18. Remove the strut assembly.
19. Using a spring compressor, compress the spring until the top of the strut can be removed.
***CAUTION*** This is a two-piece assembly with an unsealed bearing inside. Be very careful when removing this to ensure you don't break the parks apart (they're only snapped together) and risk damaging the bearing or losing parts of it.
20. Carefully release tension on the spring compressor. Remove factory spring and install aftermarket spring. Use caution when working with spring compressors, tensioned springs store a lot of energy and can do real damage if you aren't careful.
21. Trim the bumpstops. Install the spring sleeve from the factory spring onto the new spring.
22. Reinstall the top strut assembly, tension the new spring with the spring compressor, and use the impact gun to tighten down the strut to the spring.
23. Reinstall the strut assembly as removed in steps 16 and 17. Reattach the sway bar and brake line bracket removed in steps 14 and 15.
Reinstall the wheels. Lower vehicle to the ground and torque the lugnuts to 110 ft-lbs. Have the car professionally aligned as soon as possible to avoid premature tire wear.
RESULTS:
These measurements were taken with minimal driving after install. We expect more settling with driving.
This is after approx. 3 days of driving:
Experience necessary: Moderate technical knowledge
Time: 2-3 hours
Tools needed:
Ratchet
18mm Socket
15mm Socket
13mm Deep socket
10mm Socket
13/16 Deep socket
T40 Torx
18mm Wrench
Torque Wrench
Interior clip popper
Spring compressor
Impact gun
Jack & Jack Stands or 2-post lift
Although we performed this install on a two-post lift, we are writing this how-to using a jack and jackstands. We started this install with the rear springs.
Rear bolt sizes:
Lug nuts 13/16
Panhard Bar 18mm
Shock 15mm
rear swaybar endlink 15mm
Bump stop T40 torx
1. Break rear lug nuts loose.
2. Working on a level and solid surface, jack the rear of the vehicle up, and place vehicle on jackstands. It is never a good idea to do work with just a jack supporting the car, as jacks have been known to collapse. Refer to the owner's manual for jacking points.
3. Remove the rear wheels.
4. Place jack under the center of the rear end, making sure that the jack is clear of the rear axle cover.
This figure illustrates the names and locations of the bolts removed in the following steps:
5. Remove 18mm bolt from the panhard bar where it attaches to the axle tube.
6. Remove the 15mm bolts from the rear shocks, 1 per side.
7. Remove the 15mm bolts from the rear swaybar endlinks, 1 per side.
The swaybar will fall away as shown in the picture below.
8. Lower the rear end with the jack until the springs can be removed.
Install the new springs.
9. Remove the T40 torx bolt holding each bump stop in place, 1 per side. Trim the bumpstop and reinstall.
10. Reinstall the trimmed bumstops. Reinstall the shock bolts, rear swaybar endlink bolts, and panhard bar bolts removed in steps 5, 6, and 7.
Reinstall tires, lower car from jackstands. Torque wheels to 110 ft-lbs.
Front bolt sizes:
Upper swaybar endlink 18mm
Spindle 18mm
Strut upper mount 13mm
Brake line bracket 10mm
11. Break front lug nuts loose.
12. Working on a level and solid surface, jack the front of the vehicle up, and place vehicle on jack stands. It is never a good idea to do work with just a jack supporting the car, as jacks have been known to collapse. Refer to the owner's manual for jacking points.
13. Remove front wheels.
14. Remove the 18mm bolts from the upper swaybar endlink, 1 per side.
15. Remove the 10mm bolt from the brake line bracket, 1 per side. Remove the Christmas Tree clip holding the brake lines to the strut.
16. Remove the 18mm bolts holding the strut to the spindle, two per side. (So sorry, I seem to not have a picture of this step for some reason. The two bolts are located at the bottom of the strut and can be seen from the rear in the photo above.)
17. Remove the 13mm bolts at the top of the strut.
18. Remove the strut assembly.
19. Using a spring compressor, compress the spring until the top of the strut can be removed.
***CAUTION*** This is a two-piece assembly with an unsealed bearing inside. Be very careful when removing this to ensure you don't break the parks apart (they're only snapped together) and risk damaging the bearing or losing parts of it.
20. Carefully release tension on the spring compressor. Remove factory spring and install aftermarket spring. Use caution when working with spring compressors, tensioned springs store a lot of energy and can do real damage if you aren't careful.
21. Trim the bumpstops. Install the spring sleeve from the factory spring onto the new spring.
22. Reinstall the top strut assembly, tension the new spring with the spring compressor, and use the impact gun to tighten down the strut to the spring.
23. Reinstall the strut assembly as removed in steps 16 and 17. Reattach the sway bar and brake line bracket removed in steps 14 and 15.
Reinstall the wheels. Lower vehicle to the ground and torque the lugnuts to 110 ft-lbs. Have the car professionally aligned as soon as possible to avoid premature tire wear.
RESULTS:
These measurements were taken with minimal driving after install. We expect more settling with driving.
This is after approx. 3 days of driving:
