Sky Render's Build Thread

[Sky Render]

Part 7: BMR Rear Suspension


I would like to at this point have a discussion of panhard bars. The main disadvantage that I see attributed to panhard bars on this forum is the "unsettled" feeling of the rear end when going around corners, especially during fast transitions. After a steering input, it seems to take a finite (albeit brief) amount of time for the rear end to "settle" and correctly respond to the input.

Now, Newton's First Law states that an object in motion will stay in motion until acted upon by an outside force. Consider that you are driving your S197 in a straight line. You then enter a sweeper and turn the steering wheel. The front of the car immediately follows the wheels, because they are turned. But how is the rear axle brought "in line" to follow the front wheels?

Mainly, it is through the panhard bar. That bar must either push or pull the axle to make it go around a corner. But before the force of the chassis can completely be transmitted through the panhard bar, it must compress the bushings at either end. And recall also that the rear axle is a heavy sonuvagun, weighing at least a couple hundred pounds. So that bushing deflection and compression is HUGE. Those bushings must compress before the axle "feels" the forces transmitted through the panhard bar.

My point to all this rambling is that the "unsettled" feeling of the rear axle during transitions has all but disappeared by replacing just one of those bushings with a spherical bearing. Thoughts?

 

[BMR Tech]

Great article V!

As far as the panhard bar, and it's performance by bushing material, there is definitely a drastic/noticeable difference in feel among the various options.

Often times on paper, select modifications will not yield performance results (improvements)

The beauty of modifying is, each and every person and car (combo) reacts and responds differently to the modifications performed.

For example, someone who makes a stock OEM vehicle perform at it's best, may not be able to take a fully prepped race car to the best times at an event. A driver is only as good as the car, and the car is only as good as the driver. It's mutual relationship that takes both involved, to succeed.

The moral of the story is, if you feel the difference in the modification, and it increases confidence, then you will eclipse better times.

 

[Norm Peterson]

I suspect that it's not just the smaller amount of bushing compression that you're feeling. The time it takes for it to happen has also been shortened, so the "feel" should be a better approximation of "linear". The 'time' effect might even be what's more noticeable.


Norm

 

[BMR Tech]

Hmmmm......I heard that you may have ordered up some new Sway Bars....

Interesting.

 

[GrnBullitt08]

Nice article/write-up. Looks like I need to add the upper control arm to my existing arsenal of BMR suspension components, along with the relocation brackets

 

[Sky Render]

Hmmmm......I heard that you may have ordered up some new Sway Bars....

Interesting.

Haha, what? Who told you?!

 

[Sky Render]

 

[claudermilk]

Ooooooo.... Can't wait to hear your impressions. Right now I'm torn between the new BMR bars and the Strano bars. It will be a while before I do these--and I plan to do front & rear at the same time; first is LCAs/brackets.

 

[BMR Tech]

Dang!

So you did order them?! Sneaky sneaky.....

I am looking forward to seeing what you think about them...

 

[Sky Render]

Mmmmmm, BEEFY.

 

[Sky Render]

Dang!

So you did order them?! Sneaky sneaky.....

I am looking forward to seeing what you think about them...

Hey! I just sent you an email.

 

[Sky Render]

That part number's not even on their website!

WHAT ARE THIS?

 

[BMR Tech]

Holy schmokes!

 

[Sky Render]

Baller status.

 

[JEWC_Motorsports]

Baller for sure!!!!!!!!!

 

[claudermilk]

That part number's not even on their website!

WHAT ARE THIS?

http://www.bmrsuspension.com/index....icleid=1&maincatid=16&catid=60&productid=1308

Just gotta search for it (having seen the posts around here to give a clue).

Is it on yet? (Says the guy who is >1wk looking at the MGW sitting on his floor).

 

[Sky Render]

BMR Front Sway Bars: so easy to install, even a slightly out-of-shape engineer with 3 slipped discs can do it using only jack stands and hand tools!

 

[Mineral_'01]

Is it me or has the upper mounting stud on the passenger side roll bar mounting bracket slipped down in the slot? (chassis side) It does not look like a perfect 90° and you may not have full engagement when torqued.

Might just be the photo making it look that way... In for results or evaluation once you have a couple runs on the new bar.

 

[Sky Render]

I think it's just the picture, but I'll check it out today.

 

[Norm Peterson]

If you take a picture, try to get the bracket and its bolts dead center in the picture. Any barrel distortion in the camera lens should be minimized that way.


BTW, thanks for the Aeroforce gauge tip in Part 4 of "Project Grey Mustang". Money well spent. Mine's on the A-pillar with a little cardboard visor around it at least for now.


Norm