[Badmojo]

I'm no longer running the Nordlock washers. They don't work on rotating joints like swaybars.



Torque close to max and use loctite.

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

Are you using them on the endlinks or the bushing mounts?



Not looking to change bars and their bushing setup looks pretty much the same. Not sure who is running this bar for a comparison?

[Stephen12ZL1]

comparison pic

[TheRealJA105]

Their mount does appear wider when you zoom in. Also their rates aren't as stiff so the forces won't be as high on the bushings.

I still have faith in my solution, perhaps i should shave off the grease boss as well per Badmojo's testing.

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

Their mount does appear wider when you zoom in.

It's hard to say for sure without having them both in hand. However, assuming they are using the same bushing, both mounts fit inside the "shoulders" of the bushing and therefore they are very similar in width and support. The only question is whether the Hotchkiss mount is stiffer since it has the gussets on either side of its bolt holes. If they're using a wider bushing, then yes the bracket is wider as well as gusseted and therefore it's likely a more durable design. It would be a no-brainer to use this mount on the BMR bar in that case. Maybe someone can take measurements of their Hotchkis bushing and bracket?

Also their rates aren't as stiff so the forces won't be as high on the bushings.

Hotchkis rates are stiffer than the BMR by quite a bit. Their bar on its softest setting is 40% stiffer than a 1LE bar (their website continues to be wrong), whereas the BMR is only 6% stiffer at its softest setting.

I still have faith in my solution, perhaps i should shave off the grease boss as well per Badmojo's testing.

It seems to me that the way you modified and bracketed the bushing would keep that grease boss from being in contact with the bracket. It was hard to tell from your pics. If it is touching, then I'd shave it down enough to prevent contact. If it's not touching, then I don't think it matters. Even if touching, it's not captured in a hole like the original BMR setup, so it isn't taking any shear loads. Therefore, it's probably not an issue at all, but I'd want to keep it from making any contact at all just to be sure.

[TheRealJA105]

Originally Posted by Msquared

Hotchkis rates are stiffer than the BMR by quite a bit. Their bar on its softest setting is 40% stiffer than a 1LE bar (their website continues to be wrong), whereas the BMR is only 6% stiffer at its softest setting.


It seems to me that the way you modified and bracketed the bushing would keep that grease boss from being in contact with the bracket. It was hard to tell from your pics. If it is touching, then I'd shave it down enough to prevent contact. If it's not touching, then I don't think it matters. Even if touching, it's not captured in a hole like the original BMR setup, so it isn't taking any shear loads. Therefore, it's probably not an issue at all, but I'd want to keep it from making any contact at all just to be sure.

How do you know this info on the Hotchkins rates? Honestly if I had to guess, they are probably very close to the same rates. They both use 1.25" tubing and probably the same wall thickness and hole locations.

The stock brackets compress the bushings a decent amount, so I think the grease boss is probably in contact.

[Msquared]

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

How do you know this info on the Hotchkins rates? Honestly if I had to guess, they are probably very close to the same rates. They both use 1.25" tubing and probably the same wall thickness and hole locations.

Here's a post with direct measurements of the Hotchkis front bar, and here's a thread where BMR themselves tell us the wall thickness of their bar. The outer diameter is the same, and I agree that the lever arm locations are similar. However, the BMR bar has a wall thickness of 0.188" whereas the Hotchkis has 0.239" wall thickness (or maybe it's nominally 0.25" wall thickness?). So that's the reason for the difference.

[kropscamaro16]

these are the ones i have and i track my car and havent had any issues


https://afepower.com/afe-control-sway-bar-set

[TheRealJA105]

Originally Posted by Msquared

Here's a post with direct measurements of the Hotchkis front bar, and here's a thread where BMR themselves tell us the wall thickness of their bar. The outer diameter is the same, and I agree that the lever arm locations are similar. However, the BMR bar has a wall thickness of 0.188" whereas the Hotchkis has 0.239" wall thickness (or maybe nominally 6mm?). So that's the reason for the difference.

Good info, but even Ryephile thought the BMR front was stiffer. We can only go off of the numbers they give us, but clearly the Hotchkins is stiffer because of its wall thickness.

Originally Posted by kropscamaro16

these are the ones i have and i track my car and havent had any issues


https://afepower.com/afe-control-sway-bar-set

Those mounts look just like the Hotchkins mounts. Maybe BMR will take notice...

It appears the AFE front bar is even bigger at 35mm (1-3/8"), but what is the wall thickness? It looks like the ends are welded on both front and rear bars and not just the tubing flattened.

[kropscamaro16]

yea they are pretty beefy and not sure on wall thickness i was just posting it to compare to the bmr/hotckis bar mounts



there is also these but the photos suck lol


https://www.hellwigproducts.com/2016...-ss-sway-bars/

[h018871]

I called Hotchkis, they said that the website numbers do not match their 'internal' numbers.
They said their 'internal' numbers are Front: 70/100/125, Rear: 45/65/85 when compared to the SS. That makes the numbers posted on the website close to a comparison to the FE4 suspension. He said he'd ask the tech team to verify the website for correctness.
I now see why folks use the Hotchkis front and BMR rear bars, it keeps the OEM balance with stiffer bars

[TheRealJA105]

Another TNiA at Pitt in the books and the bushings are still good!

[TrackClub]

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

Another TNiA at Pitt in the books and the bushings are still good!

BMR royalties should start pouring to your account any day now

[Mountain]

Originally Posted by h018871

I called Hotchkis, they said that the website numbers do not match their 'internal' numbers.
They said their 'internal' numbers are Front: 70/100/125, Rear: 45/65/85 when compared to the SS. That makes the numbers posted on the website close to a comparison to the FE4 suspension. He said he'd ask the tech team to verify the website for correctness.
I now see why folks use the Hotchkis front and BMR rear bars, it keeps the OEM balance with stiffer bars

Interested in what they come back with... I know they did original development of their bars on an SS and not an SS 1LE. They used member "urr2slo" as a development vehicle (2016 SS) and they have Instagram posts in a yellow 2016 SS when they started their investigation into suspension upgrades. Their bars weren't released until Jan/Feb 2017... I've tried to contact Hotchkis, myself, a few months ago and never got through with calling or e-mail.

[TheRealJA105]

Originally Posted by TrackClub

BMR royalties should start pouring to your account any day now

Hell i wish they would just pour something in this thread at this point...


and send me the Delrins they are developing for free!