02-13-2024, 01:54 PM | #1 |
Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: NC
Posts: 746
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BMR Rear sway bar install question
I'm really confused, I just put in the BMR rear sway bar but in it's softest setting it simply doesnt work with the end links that come with the car. This is not mentioned anywhere in the BMR website or installation instructions?
Am I doing something wrong or do you have to buy the BMR end links with the sway bar? I suppose I could put a 1 inch spacer on the bottom of the end link for now. Is anyone else here using the BMR sway bar with stock end links? Picture attached showing the gap and where the end link hits the hub assembly. |
02-13-2024, 02:16 PM | #2 |
Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: NC
Posts: 746
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I guess this is an issue but it's not mentioned anywhere on their website. So my new question is, will SPL end links work with the BMR sway bar? Id rather not get any more BMR products.
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02-13-2024, 02:30 PM | #3 |
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There should be no problem with the stock end links working with this aftermarket sway bar. I would contact BMR if I were you. Maybe they did not ship all the correct hardware with it? Might it be upside down?
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02-13-2024, 03:21 PM | #4 |
aka BeastZL1
Drives: 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE, 2004 Cobra Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: NC
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The issue is worse with the adjustable end links. You can't use the softest setting. I returned the sway bars.
I am convinced that BMR doesn't prototype or test their products.
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02-13-2024, 03:35 PM | #5 |
Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Johnstown, PA
Posts: 3,212
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Yep. this is a known issue with the BMR adjustable. The SPLs will be worse. I gained some clearance by slightly grinding away material on the hub. I also added a 1/4" spacer beneath the mounts.
While not related to the clearance issue, I thought the BMR mounts were subpar. Not enough width/surface area. I used a set of Gen5 Camaro Pedders tall poly mounting bushings (Kit # PED-429021-32-FK) in my OE SS 1LE mounting brackets. This increased the surface area by 50% or so. I had to notch the bushing and remove about .125" from one side of each mounting bracket to account for the BMR lateral control spacer. The OE 1LE mounting brackets are side specific but I could not see any obvious differences. The bushing kit can be obtained by calling Pedders USA directly. They are not available online.
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02-13-2024, 05:39 PM | #6 |
Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Hyperblue Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 348
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I know the BMR endlinks have to face a certain direction. and then they just barely clear. See pic number 3 here:https://www.bmrsuspension.com/?page=...615&superpro=0
you might be able to space it out just slightly. |
02-13-2024, 07:47 PM | #7 |
Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: NC
Posts: 746
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02-13-2024, 07:50 PM | #8 | |
Drives: 2004 BMW 330CI, 2022 1SS 1LE Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: NC
Posts: 746
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Quote:
No way am I giving BMR another cent, the fact their endlinks barely clear has to be some sort of a joke. No mention of anything on their website, waste of my time installing all this crap. I'll stick with stock. Last edited by Christian1LE; 02-13-2024 at 08:00 PM. |
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02-14-2024, 10:50 AM | #9 |
Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Hyperblue Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 348
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I have the BMR endlinks on the softest setting. They clear. Its close but they clear. I was meaning to point out the bottom of the link and how it is slightly offset/asymmetrical.
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02-15-2024, 04:50 AM | #10 |
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I've been using the BMR rear bar with their end links for many years. Their end links clear on the soft setting since its offset. The plan was to use their adjustable end links anyway.
Its only the BMR front bar mounts that had the problem. I use the Hotchkis front bar.
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02-15-2024, 06:53 AM | #11 |
Drives: 23 ZL1 A10 Rapid Blue Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: MO
Posts: 1,992
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Ive had plenty of problems with the BMR rear bar, I use the non-adjustable bar with the adjustable end links. The bar and frame bushing as supplied are so tight that the bar would not rotate up/down with the suspension and had an awful squeak on the R side even when liberally greased.
I ended up having to put a washer under the frame clamp lower bolt to give it some room to move. That made a lot of difference. The adjustable end links are IMHO too short to get set up, correctly. The bar arms should be close to level or parallel and with the end link at full extension, i have to pull the arm down a bit to get it in the hole. That angle of the bar arm where it's less or greater than 90 degrees alters the force applied. Reason that adjustable bar has the hole so far forward on the arm, it's changing that angle to reduce the force applied. Ever since the install I've got a clunky sound in the L rear that I can't get rid of and I accepted as some unpleasant NVH but it's been a lot worse. I swapped out frame bushings to a poly graphite impregnated set and clamps and it really didn't help anything. I don't recommend any one mess with BMR's rear bar. It's stopped me from wanting to do anything on the front. I do have the cradle lockout and front cradle braces on my car, no complaints there. |
02-21-2024, 10:37 AM | #12 | |
aka BeastZL1
Drives: 2019 Camaro ZL1 1LE, 2004 Cobra Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: NC
Posts: 1,104
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Quote:
All the pictures show the bar in the stiffest setting. The interference is in the softest setting, unless they changed the geometry in the last two years there will still be an issue.
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02-21-2024, 02:07 PM | #13 | |
Drives: 2018 SS 1LE Hyperblue Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 348
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Quote:
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02-24-2024, 08:54 AM | #14 |
Drives: Chevrolet SS 1LE Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: St. Charles, MO
Posts: 1,446
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From what I see, the problem with using BMR's offset end links is that they use a polyurethane axial bushing for the frame mount (because you can't buy offset rod spherical rod ends). That's really dumb, because that pivot doesn't just move around a single axis. The urethane bushing will add bind. The SPL end links have proper spherical rod ends, but since they aren't offset and they're fatter than stock, I'm sure they don't clear at the BMR bar's softest setting (which isn't SPL's fault). What a cluster!
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2020 SS 1LE |
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