The last time we saw Kelly over at BMR Suspension was about two years ago, when we brought him Project Goldmember, our 2018 Mustang GT, to get all the goodies he recommended. Those goodies led to one of our most popular packages ever: the S550 Bread & Butter Suspension Package.
Flashback two years: Kelly told us the parts in the Bread & Butter kit would get us to a 1.2x 60-foot, and they did. Jared ran a 1.27 60-foot at Palm Beach International Raceway with just the Bread & Butter kit and a set of Mickey Thompson ET Street drag radials (the car has a stock 10R80 with a McLeod clutch and steel kit and a Circle D converter).
Bring it to today: our team member Logan picked up a new 2020 Mustang GT to play with, so it was only right we revisit BMR Suspension in Seffner, FL for a Bread & Butter sequel, since BMR has introduced a few new parts over the last couple of years. We had the #suspensionking himself, Kelly Aiken, hang out and tell us why each piece is integral to the package. Along with the new BMR pieces, Logan also had Viking front coilovers and Viking's latest triple-adjustable shocks installed, which we will cover in the next episode.
Prefer to read? We got you.
The Bread & Butter Package II
Parts Included
- TCA048 - Vertical Links with poly bushings
- CB005 - Cradle Bushing Lockout Kit
- TR005 - Adjustable Toe Rod Links
- BK055 - Lower Control Arm Bushings
- CB762 - IRS Brace Kit
- M-5A460-M - Knuckle-to-Toe-Link Bearing Assembly
Optional upgrades installed in the video: UCA762 Adjustable Camber Links and WAK761H Rear Camber Lockout Kit. Plus Viking front and rear suspension, to be discussed in the next episode.
Every Part, and Why You Want It
TCA048 - Vertical Links with Polyurethane Bushings
The BMR vertical links feature in-house polyurethane bushings that add no NVH and include internal grease flutes, eliminating the need to remove them for grease maintenance. They decrease deflection in the rear suspension. Not the biggest piece of the puzzle, but an integral part of stabilizing the knuckle to the control arm.
CB005 - Cradle Bushing Lockout Kit
One of the most popular IRS parts available for the S550. The lockout kit eliminates cradle bushing deflection, one of the biggest causes of wheel hop, by locking the cradle bushings into place so there is no movement forward, backward, or side to side. When paired with the CB762 braces, this kit eliminates nearly 100% of cradle deflection.
CB762 - 4-Piece Rear IRS Bracing System
These braces were introduced after Project Goldmember, and we are a little jealous #projectlogiebear got them. Paired with the Cradle Bushing Lockout Kit (CB005), the 4-piece IRS bracing system eliminates nearly 100% of deflection, performing as a solid differential bushing without the added NVH. BMR braces the front leg of the subframe (an area that sees significant loads) to a heavy-duty plate under the sway bar mounts and ties it all together at the rear bushing mount. Those three points create a locked, solid rear.
BK055 - Rear Lower Control Arm Spherical Bushing Kit
Often overlooked, mostly because the install is a bit daunting, but one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, comparable to replacing the lower control arm on an S197. OEM lower control arm bushings are soft rubber with air pockets, which are fine on a stock street car but create excess movement when you push it. The BMR BK055 bushings are a large spherical design with no movement, preventing the wheels from moving forward and backward on hard launches or acceleration.
TR005 - Double Adjustable Rear Toe Rods
The OEM toe links get a bad rap because the OEM bushing has good articulation, often mistaken for being worn out. Their biggest weak point is the eccentric bolt that often slips and changes alignment. The BMR Double Adjustable Rear Toe Rods use a spherical bearing design that replaces the factory eccentric bolt, plus lockout plates so there is no movement and no alignment change. They do best paired with the UCA762 camber links and the M-5A460-M toe link bearings from Ford Performance.
UCA762 - Billet Adjustable Camber Links
Another large piece of the rear alignment. Some links on the market place the adjuster in the center of the arm, which works but can lead to breakage under high stress on the turnbuckle. The BMR camber links put the turnbuckle on the end of the link with a jam nut to lock it after adjustment, plus a rod end. The main benefit is aligning the rear wheels for the most contact patch (aka most traction) and proper tire wear. Installed with the WAK761 Rear Camber Lockout Kit, you can choose the mounting position best for your application and be sure it will not slip.
Keep Reading
Grab the Bread & Butter II
The proven S550 rear-suspension package that put us in the 1.2x 60-foot range. Get the full kit or build it piece by piece.
