BMR Tech
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2014
- Threads
- 168
- Messages
- 5,141
- Reaction score
- 3,691
- Location
- Tampa, FL
- Website
- www.bmrsuspension.com
- First Name
- Dion
- Vehicle(s)
- 2018 GT, 2010 GT500, 2019 F-150 5.0
- Thread starter
- #1
Hello M6G!
I wanted to take a moment and share some information on the differential bolt issues that have arisen since the S550 has become such a popular platform to modify.
As many of you know, BMR has been developing and testing S550 Chassis and Suspension components since the release of this new platform. Since we only concentrate on chassis and suspension components, we are usually able to develop the most knowledge from experience. Gaining this knowledge from experience takes having your products out being tested rigorously. As with previous platforms, we typically have more products out being used for record setting performances, early-on, than most others. This, combined with our testing in house allows us to really get a grip on what the car needs, wants and does not want. Hence my diff housing failures, diff bolt failures, driveshaft failures and so on.
Computer and electronic testing and modeling only goes so far - the true test is on the street and race tracks.
One area of concern when modifying the S550 with more power and more grip, are the rear differential mounts. The reason I have put so much emphasis on this area is because, when these bolts break it can cost the user a significant amount of money and down time to repair.
We (BMR) wait to release some of our components, so that we can feel confident that they are a design that will work and provide a trouble-free operation. This is why we waited to release our BK051 Kit...so we could make sure to the best of our capability that the rear bolt upgrade was going to be sufficient.
Now that we have been shipping hundreds of these BK051 systems out, I am getting most of my customers telling me that they are not performing the rear bolt-upgrade due to the amount of work involved. Naturally, this bothers me and I strive to find better solutions that will not result in push-back from the customer.
I recently (several months ago) acquired for myself, another S550. I bought this car for strictly testing purposes. I commute 97 miles each day, and take the car to the road course AND the drag strip. The drag strip is more abusive on these IRS components short term...so I have been focusing on that lately.
On to the pictures that should help explain what is happening when these Stock and Aftermarket Diff Mount bolts fail.
-The OEM Fasteners are mounted with the shear path right on the threads of the bolts
-The Front Bushing is threaded, and the housing is non-threaded
-The Rear Bushing is non-threaded, but the diff mount is threaded
-Not only are the loads hitting the threads when the clamping force is not sufficient, but there is also a gap that is promoting that shear!
-Pay close attention the the bushing from my Blue 2015 car. Check out how deformed that bushing sleeve is!
-There is more info that I will be posting in this thread. I would like for this to become a good thread with tech and input from everyone. Members, vendors etc.
I will share some other pictures later on that show "symptoms" and signs of issues.
*pictured in these photos are 12.9 Upgrade Bolts and some other pieces that will be in our new coming "Differential Hardware Upgrade Kit" - which will work on stock vehicles and BMR or Steeda Diff Kit Equipped cars.
:cheers:
I wanted to take a moment and share some information on the differential bolt issues that have arisen since the S550 has become such a popular platform to modify.
As many of you know, BMR has been developing and testing S550 Chassis and Suspension components since the release of this new platform. Since we only concentrate on chassis and suspension components, we are usually able to develop the most knowledge from experience. Gaining this knowledge from experience takes having your products out being tested rigorously. As with previous platforms, we typically have more products out being used for record setting performances, early-on, than most others. This, combined with our testing in house allows us to really get a grip on what the car needs, wants and does not want. Hence my diff housing failures, diff bolt failures, driveshaft failures and so on.
Computer and electronic testing and modeling only goes so far - the true test is on the street and race tracks.
One area of concern when modifying the S550 with more power and more grip, are the rear differential mounts. The reason I have put so much emphasis on this area is because, when these bolts break it can cost the user a significant amount of money and down time to repair.
We (BMR) wait to release some of our components, so that we can feel confident that they are a design that will work and provide a trouble-free operation. This is why we waited to release our BK051 Kit...so we could make sure to the best of our capability that the rear bolt upgrade was going to be sufficient.
Now that we have been shipping hundreds of these BK051 systems out, I am getting most of my customers telling me that they are not performing the rear bolt-upgrade due to the amount of work involved. Naturally, this bothers me and I strive to find better solutions that will not result in push-back from the customer.
I recently (several months ago) acquired for myself, another S550. I bought this car for strictly testing purposes. I commute 97 miles each day, and take the car to the road course AND the drag strip. The drag strip is more abusive on these IRS components short term...so I have been focusing on that lately.
On to the pictures that should help explain what is happening when these Stock and Aftermarket Diff Mount bolts fail.
-The OEM Fasteners are mounted with the shear path right on the threads of the bolts
-The Front Bushing is threaded, and the housing is non-threaded
-The Rear Bushing is non-threaded, but the diff mount is threaded
-Not only are the loads hitting the threads when the clamping force is not sufficient, but there is also a gap that is promoting that shear!
-Pay close attention the the bushing from my Blue 2015 car. Check out how deformed that bushing sleeve is!
-There is more info that I will be posting in this thread. I would like for this to become a good thread with tech and input from everyone. Members, vendors etc.
I will share some other pictures later on that show "symptoms" and signs of issues.
*pictured in these photos are 12.9 Upgrade Bolts and some other pieces that will be in our new coming "Differential Hardware Upgrade Kit" - which will work on stock vehicles and BMR or Steeda Diff Kit Equipped cars.
:cheers:
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