BMR K-member installed!
#1
BMR K-member installed!
Hey everyone! I had my BMR K-member installed at a local shop today. I've had the K-member sitting in my garage since January and was going to sell it at one time but I've gotten into some money and decided to have it installed.
First thing I noticed when I started the car at the shop was how the whole car briefly shook when the motor turned over and fired up. Kinda cool. Engine noise is slightly increased and transferred to the cockpit during startup but not so much during cruising. Vibration is slightly increased and you notice it mostly when moving from a stop and slowing down. Driveshaft noise is slightly increased but again only when moving from a stop and slowing down. On the plus side, the front end is about 1/4" -1/2"(eyeball measurement of fender gap) higher than before so I have more suspension travel. I've always felt my car was too low in the front with a 1.5" drop and I'm sure it was more than that with the Whipple weighing the front down.
The car just feels raw now. Reminds me of the old muscle cars I used to drive. Would I recommend this mod to everyone? No, especially to someone who desires comfort and quiet above everything else. But, if you're looking to shave every bit of weight and love to feel and hear everything that goes on under the hood then get this mod.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I had to remove my CHE K-member brace w/torque limiters since it won't work with the BMR K-member. The BMR K-member doesn't have the extra holes required to mount the CHE brace. I might sell the brace.
Passenger side motor mount.
Driver side control arm mount.
Driver side motor mount.
Close up of control arm bushing mount.
Close up of control arm mount.
First thing I noticed when I started the car at the shop was how the whole car briefly shook when the motor turned over and fired up. Kinda cool. Engine noise is slightly increased and transferred to the cockpit during startup but not so much during cruising. Vibration is slightly increased and you notice it mostly when moving from a stop and slowing down. Driveshaft noise is slightly increased but again only when moving from a stop and slowing down. On the plus side, the front end is about 1/4" -1/2"(eyeball measurement of fender gap) higher than before so I have more suspension travel. I've always felt my car was too low in the front with a 1.5" drop and I'm sure it was more than that with the Whipple weighing the front down.
The car just feels raw now. Reminds me of the old muscle cars I used to drive. Would I recommend this mod to everyone? No, especially to someone who desires comfort and quiet above everything else. But, if you're looking to shave every bit of weight and love to feel and hear everything that goes on under the hood then get this mod.
Edit: I forgot to mention that I had to remove my CHE K-member brace w/torque limiters since it won't work with the BMR K-member. The BMR K-member doesn't have the extra holes required to mount the CHE brace. I might sell the brace.
Passenger side motor mount.
Driver side control arm mount.
Driver side motor mount.
Close up of control arm bushing mount.
Close up of control arm mount.
Last edited by 2007CalSpec; 09-17-2013 at 10:09 AM.
#3
#6
Look at all the clearance to work on the engine! Looks so nice under there. I want one to help get some weight off the front end.
Two questions:
1. Does it affect crash-worthiness?
2. Is it actually stiffer than the factory K-member?
Two questions:
1. Does it affect crash-worthiness?
2. Is it actually stiffer than the factory K-member?
#7
2. It feels stiffer then the stock K-member but that's probably due to the poly motor mount bushings. The car feels a little lighter and more responsive; with less nose dive.
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By the way, just a little FYI to anyone with a DSS driveshaft and plan to install an aftermarket K-member. I had a serious vibration problem when decelerating at the off-ramp near my work. The vibration also occurred when accelerating from a stop after it started happening. The vibration would rattle the shifter, vibrate the steering wheel, and seemed to emanate from the transmission tunnel. It was pretty bad and kinda scary. Felt like the car was falling apart. I knew right away it had to be the DSS driveshaft. I took it back to the shop to have them check it. I told the tech to check the measurement of the CV joint. He started talking about pinion angle. I told him it doesn't matter with this kind of shaft. He looked puzzled and took my word for it. Car was put on a lift and we both got under it and checked the measurement and it was at 3-3/4". He asked what the spec was but I couldn't remember so I had to use my smartphone to check this old thread. The tech also checked the Driveshaft Shop's website. I found the spec I originally had was 3-5/8". The K-member had shifted everything forward slightly and lengthened the measurement. Told the tech and left the car for him to work on it and make the necessary adjustments to the LCA's and UCA. Came back later and picked up the car. Service manager said the tech test drove it up to 80-90 on the fwy and it was "smooth as glass." It's now smoother than before I brought the car in to install the K-member.
#9
please I need help
I had an accident and they told me to change the engine cradle. I research in the internet for aftermarket because Ford redesign the engine cradle and became very expensive. when I tried to buy in online i found too many people the called K-member. I bought the part and installed in my car. the problem is when finished and started the engine, I heard a noisy sound and i felt strong vibration in the car.
My Questions is that .. is this k-member is same as the engine cradle?? .. and what I have to do to stop this vibration?? Please help me
I had an accident and they told me to change the engine cradle. I research in the internet for aftermarket because Ford redesign the engine cradle and became very expensive. when I tried to buy in online i found too many people the called K-member. I bought the part and installed in my car. the problem is when finished and started the engine, I heard a noisy sound and i felt strong vibration in the car.
My Questions is that .. is this k-member is same as the engine cradle?? .. and what I have to do to stop this vibration?? Please help me
#10
My K-member transmits a lot more noise and vibration than the stock K-member/cradle. It's just the nature of the beast. The only way to tame it would be to replace the aftermarket K-member with a stock K-member.