Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
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3rd Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
ORIGINAL: CrazyAl
There is nothing wrong with your brackets.
The bends are normal. The bends allow the "back part" of the brackets to align properly with where you are attaching them on the axle. You will see once you get under the car.
The "fitment" is also normal for the LCA ends. The polyurethane bushing must be compressed when they are installed...they must bea tight fit otherwise there will be play in the suspension. This is the norm for ANY poly bushing on any vehicle. Also keep in mind that the LCA brackets will "open up" a little bit when you install them on the car. They are also a tight fit over the axle tab where they fit.
The spacer tubes do appear to be too long..by quite a bit--perhaps a half inch or more. The spacers are meant to fit inside the OEM axle bracket, which is even narrower than the BMR bracket where you are holding them. (Again, this will be clear when you actually get under the car). It looks like you will have to cut down the tubes.
This is a bit odd....a couple people had to do something similar recently. But in all the BMR brackets I've done, the spacers were the correct length right out of the box? Maybe they had a production screwup? I would call BMR rather than Brenspeed. Not that Brent isn't helpful...but he didn't make the product, what can he do for you? Talk to BMR directly. They have stellar customer service as well.
There is nothing wrong with your brackets.
The bends are normal. The bends allow the "back part" of the brackets to align properly with where you are attaching them on the axle. You will see once you get under the car.
The "fitment" is also normal for the LCA ends. The polyurethane bushing must be compressed when they are installed...they must bea tight fit otherwise there will be play in the suspension. This is the norm for ANY poly bushing on any vehicle. Also keep in mind that the LCA brackets will "open up" a little bit when you install them on the car. They are also a tight fit over the axle tab where they fit.
The spacer tubes do appear to be too long..by quite a bit--perhaps a half inch or more. The spacers are meant to fit inside the OEM axle bracket, which is even narrower than the BMR bracket where you are holding them. (Again, this will be clear when you actually get under the car). It looks like you will have to cut down the tubes.
This is a bit odd....a couple people had to do something similar recently. But in all the BMR brackets I've done, the spacers were the correct length right out of the box? Maybe they had a production screwup? I would call BMR rather than Brenspeed. Not that Brent isn't helpful...but he didn't make the product, what can he do for you? Talk to BMR directly. They have stellar customer service as well.
I'll call BMR today and have them ship me some new spacers. The main reason i thought something was wrong was because the LCA will slide into one of the brackets (snuggly) but it's going to be aREALLY tight fit for the other bracket. In the mean time, i'll try trimming the spacers and see if I can get them to fit.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
Ummmm....I have my parts in boxes in the garage right now and given this thread I went out to have a look...I noticed several things about mine...
1) I didn't have any washers...NOT ONE??? Did everyone else have washers???
2) My tubes fit just fine, the fit into the narrow part of the bracket so I assume they will fit into upper part when all together...
3) My LCAs are not snug inthe bottom at all...(I'm assuming that the poly end goes into the bracket)...But there is a good amount of play...Now I am just confused....
I am so confused at this point...I mean first NO grease packets...now these confusions....
1) I didn't have any washers...NOT ONE??? Did everyone else have washers???
2) My tubes fit just fine, the fit into the narrow part of the bracket so I assume they will fit into upper part when all together...
3) My LCAs are not snug inthe bottom at all...(I'm assuming that the poly end goes into the bracket)...But there is a good amount of play...Now I am just confused....
I am so confused at this point...I mean first NO grease packets...now these confusions....
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,544
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
1) Idid not recive washers either. I wouldn't worry about it, they aren't needed.
2) That is how they are supposed to fit. You recived correct spacers.
3) They will be once you torque the bolts down to 130 ft-lb!
Don't worry about it. You're fine.
2) That is how they are supposed to fit. You recived correct spacers.
3) They will be once you torque the bolts down to 130 ft-lb!
Don't worry about it. You're fine.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
Also my LCAs don't have an offset at the poly end...However the other end does have an offset...and that end fits more snuggly in the bracket...
I measured the amount of room that the poly end has in the bracket and it is around 1/2 inches...
I measured the amount of room that the poly end has in the bracket and it is around 1/2 inches...
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
You have the LCA backwards.
If you have the combo LCAs, then the poly end goes into the body and the spherical end goes into the bracket. Note that one end of your LCA should be wider than the other. The "body" end is the narrow one. The "axle" end is the wider one.
If you have the combo LCAs, then the poly end goes into the body and the spherical end goes into the bracket. Note that one end of your LCA should be wider than the other. The "body" end is the narrow one. The "axle" end is the wider one.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
All my BMR products were perfect!!! Some bits were snug, but they are suppose to be, as Crazy Al said........if anything theaxle tabson the Ford rear were less than perfect.....BMR is quality stuff and very well done!!!
Hooks up real well!!!!! BMR some of the best $$$ spent!!!
Hooks up real well!!!!! BMR some of the best $$$ spent!!!
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Joined: Aug 2005
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
I haven't put them on yet so i am okay there....I thought by narrow end they ment the skinny end of the arm, not the mounting points...that is good to know...
Now does the offset go to the inside or out....aka...does the longer end of the spherical bushing go towards the wheel or the driveshaft????
Thanks for the correction...that would have mad my install interesting, but i probably would have figured it out when the spherical didn't fit in the body bracket....
Now does the offset go to the inside or out....aka...does the longer end of the spherical bushing go towards the wheel or the driveshaft????
Thanks for the correction...that would have mad my install interesting, but i probably would have figured it out when the spherical didn't fit in the body bracket....
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From: Detroit Rock City!
RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
It's CrazyAl to the rescue....trust this guy he knows the mustang suspension and has many threads on suspensions. I wish I lived near you! I'd have you do the installs....for a fee of course!. J
Thread Starter
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
It was a really tight fit and getting the hole alignment was a major pain but I was able to get the LCA into the narrow bracket finally. It's incredibly tight. The LCA goes into the other bracket snuggly but didn't require the force of most of my body weight to get in like the other one.
I too would like to know which way the long end of the spherical bushing goes (towards the wheel or towards the driveshaft).
I'm probably just going to cut the spacers once I measure a few times to know exactly how much longer it is.
ponyman: Can you do me a huge favor and measure your spacers. I can use that measurment to see how much longer mine are than normal and can cut them down to the right size.
I too would like to know which way the long end of the spherical bushing goes (towards the wheel or towards the driveshaft).
I'm probably just going to cut the spacers once I measure a few times to know exactly how much longer it is.
ponyman: Can you do me a huge favor and measure your spacers. I can use that measurment to see how much longer mine are than normal and can cut them down to the right size.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Mar 2006
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RE: Possible problem with BMR LCA brackets
Which way the LCAs go is obvious once you get under the car. The brackets on the axle are wider apart than the brackets on the body. So, the narrow end of the LCA goes to the body end. And you orient them so that the offset becomes wider towards the axle side. I'm sorry if that's not clear, but trust me it's brain-dead-obvious when you get under the car. ("long end" faces the wheel)
Darkpath, if you want to know the length that the spacers should be, you can figure this out yourself. They should just fit on the narrower side of the LCA bracket. You see the picture in earlier in the thread where the poly-end of the LCA is attempting to be fitted into the relocation bracket? I belive it is "Fit1.jpg"...the spacer should exactly fit in that spot where the LCA is "trying to go".
Darkpath, if you want to know the length that the spacers should be, you can figure this out yourself. They should just fit on the narrower side of the LCA bracket. You see the picture in earlier in the thread where the poly-end of the LCA is attempting to be fitted into the relocation bracket? I belive it is "Fit1.jpg"...the spacer should exactly fit in that spot where the LCA is "trying to go".