BMR rear suspension setup for '78 TA

[Flying Bandit]

I am new to the site. I have a 1978 Trans Am and considering the BMR rear suspension. Anyone here use it? It seems like a good choice over the DSE four link because of the reduced amount of fabrication.

I will be using the car on the street with limited time on the Quarter mile.

Any info positive or negative would be appreciated.

[srh3trinity]

There have been a few builds with this setup. The Freedom Bird Firebird is the most notable. I haven't seen much feedback from people.

[LeighP]

I asked the same question of the guys from Prodigy Customs, apparently they've fitted a few cars with them.
They told me that the cars hook much better and are very predictable getting the power down out of a corner.
No personal exeprience, though......I'm waiting on more infor from hotchkis on their three link rear kit - due to be released at SEMA. Seems less complicated.

[BMR Tech]

I can tell you guys all day long how good they work, how simple they are to install, and how you get more for your money but understandably these recommendations mean way more coming from an actual customer than from the manufacturer. It still amazes me at just how many kits we have sold yet nobody talks about them on the forums. We had two on Power Tour last year (that I know of), one going to the Optima Challenge this year, a magazine install a few months back (Super Chevy), two on some high $$ road cars over in Sweden, etc., etc. We get a lot of positive feedback but somehow it just never makes it over to the forums. I guess our sales must be coming from magazine ads instead of forum advertising?? In any case, here are a few quotes that I dug up from a quick search and, as always, if you have questions, give us a ring!


I love the ease of install of the BMR setup. The adjustablity, the quality, and the peices make it a piece of art, besides a great working suspension. WE installed the full monty from them on Project "FreedomBird" and we are installing it currently on my shop car "Shop Beater V.3.0".


The moment I set the car down the back height was PERFECT! I set the dbl adj shock at a middle setting...it's a little rough on some of the rougher roads here but that is fine with me. This setup is very tight and responsive...it has shown the deseprate need to update the front suspension. Take off; squats, plants the tires, lifts the front evenly, and shoots straight. Curvy roads; the rear sticks like glue, no lateral movement, unbeliveable! The back feels tighter than my 4th gen & that's settup for auto-x.
I've had NO clearence problems with the torque arm but the exhaust (3in into flowmasters dumps at the axle) and headers are a different story. To be fair, driving around I have yet to bottom out but my driveway is a different story(the rear fenders are at 27.5 inches high, fronts @ 26in.). If there has been one single most improvement to the car over the past 15 years of this project this is it! GREAT job BMR!
As for installation this was the easiest that I've done to date, instructions were spot on and everything fit without modification. I asked Chad at Fletcher Customs to order it with the housing narrowed 3in on each side, to fit the wide tires. On mine I could not run anymore than 4.75 back spacing or it'd hit the lower control arms.

Thanks to Chad and BMR!
Val



So I spent the last two days putting in my BMR Torqe Link rear suspension. The kit looks real good Im totaly happy with it. The kit was all there and the instructions were great. It took about 12 hours total with the help of a friend.
The ajustment on this system looks great as well. I cant wait to drive this car and try it out.


I've been running the watts link, torque arm setup for awhile on my 69. I haven't had any ground clearance problems or unusual problems. It is a solid feeling setup that I think handles well on the street.

[Flying Bandit]

Thank you for the response. Couple of questions:

My car is a 78 TA planning on mini tubs and seems as though I may need to use a 9" for 335 rear tires. Is this true? How wide can I go with with a 10 or 12 bolt? What is the recommendation for narrowing using 18x12's?

[srh3trinity]

The Passionately Pink Camaro is running this setup and will be running at Optima. Hopefully we will get some feedback from that build.

[BMR Tech]

Thank you for the response. Couple of questions:

My car is a 78 TA planning on mini tubs and seems as though I may need to use a 9" for 335 rear tires. Is this true? How wide can I go with with a 10 or 12 bolt? What is the recommendation for narrowing using 18x12's?

The control arms and wheelwell will limit you to a 315 tire on a 10" or 11" wheel if you are using the OE rear. This is a limitation of the factory leaf spring perch location on the rearend. On the 9" rear we have located the control arm mounts further inboard to allow use of deeper offset wheels. This setup will provide room for up to a 345 tire on a 13" wide wheel, providing you have widened the inner wheel tubs to accomodate them. We can build the 9" for OE offset or up to 5" narrowed (2.5" per side). Most will spec out the rear as narrow as possible then measure for wheel offsets once the suspension and rear is mocked up in the car then order wheels. If you are good you can order your wheels first, mock them up in the car then tell us what width you need the rear. We can do it either way.