Get Your Bearings
Improve traction with a 2015+ Mustang lower control arm bushing upgrade
By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of BMR Suspension
As we now know, the independent rear suspension under the 2015 and newer Mustangs works pretty well for street duty and the occasional spirited driving. However, we you start to push things on the road course or drag strip, all the give build into the rear suspension to keep it quiet and free from vibration allows for more movement and less precision than is optimum.
Cases in point are the bushings in the factory lower control arm. Not only are they made with soft rubber, but also they are designed with voids in the rubber to provide more isolation. However, these holes in the bushings allow for a lot of movement. Well, BMR Suspension has replacement that will reduce that movement.
“The large spherical bearings in BMR’s rear Lower Control Arm Spherical Bearing Kit (PN BK055; $169.95) simply eliminate bushing deflection, transferring power instead of absorbing it,†says the company. “BMR Suspension’s rear Lower Control Arm Spherical Bushings drastically decrease lower control arm movement by eliminating deflection of the factory rubber bushings. BMR uses heavy-duty 1-inch spherical bearings in machined bearing cups to replace the factory rubber bushings.â€
By shoring up the bushings with the stouter spherical bushings, BMR is able to reduce that dreaded wheel hop and improve traction, as evidenced by Evolution Performance’s 11-second runs.
“BMR’s Lower Control Arm Spherical Bushings kit installs in place of the OE rubber bushing, nearly eliminating lower control arm movement by solidly linking the rear portion of the lower control arm to the cradle,†the company added. “This eliminates almost all lower control arm movement, reducing wheel hop and increases handling stability, while giving you a much improved overall feel in any performance driving situation.â€
Soon the company will offer a tool (PN BRT001) that will easily allow you to press out the stock bushings and install these spherical beauties, which are retained by snap rings.