stb BmR or Hotchkis
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Joined: Jul 2004
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I can't (and don't) claim to be an expert, but I would go with the BMR in a heartbeat and never look back.
Both should do the job of keeping the tops of the STs equidistant. The Hotchkis is aluminum, but is a double bar with bracing, so that should make up for it's material weakness.
The problem is that the Hotchkis uses basically hinges at each ST. This would make it easier for the bar to move side to side. Basically allowing the STs to move like this -> \ \ or this -> / /.
It's possible the BMR may allow that as well, but, I can't help but think that the thick, flat steel plate at hte ends of the BMR tube which get bolted flat against the flat ST top and torqued down, would go a long way toward preventing that side to side movement and help keep the STs vertical (| |).
Hopefully someone with a little more experience can shed some light on this for both of us.
Both should do the job of keeping the tops of the STs equidistant. The Hotchkis is aluminum, but is a double bar with bracing, so that should make up for it's material weakness.
The problem is that the Hotchkis uses basically hinges at each ST. This would make it easier for the bar to move side to side. Basically allowing the STs to move like this -> \ \ or this -> / /.
It's possible the BMR may allow that as well, but, I can't help but think that the thick, flat steel plate at hte ends of the BMR tube which get bolted flat against the flat ST top and torqued down, would go a long way toward preventing that side to side movement and help keep the STs vertical (| |).
Hopefully someone with a little more experience can shed some light on this for both of us.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 740
Likes: 0
I went through this same thing myself. lol 
I toyed with the idea of the extreme too. There is no weight savings over the standard and it's much more expensive. I talked to someone at BMR and they weren't really able to justify the extreme other than as marketing. The amount of force needed to stretch or compress the standard tube would be on the order of an impact, and even the extreme won't be any help in such a situation.
Something else to consider is that the extreme edition uses the same endplates as the standard. Not just same dimensions, same material. So you are not gaining anything at the point of contact, where it could actually provide some benefit. Which in the end kind of makes the extreme a waste of money - IMO.
I wound up with the SLP STB. It's identical to the BMR STB. Same shape, construction, and material (both type and thickness, and weight as a result). I got that one because I was buying the SLP SFCs at the same time and just decided to get both from 1 place rather than 2.
I toyed with the idea of the extreme too. There is no weight savings over the standard and it's much more expensive. I talked to someone at BMR and they weren't really able to justify the extreme other than as marketing. The amount of force needed to stretch or compress the standard tube would be on the order of an impact, and even the extreme won't be any help in such a situation.
Something else to consider is that the extreme edition uses the same endplates as the standard. Not just same dimensions, same material. So you are not gaining anything at the point of contact, where it could actually provide some benefit. Which in the end kind of makes the extreme a waste of money - IMO.
I wound up with the SLP STB. It's identical to the BMR STB. Same shape, construction, and material (both type and thickness, and weight as a result). I got that one because I was buying the SLP SFCs at the same time and just decided to get both from 1 place rather than 2.
My Hotchkiss is steel. I chose it because I wanted the
fairly simple removability (and I have removed it during
some mechanical activity). It did tighten up the front
end shake noticeably on my convertible. I also liked how
it is set back further in the engine bay but that's not
really to relevant to performance. I think the BMR and
similar, single fat tube STBs might be stronger in terms
of failure strength but don't think this is a really stress-
challenged piece to begin with - I look at it as more of
a flex-scrubber than a structural element.
fairly simple removability (and I have removed it during
some mechanical activity). It did tighten up the front
end shake noticeably on my convertible. I also liked how
it is set back further in the engine bay but that's not
really to relevant to performance. I think the BMR and
similar, single fat tube STBs might be stronger in terms
of failure strength but don't think this is a really stress-
challenged piece to begin with - I look at it as more of
a flex-scrubber than a structural element.
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Neither one. The lightest option is no bar at all, which is a good choice since STB's are for Mustangs. They don't do anything on a 4th gen Fbody except add weight and separate you from some of your money.
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Just an interesting bit of info for you guys. I have a BMR extreme STB, and the STB is under enough stress that when I had to take mine off to install my headers I inspected the washers from my STB and they were bent and smashed a bit.
If you take a close look at how the front suspension is designed on our cars, you can see that the overwhelming majority of cornering forces in the front end are transmitted through the front LCA's to the K member. Any stress on the STB must first go vertically through a long skinny spindle arm then turn 90 degrees to push sideways on a tiny upper control arm that is held in place by being pinched between some sheet metal. If there was any significant stress in this area, all that stuff would fold way before you had a chance to buy a STB.
Originally Posted by mitchntx
Cal, you and I realize what works on the track and what works in a signature.
Consequently, you are talking to a wall.
Give it up ... let the lemmings loose ...
Consequently, you are talking to a wall.
Give it up ... let the lemmings loose ...
Originally Posted by mitchntx
Makes a very nice towel rack ...
Originally Posted by mitchntx
Cal, you and I realize what works on the track and what works in a signature.
Consequently, you are talking to a wall.
Give it up ... let the lemmings loose ...
Consequently, you are talking to a wall.
Give it up ... let the lemmings loose ...
Originally Posted by HPP
The Hotchkis is aluminum, but is a double bar with bracing, so that should make up for it's material weakness.