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How to Install BMR Body Mounted Watts Links w/ Poly Bushings & Rod Ends - Hammertone on your Mustang

Tools Required
  • Hydraulic jack and jack stands
  • Wrenches and sockets: 15mm, 18mm, 19mm, 22mm, 9/16”, ¾”, 15/16”
  • Small level
American Muscle
Shop Parts in this Guide

INSTALLATION:

1. Lift the rear of the vehicle and safely support with jack stands under the frame rails.  

2. Using an 18mm wrench or socket, remove the panhard rod.  

3. Using an 18mm wrench or socket remove the passenger side nut on the upper panhard rod support.  

4. Using a 15mm socket, remove the (2) bolts on the driver side of the upper panhard rod support then remove the upper panhard rod support.  

5. Using a 15mm wrench, remove the driver side sway bar end link bolt where it attaches to the frame.  

6. Install the BMR cross-member using the existing mounting holes from the panhard rod and upper panhard rod support brace. Re-use the original mounting hardware for the driver side. On the passenger side use the provided 12mm x 110mm bolt and nut and 14mm x 100mm bolt and nut.  Insert the supplied spacers on the inside of the mount as shown in IMAGE 1. 


7. Torque the driver side 15mm bolts to  46 ft/lbs, the sway bar end link bolt to  85 ft/lbs., the passenger side upper  bolt to 85 ft/lbs, and the passenger  side lower bolt to 129 ft/lbs.  

8. Locate the driver side axle clamp  shown in IMAGE 2 and (6)  3/8”x1.25” bolts and nuts from the  hardware packet.  


9. Bolt the axle clamp as far outward as  possible on the driver side as shown in  IMAGE 3. Snug the bolts but do not  fully tighten yet.  

10. Now locate the passenger side axle  clamp shown in IMAGE 2 and (6)  3/8”x1” bolts and nuts from the  hardware packet.  


11. Bolt the axle clamp as far outward as  possible on the passenger side as  shown in IMAGE 4. The slot on the  back side clamp is designed to clear  the axle vent on top of the axle. Snug  the bolts but do not fully tighten yet. 


12. Gather the following components and hardware as shown in IMAGE 5 below:

Watts Link Pivot

Watts Link Spacer

Watts Link Reinforcement Bracket

Watts Linkages

(2) 5/8” x 2” bolts

(2) 5/8” stainless washers

(2) 5/8” lock nuts

(1) ½” x 3.5” bolt

(1) ½” poly-lock nut

(1) gold ½” flat washer

(2) 3/8” x 3.5” bolts

(2) 3/8” poly-lock nuts.


13. Mount the Watts Linkages to the Watts Link Pivot Assembly using the 5/8” bolts, washers, and  lock nuts. Tighten the nuts with two 15/16” wrenches. (IMAGE 6) 


14. Choose a mounting hole for the  Watts link pivot. Ride height  and various other factors will  determine the optimal mounting  position but a good place to start  on a slightly lowered car is  somewhere around the middle.  Bolt the Watts Link Pivot to the  center of the cross-member as  shown in IMAGE 7. Tighten  the center ½” bolt to 80 ft/lbs  with (2) ¾” wrenches and the  outer 3/8” bolts to 35 ft/lbs with  (2) 9/16” wrenches. NOTE: if  you choose one of the upper holes to  mount your Watts Link Pivot, the  differential cover will interfere with the  installation. There are two ways to  proceed: Either lower the cross-brace  to attach the Watts Link or remove the  springs so you can compress the axle upwards to make clearance for the  installation.  

15. To determine the correct mounting  points for the axle mounts it is  necessary to simulate ride height.  Lift the axle up with the jack until  the frame just comes off the jack  stands and the weight of the car is  resting on the axle.  

16. Now take your small level or angle  finder and adjust the axle clamps to 90  degrees or true vertical as shown in  IMAGE 8. Using a 9/16” wrench and  socket, tighten all 6 bolts on each clamp  in a criss-cross pattern, alternating  between sides.  

17. Locate the driver side axle mount as  shown in IMAGE 9. Also gather (2) ½”  x 1.5” bolts, (2) ½” stainless washers, and (2) ½” poly-lock nuts. 




18. Bolt the axle mount to the axle clamp in the mounting holes that will position the link as horizontal as possible. Tighten the ½” bolts using (2) ¾” wrenches. (IMAGE 9)  

19. Locate the remaining ½” x 3” bolts, ½”  stainless washers, and ½” poly-lock  nuts and connect the Watts Linkages to  the outer Watts Link Mount placing the  washer under the nut. Tighten bolts to  35 ft/lbs. NOTE: the Watts Links do not  ship pre-adjusted. It is necessary to  shorten/lengthen the links to fit them to  each vehicle.  


20. Duplicate steps 17-19 for the passenger  side. (IMAGE 10)  

21. Before tightening the jam nuts on  the linkages, use a plumb bob or  level to verify that the rear end is centered in the body. This may be accomplished by measuring the wheel’s position in reference to the wheel-well and comparing sides. If the rear-end is not centered, adjust the links to shift the body in the direction needed. For instance, if the rear-end is offset towards the drivers’ side ¼”, shorten the drivers’ side link 1/8” and lengthen the passenger side 1/8”.  

22. Once centered, tighten the jam-nuts on the Watts Links using (2) 15/16” wrenches.  

23. Use a grease gun to lube the center Watts pivot and outer poly bushings (WL005 only). Re-lube after a few hundred miles and then every other oil change.  

24. Lower vehicle. An alignment is typically not necessary after this installation.  


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