While the independent rear suspension (IRS) found in the 5th-gen Camaro may not be as ideal as a solid rear axle (SRA) equipped COPO Camaro for drag racing, the guys at BMR Suspension have created a solution to the IRS woes in the 5th-gen Camaro.

We called BMR Suspension to go in-depth and explain the features and benefits of its latest drag racing suspension and brake packages for the 5th-gen Camaro. These packages not only save nearly 70 pounds of unsprung weight, and allow enthusiasts to run 15-inch wheels on their Camaro at the strip. Stick with us as we get the lowdown from Pete Epple at BMR Suspension on the latest parts from BMR for the 5th-gen Camaro.

Drag Racing Suspension Package

Images Source: BMR Suspension

First up is BMR’s Drag Racing Suspension Package (PN DRP007) for the ’10-’15 5th-gen Camaro.  The package consists of 4130 non-adjustable chrome-moly control Arms (PN MTCA030), adjustable trailing arms (PN TCA033), 4130 chrome-moly upper coilover mounts (PN CCK004), and a pair of Strange double-adjustable coilover shocks with needle bearings and Hyperco springs (PN S5003).

We asked Epple about the type of research and development goes into the Drag Racing Suspension kit, and how the company determines what components are the best option for a Camaro built for a drag racing application. Epple says, “BMR has spent the better part of five years track and street testing this kit to ensure it is the perfect kit for the 5th-gen IRS. We designed the kit to have a great blend of strength and adjustability, in a lightweight package. When you look at the IRS as drag race suspension, controlling wheel movement is paramount. We test extensively to eliminate wheel hop, spindle rotation, and any unnecessary deflection in the system.

“To do this effectively there is more needed that just the DRP007, but it is easily achievable with other BMR parts. In the testing process we have broken a lot of parts, and our theory there is we broke our parts so you don’t have to break yours.

“You can certainly drag race with different parts, but wheel fitment on most drag race wheels becomes difficult. The parts in this kit are designed to give you the most room for wheel clearance, and it allows you to run a 15-inch wheel.”

Brake Conversion Package

The BMR Suspension Camaro is putting in work at the strip!

BMR’s Brake Conversion Package For 15-Inch Wheels (PN BCP001) consists of Wilwood brake components for a 15-inch wheel conversion (PN WIL-BMR15BCP), a pair of modified spindles (PN SPD001), and a pair of brake caliper brackets (PN BCK003).

While it’s rather obvious why enthusiasts would want to run a pair of 15-inch wheels on their Camaro at the strip, we asked Epple why it’s important for Camaro enthusiasts to understand what makes these packages so important to get there. Epple says, “One of the biggest issues with putting 15-inch wheels on the 5th-gen IRS is spindle and brake clearance. It is very difficult to package the factory brakes in 15-inch wheels because of the diameter of the factory rotors and the position of the brake caliper. BMR’s BCP001 package features a modified stock spindle that is CNC-machined to accept a custom Wildwood brake package. The rotors are a smaller diameter and the radial mounted caliper is significantly shorter than the factory setup. This is much easier to package in a 15-inch wheel. The spindles in the BCP001 are also upgraded with spherical bearings instead of the factory rubber bushings. This eliminates the bulk of the spindle rotation and the bushing deflection, which are both root causes of wheel-hop.

The BCP001 kits gets rid the factory vented rotor and replaces it with a lightweight solid rotor. The factory brake caliper is replaced with a lightweight Wildwood Dynolite caliper. Finally it also ditches the OEM parking brake which saves a significant amount of weight. While the weight itself is great to lose, most of the weight lost is unsprung rotational weight, which is the best weight you can lose.”

Conclusion

Combining the DRP007 and the BCP001 packages on your 5th-gen could make for an unstoppable Camaro at the strip.

Epple says that both packages available from BMR Suspension are designed for the Camaro enthusiast in mind who’s car see a lot of time at the strip.

He explains, “This is kit is designed for upper end of the street/strip enthusiast and the hardcore drag racer, and not really for the casual enthusiast. The components are going to be a little noisier, and the new lower control arms and require custom end links to run a stock-style sway bar. We recommend our Xtreme Antiroll Bar (XSB004) for people running this kit, and it is designed to work with the DRP007 kit. The BCP001 is where the lines between street-friendly and not get blurred. The solid cross-drilled rotors are designed for a more race-oriented application and are not recommended for the street.”

For more information on drag racing suspension packages available for the ’10-’15 5th-gen Camaro, head over to BMR Suspension’s website and check out some of the other tech videos available on their website.