BMW suspension upgrades are often discussed in terms of springs and coilovers, but a large part of how an M car behaves comes from its kinematics: the way camber, toe, caster and wheel position change as the suspension moves.
Suspension Secrets focuses heavily on this side of chassis development. This guide explains what camber plates, toe links, traction arms and kinematics kits are trying to achieve, and when they make sense on an F87 M2, F80/F82 M3/M4 or G8X platform.
What does “suspension kinematics” mean?
Kinematics describes the geometry and movement relationships within the suspension. Static alignment is only the starting point. As the wheel moves through bump, rebound, roll and steering, the suspension can change camber, toe and other geometry.
Changing arms, bushes, pickup positions or top mounts can therefore alter both the alignment range and how that alignment behaves dynamically.
Camber plates: more than a bigger negative number
Camber plates move the top of the strut to increase the available front camber range. On a track car this can help keep the outside front tyre working more evenly through loaded corners, particularly after tyre grip and cornering speed increase.
More negative camber is not automatically better. The correct target depends on tyre construction, ride height, circuit use and how much road mileage the car still covers.
G87 owners can browse Suspension Secrets adjustable camber/caster plates for BMW G87 M2.
What do adjustable toe links do?
Toe links allow the rear toe setting to be corrected or deliberately tuned after lowering or other geometry changes. On a powerful rear-wheel-drive or xDrive performance car, rear toe affects stability, rotation and tyre wear.
The goal is not simply “zero toe”. A track setup may intentionally use toe to create a predictable balance, while a road car needs stability and sensible tyre life.
Traction arms and anti-squat geometry
Rear suspension arms can influence wheel control under acceleration and braking as well as static alignment. Suspension Secrets packages are designed around the complete kinematic behaviour rather than treating each arm as an isolated cosmetic upgrade.
This is one reason full kits can make more sense on a developed track car than buying several adjustable links without a geometry plan.
Full kinematics kits
Our range includes complete packages such as the Suspension Secrets Full Kinematics Kit for BMW F87 M2/M2 Competition, BMW G87 M2 Full Kinematics Kit and BMW G80 M3/G82 M4 Full Kinematics Kit.
These packages are most useful when the rest of the chassis is ready to take advantage of them. Tyres, dampers, ride height, alignment and driver feedback should all be considered together.
Shop Suspension Secrets by BMW chassis
Suspension Secrets for Porsche GT cars
The same geometry-first approach applies to Porsche track cars. Our catalogue includes Circuit Handling Packages for Porsche 981/718 Cayman GT4 and Porsche 991 GT3/GT3 RS/GT2 RS.
Do kinematics upgrades make a road car worse?
Not inherently. The result depends on the hardware and setup. Solid bearings, aggressive alignment and reduced compliance can increase noise or harshness, while a thoughtfully chosen road-biased package can improve control without turning the car into a race car. Decide what compromises are acceptable before ordering.
Suspension Secrets FAQs
Do I need camber plates for track days?
Not every car does, but they become useful when the factory front-camber range cannot produce even tyre loading at the pace and grip level the car is running.
Should I fit adjustable arms before or after coilovers?
Plan the final ride height and alignment target first. Lowering can change the adjustment range required, so it is often better to design the package as a system rather than buying arms independently.
Will adjustable arms stop tyre wear?
They can provide the adjustment needed to correct geometry, but tyre wear also depends on toe, pressure, temperature, driving style and tyre construction. A proper alignment is essential.
What alignment should I run?
There is no universal “Suspension Secrets alignment”. Road mileage, tyre, track, ride height and driver preference matter. Have the car measured and set by a specialist who can work from the intended use and tyre data.
Browse the full Suspension Secrets range at Nineteen72 Performance.
