BP-51 for the 80 Series (1 Viewer)

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

Wow at ~$500/shock for these is going to be tempting in the immediate future. I've been on the fence with a Slinky suspension, but I have zero experience with them and when doing the math, >$800 per shock for a 2.5 remote resi with compression adjust is nuts. Twin tube bypass 2.5" Kings come in less if I remember correctly.

My friend absolutely thrashes (jumped it at least 50 times and on his 4th set of tires in 45k miles) his 5th gen 4runner with BP51s and it always surprises me how well they do everything when tuned correctly.

Are there any measurements available on these yet? Identical to the L shocks?

It only took me about 5 years to finally pull the trigger on these to replace my L shocks. After building up a long travel 1st gen 4runner and running a set of BP51s on my GX460 for awhile before putting on an accutune Fox 2.5 DSC kit (which is softer riding around town for stock weight but the BPs performed way better overall and were more planted), the 80 was long over due for a better ride. One of the last times out to the mountains I took my 80, it was a swaying mess on Pearl pass with horrible shock fade. Daily driving my 80 has also been just harsh compared to everything else I own so I’ve rarely opted to drive it anywhere.

Since slapping these on earlier today, areas on roads I previously avoided have become fun to drive over and these things are just soaking up chatter and holes with ease. My tires are around 45-50psi right now and the bump compliance feels as if they were at 15.

I was a little hesitant with my expectations on how the ride quality would be compared to the set on my gx460 (being a newer vehicle with ifs) but I’m very happy.

As they are more of a 2.0 shock in terms of piston size vs a 2.5 and they aren’t as easy to adjust as shocks with adjusters on the reservoirs, there are a few cons. However, throw in their reliability, hard anodized finish (which will stay looking good over time) and their internal bypasses, I consider them one of the best options for the price. I can’t imagine spending double for shocks and them being twice as good. Maybe less likely to fade in higher speed applications due to more oil capacity etc, but my 80 will never be used that way.

These BP51s were pulled off my GX and have around 50k on them with a good amount of winter driving. The Kings have less than that and you can see the bodies and threads getting nasty with corrosion.

Oh and one thing that didn’t fit quite right on my 1992 were the brake line extension brackets. I had to drill them out to be able to install them. The mounts also didn’t fit as intended on the new landing spot and the hard lines may also be a smidge different as bending the driver’s side line out of the way was a PITA with its bends already in place.

 

[NorCalFJ100]

I noticed

Hey Kurt, did you ever get insight on what the changes were from the part number change?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Hey Kurt, did you ever get insight on what the changes were from the part number change?

Nothing I really dug into. Our account manager or engineer at the shop may have some insight on that. I'm currently traveling so not around them to ask

 

[cruiseroutfit]

...As they are more of a 2.0 shock in terms of piston size vs a 2.5 and they aren’t as easy to adjust as shocks with adjusters on the reservoirs, there are a few cons. However, throw in their reliability, hard anodized finish (which will stay looking good over time) and their internal bypasses, I consider them one of the best options for the price. I can’t imagine spending double for shocks and them being twice as good. Maybe less likely to fade in higher speed applications due to more oil capacity etc, but my 80 will never be used that way.

Fwiw, they arn't more of a 2.0 shock, they are exactly a 2.0 shock. The 51 in BP-51 is diameter. 51/25.4 = 2.0079. I think we can call them exactly 2.0

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

Fwiw, they arn't more of a 2.0 shock, they are exactly a 2.0 shock. The 51 in BP-51 is diameter. 51/25.4 = 2.0079. I think we can call them exactly 2.0

The precise side of me needed to distinguish that they are metric and not exactly a 2.0, but if we are rounding I’ll agree with that. I’m a big fan of my BP2.0”s haha

 

[cruiseroutfit]

The precise side of me needed to distinguish that they are metric and not exactly a 2.0, but if we are rounding I’ll agree with that. I’m a big fan of my BP2.0”s haha

7.87 thousands of an inch is close enough for me

 

[reklund5]

Oh and one thing that didn’t fit quite right on my 1992 were the brake line extension brackets. I had to drill them out to be able to install them. The mounts also didn’t fit as intended on the new landing spot and the hard lines may also be a smidge different as bending the driver’s side line out of the way was a PITA with its bends already in place.
View attachment 3370121

Just got done installing my BP51s on my 95 and ran into the same issue. I'm not convinced those brackets are necessary with the SS brake lines I have so I left them off for now. I just can't see how they matter. Care to educate me?

 

[SUMMIT CRUISERS Jr]

Just got done installing my BP51s on my 95 and ran into the same issue. I'm not convinced those brackets are necessary with the SS brake lines I have so I left them off for now. I just can't see how they matter. Care to educate me?

The purpose of the brackets is to move the brackets/connections out of the way of the shock body with its larger diameter so they don’t crash into each other on big compressions

 

[Somebodyelse5]

Anyone care to share what their compression and rebound settings are? Going to start playing with mine, curious what you folks like.

I'm running the flexi coils, not much weight.

 

[CivicFerio]

Nothing I really dug into. Our account manager or engineer at the shop may have some insight on that. I'm currently traveling so not around them to ask

I had the honor to talk to Doug at ARB about this. He told me they made a change on those shocks to address a concern some customers may have had with the valving based on how they had their vehicle set up, he didn't elaborate further.

I have the older PN installed on my 80 and I suspect that they firmed up the base valving as I feel the front end is a bit under damped on the road despite the rebound/compression cranked all the way up.

 

[reklund5]

The purpose of the brackets is to move the brackets/connections out of the way of the shock body with its larger diameter so they don’t crash into each other on big compressions

Makes total sense now that I looked at it. A little massaging of the brackets and they're now installed. Thanks!

 

[JoeCova]

Fwiw, they arn't more of a 2.0 shock, they are exactly a 2.0 shock. The 51 in BP-51 is diameter. 51/25.4 = 2.0079. I think we can call them exactly 2.0

More like 1.5 due to the internal bypass design.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

More like 1.5 due to the internal bypass design.

Do tell what you are measuring?

 

[JoeCova]

Do tell what you are measuring?

Apologies I misspoke. Many claim it to be a 2.5 but due to the internal design the piston is much smaller so yes 2.0

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Apologies I misspoke. Many claim it to be a 2.5 but due to the internal design the piston is much smaller so yes 2.0

Nobody should be claiming 2.5", it's exactly 2.0", so much so they put it in the products name "51"

 

[JoeCova]

Nobody should be claiming 2.5", it's exactly 2.0", so much so they put it in the products name "51"

I don't disagree but people compare a shock body to shock body often ignoring the internal measurements, hence why its often called a 2.5

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I don't disagree but people compare a shock body to shock body often ignoring the internal measurements, hence why its often called a 2.5

Well that would be inaccurate as well. The common BP-51 shock body OD is 2.75"

 

[bryson]

Anyone care to share what their compression and rebound settings are? Going to start playing with mine, curious what you folks like.

I'm running the flexi coils, not much weight.

Front:
reb - 8
comp - 4

Rear:
reb- 7
comp- 4

Mine's on OME 850J/863 springs, and also not super heavy.

*Edited because I initially had reb/comp listed backwards...

 

[COYS]

I don't disagree but people compare a shock body to shock body often ignoring the internal measurements, hence why its often called a 2.5

Cmon man

 

[NorCalFJ100]

Anyone have an opinion on springs I should run to obtain as close to 2.5" lift with these BP51s? I'm running OME 850s in the front and 863s in the rear now. Truck sits level, but sags when packed full of family camping supplies and passengers.