Noisy Front Suspension -- BP51 --thinking about selling

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Who else has outstanding issues with the BP51s? I've gone through three sets since last January. After the third set started clunking inside of 24 hours I swapped to my Koni 90 Raids with Kings springs back on.
I've been working with Mitch at ARB and I'm told they are working on a solution. I have given them all the symptoms and variables but they have not shared any info with me. This last set was shipped from Australia and was supposed to fix the clunk, it didn't. Weird thing they didn't want them back for inspection.
They're trying hard to make things right.
I'm feeling a little Down and LOW in the pic below.

FullSizeRender.webp


IMG_5875.webp
 
Last edited:
Same here waiting to hear from them since they replaced the front strut with new ones with the same issues.
That said considering their efforts to make it right, I will be patient.
 
I'll be considering a suspension upgrade in the Spring. But given the concerns expressed on this thread will go with Nitrocharger Sports and Medium springs. I would rather give the BP51's a year or two to "settle".
 
I am inclined to believe that , they will fix this. Cant imagine ARB drooping the ball on a product and claiming that their shocks cant be used in Iceland, Russia, Canada etc.
I just cant believe that it took them a full year to acknowledge and start addressing the issue. As far I am concern , I hope they have a team running the shocks and testing them in Alaska, as I type this.
 
The CLUNK is back.
What do the BP-51 and the Nitrocharger Sport have in common?
I have been running the NCSport 91005 w/7202 springs front and NCSport 61029 w/2722 rear springs inst Jan 2016. (thank you Slee) Still original bumpers and no winch yet or extra load. Lift and droop with in specs.

No clunk unti it warmed up to around 40 f. SPC sent me new UCA (thank you SPC) not the UCA's. 15-18 mph over a small speed bump in a parking lot made for a nice repeatable test.
-Clunk was gone below 30 deg f at 15-18 mph
-Intermitent up to 40 f
-Clunk happened 1-5 sec after speed bump as temp rose through the summer. The farthest I went across the parking lot was another 100 yards then "clunk" as if something was was unloading. 70 deg on up was almost instant.
Left front strut is still quiet. Having trouble narrowing down L & R rear or R front.
Last fall I removed the rear shocks from the axle and drove it over the speed bump and no clunk. (Do not try this at home! 200's are not safe to operate with out rear shocks!)

Talked to Mitch at ARB Jan 2017, he made notes but had no answers. I will start testing again now that our temps are back up here in MT.
 
4gotalot said:
The CLUNK is back.
What do the BP-51 and the Nitrocharger Sport have in common?
I have been running the NCSport 91005 w/7202 springs front and NCSport 61029 w/2722 rear springs inst Jan 2016. (thank you Slee) Still original bumpers and no winch yet or extra load. Lift and droop with in specs.

No clunk unti it warmed up to around 40 f. SPC sent me new UCA (thank you SPC) not the UCA's. 15-18 mph over a small speed bump in a parking lot made for a nice repeatable test.
-Clunk was gone below 30 deg f at 15-18 mph
-Intermitent up to 40 f
-Clunk happened 1-5 sec after speed bump as temp rose through the summer. The farthest I went across the parking lot was another 100 yards then "clunk" as if something was was unloading. 70 deg on up was almost instant.
Left front strut is still quiet. Having trouble narrowing down L & R rear or R front.
Last fall I removed the rear shocks from the axle and drove it over the speed bump and no clunk. (Do not try this at home! 200's are not safe to operate with out rear shocks!)

Talked to Mitch at ARB Jan 2017, he made notes but had no answers. I will start testing again now that our temps are back up here in MT.
Click to expand...


So just to be clear, you're saying that if I do with the Nitrocharger Sports I could also experience "The Clunk" or at least "A Clunk"?
 
So, are you guys working with the vendor who supplied your BP-51's or direct with ARB?

I don't necessarily believe this issue is temperature related, since mine can sound like a bucket of busted buttholes anytime I transverse speed bumps/humps.
 
I think it depends on the compression settings and load might be a factor.
On mine Temperature is definitely a big factor, under 50 degrees, lots of clunk, above 70 none.
Also low compression setting = Clunkpalooza, higher compression less clunk at lower temps.
Still debating if I keep them and wait or go the Icon route.
 
I don't recall where my compression is set, but it's pretty low. Rebound set to the upper end.

We've had a lot of very warm days the past month.
 
Even ARB considers it a temperature factor. They've been testing in cold conditions. What I'm curious about is why would only the fronts do this. Both front and back are internal bypass shocks...so it's interesting to me.
 
Heck, I have the major creaking/clunking on both ends.



So, are y'all dealing with your selling vendor or ARB about this?
 
I contacted ARB directly, then looped in the shop that installed it.
 
dukmon said:
Heck, I have the major creaking/clunking on both ends.



So, are y'all dealing with your selling vendor or ARB about this?
Click to expand...

I contacted Mitch at ARB, and he sent the rears straight to me. All he needed was a copy of my invoice. Still waiting on fronts.
 
I just talked to Mitch at ARB again and he will send whatever I need to make it right but I am not sure what that is yet. I would like to narrow it down a bit more for us and ARB. Is it just the right rear or both? Is it just...He did say there is no clunk history with the NCSports, yet.
 
Guys, it's summer/Autumn in Australia. How can they be cold weather testing?
I tried talking to my vendor Slee when the clunk started but all they said is that they have heard of no such thing.
I don't think a single vendor has added comments to any discussion of the BP51 issues.
I'm being very patient BUT it's a lot of work to swap out a full suspension.
 
I do have a bit of clunk on the rear but the major part is from the front.
Cold weather testing, easy, either in a cold chamber or since they sell in many countries, testing in Alaska, Canada, Russia etc...
 
Not just a lot of work, but bucks too. And going without a vehicle while dealing with the hassle of it being in the shop.


Granted, I have not reached out to the vendor I purchased through nor ARB at this point yet. Hopefully the vendor will be helpful.
 
arich said:
Guys, it's summer/Autumn in Australia. How can they be cold weather testing?
I tried talking to my vendor Slee when the clunk started but all they said is that they have heard of no such thing.
I don't think a single vendor has added comments to any discussion of the BP51 issues.
I'm being very patient BUT it's a lot of work to swap out a full suspension.
Click to expand...

Controlled cold testing can be done off the truck. It's not like you can't test for cold's effect on oil unless it's on the vehicle...

Slee is in the loop, by the way. Maybe not acknowledged by ARB at that point. I'm sure Slee was honest with you. This process has been in motion and changing rapidly. It's gone from obscure...to known. They sent out what they thought was a fix earlier, but that was before it was connected specifically to cold conditions.
 
Last edited:
First reported my clunking almost a year ago. Sad to see that they are still struggling with this. Perhaps the problem is a bit more difficult than they admit.

They were nice when they worked.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom