OME BP-51 OWNERS...... ROLL CALL.........

[arich]

As a mud member who values this forum, I have to say that there have been failures of the BP-51s, and that DOES result in a clunk.

As a new system, that should shock no one. But from there, it all comes down to customer service. Once I complete my experience with this problem, I will be able to speak more to that.

Mark71. I have the clunk. Working with ARB to get it fixed. It only comes for the passenger side.
Some mentioned spring slap above. I hadn't thought about that.

 

[mark71]

What is "spring slap"? I read through the thread but didn't see it.

 

[arich]

It's when thebspring compresses on itself and the coils touch each other. I doubt that the cause but I hadn't thought of it.
See it in sports cars when the suspension is loaded up in a corner and it hit another bump.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Yea, I was one that mentioned the wraps of the springs hitting itself.

FJ guys with a common long travel rear end made by metal tech complain about it. I had the same rear end, and went to the point of tearing my rear diff down to find it. I eventually found it by setting up a go pro and see it.

Why I mentioned it was because when I got my BP-51s, the first thing I noticed about them was the progressive coil design at the bottom (where the spring wraps not only are closer but smaller in diameter).

It reminded me exactly of my FJ and so I looked specifically at that when I loaded them down the first time. I already had my bull bar and old winch on and saw the spring crush so much that it is sitting firm on itself at the bottom. This told me that extra spring is really for extension (just like long travel coils)

Now something I'd like to know is who is having this "clunk noise" that also has winch and bumper?

 

[mark71]

Now something I'd like to know is who is having this "clunk noise" that also has winch and bumper?

I have a TJM bumper and Slee dual battery setup, so my weight is pretty similar. But I had the clunk both before and after adding the bumper. Extra weight didn't immediately change the clunk, but does seem to have accelerated the rate at which it lead to complete compression-dampening failure.

BTW, the clunk is better described as a double clunk. Occurs on mild compression, then on the rebound. I don't think the bottoming out of the progressive portion of the spring would explain that.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

^^^ no mark I agree with you that it isn't the spring now that you explain this sound better. I don't have any double clunking so I was just trying to explain my thought process.

So let's rule springs out. How loud is this? Can it be heard with the windows up at speed?

 

[Angelo1]

Guess I'lol hold off on installing BP-51 and stick with my trusty OME setup.

 

[Markuson]

Yea, I was one that mentioned the wraps of the springs hitting itself.

FJ guys with a common long travel rear end made by metal tech complain about it. I had the same rear end, and went to the point of tearing my rear diff down to find it. I eventually found it by setting up a go pro and see it.

Why I mentioned it was because when I got my BP-51s, the first thing I noticed about them was the progressive coil design at the bottom (where the spring wraps not only are closer but smaller in diameter).

It reminded me exactly of my FJ and so I looked specifically at that when I loaded them down the first time. I already had my bull bar and old winch on and saw the spring crush so much that it is sitting firm on itself at the bottom. This told me that extra spring is really for extension (just like long travel coils)

Now something I'd like to know is who is having this "clunk noise" that also has winch and bumper?

funny you mention the GoPro as a means of finding the clunk...because I was thinking of this exact same idea to figure something else out under there. Glad it worked.

@Taco2Cruiser ,you know what I think would be EXTREMELY helpful to all here? -If you could post a key clip of GoPro footage that shows exactly what you verified. Any chance you could post a short clip to YouTube or something?

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Sorry brother, I was borrowing a friends GoPro that had the same FJ setup at the time. We just played the video back on a tv, but I never loaded it on my computer.

 

[mark71]

^^^ no mark I agree with you that it isn't the spring now that you explain this sound better. I don't have any double clunking so I was just trying to explain my thought process.

So let's rule springs out. How loud is this? Can it be heard with the windows up at speed?

Yes. The double clunk is heard at any speed. You'd have to turn up the radio to not hear it.

 

[Markuson]

Yes. The double clunk is heard at any speed. You'd have to turn up the radio to not hear it.

So what exactly was doing the clunking?

 

[mark71]

funny you mention the GoPro as a means of finding the clunk...because I was thinking of this exact same idea to figure something else out under there.

Totally agree. I don't own one but before replacing the struts, I might be able to borrow one from a friend.

I have no doubt it is bouncing up and down like my teenage daughter as a Justin Beber concert.

 

[mark71]

So what exactly was doing the clunking?

The strut failed.

 

[arich]

New set of BP51 shocks on their way from ARB. I have to say that the customer support has been exceptional.
I'll post an update in a couple weeks.

 

[mark71]

I think I found the double clunk.

Having that rubber bushing pop out and allow the two pieces to hit each other on compression and rebound certainly does fit.

 

[dukmon]

Oh damn.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Hopefully that's it. But that o ring is just a nice added feature to keep dirt out of the uniballs. If those weren't there, the design would just be like icons or kings with open top and bottom mounts.

Either way, a quick replacement is needed, I just don't know how that would make a sound heard from in that cabin, but I have been wrong before. If it is what was making the sound, I would see if ARB would also provide you with a new uniball, misalignment spacers, and o rings. Only because I could get them for free, and if things a hitting that hard to make a sound, then I doubt they don't have some scorn marks or cuts.

 

[mark71]

Hopefully that's it. But that o ring is just a nice added feature to keep dirt out of the uniballs. If those weren't there, the design would just be like icons or kings with open top and bottom mounts.

Either way, a quick replacement is needed, I just don't know how that would make a sound heard from in that cabin, but I have been wrong before. If it is what was making the sound, I would see if ARB would also provide you with a new uniball, misalignment spacers, and o rings. Only because I could get them for free, and if things a hitting that hard to make a sound, then I doubt they don't have some scorn marks or cuts.

Makes sense that it is just an o-ring for keeping out the yuck and doesn't explain the clunk. Also would make sense since I had one of the rear shocks go out, and it doesn't have that little o-ring. And it wouldn't explain the lost compression dampening in the front.

But now I wonder why it did pop out. Is it the uniball in there that went bad? I think I will try taking it apart to investigate further. Looks like it takes a mother of an allen wrench.

From the beginning, this double clunk has seemed like a ball joint. Just couldn't find a problem with any of the Toyota ones.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Makes sense that it is just an o-ring for keeping out the yuck and doesn't explain the clunk. Also would make sense since I had one of the rear shocks go out, and it doesn't have that little o-ring. And it wouldn't explain the lost compression dampening in the front.

But now I wonder why it did pop out. Is it the uniball in there that went bad? I think I will try taking it apart to investigate further. Looks like it takes a mother of an allen wrench.

From the beginning, this double clunk has seemed like a ball joint. Just couldn't find a problem with any of the Toyota ones.

Talking with ARB, who has some amazing customer service, there is valve issue from assembly on a very few amount of these, and this creates a hydraulic symptom that sounds like a mechanical one. The good part is that ARB stands behind their products, and will take care of you. Besides I have BPs also and don't have any issues, heck the only thing that sounds loud on my truck is the STT pros

 

[Markuson]

Talking with ARB, who has some amazing customer service, there is valve issue from assembly on a very few amount of these, and this creates a hydraulic symptom that sounds like a mechanical one. The good part is that ARB stands behind their products, and will take care of you. Besides I have BPs also and don't have any issues, heck the only thing that sounds loud on my truck is the STT pros

So glad to hear this! Good to know they are doing the right thing when problems arise.