Fixed
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Skip OME BP-51’s (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter funnyfingers
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- Thread starter
- #2
I have lifted numerous vehicles. Suspension I have used over the years includes IronMan, Dobinsons, radflo, and Fox. Ironman rode the worst, but it didn’t squeak over every bump. The BP’s ride well but it’s nonstop squeaking.
bloc
SILVER Star
Wait til you see what they do to the rear lower shock mount post on the axle.
- Thread starter
- #5
There is a squeak from the rear. Seems like where the coil is seated. One from the front, spherical bushing possibly. Same thing since these were first introduced. I don’t know why so many shops recommend them.
kcjaz
SILVER Star
bloc
SILVER Star
Yes, but the long-term fix is to run a different shock.
kcjaz
SILVER Star
Agreed. I was being sarcastic. Bending it back over and over is no bueno.
xeuxaz
SILVER Star
cruiserbrett
GOLD Star
Looking at the pics of the shocks, it would seem the remote reservoir hose design is simply too much of a restriction in oil flow for fast wheel travel.
The entire volume of the oil displaced by the shock shaft needs to travel into the remote reservoir when going to fully compressed. it may not seem like a lot of volume, but it has to move very quickly. Pressure builds quickly with a restriction like the hose/banjo *could* present.
I think you’re bending lower mounts due to the shock being unable to move the volume of oil needed fast enough; which in effect creates a shock that can’t move as fast as the axle and the mount bends.
kcjaz
SILVER Star
There is no metal sleeve/bushing in the OME lower bushing like there is soft the OEM shock. The OEM metal bushing strengthens the mount. I think the bending of the mount is because the mount without the bunching in the shock just can’t take the same load as the OEM set up or other shocks that have a metal bushing.
Performance wise, I’ve been happy with the BP51s. No noises or squeaks. Initially I did have some “chirps” but that was due to the wrong washers on the upper mounts. The OME washers were wrong. I replaced with the OEM washers and no noise.
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Is this really what is happening or is the shock just too long for stock length bump stops
bloc
SILVER Star
it's not too long, the issue is the lower bushing with no sleeve. Stock shocks and most aftermarket put a metal sleeve or a spherical joint with misalignment spacers on the post and that effectively increases the diameter, thereby increasing the strength. BP-51s just have a rubber bushing without that added support. People installing lower shock guards definitely seem to make it worse, but basically that post isn't strong enough by itself to deal with the damping forces.
Lots of discussion here:
Rear shock mount bending
Moving this topic from the LCDC9 thread to its own thread to get better visibility. @elkeye posted his damage (shown below) and then last night I was taking my shocks off and noticed similar damage. Not sure of the cause or how best to fix it but some speculation below...
forum.ih8mud.com
kcjaz
SILVER Star
Pic of BP51 bushing vs. OEM.
- Thread starter
- #15
All the years these have been out and they still haven’t corrected the issue is 
bloc
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Can the factory bushing be swapped in for the rear? I know the front spherical “bushings” squeak when the teflon wears out. What’s your experience with the Dobinsons MRR’s? Looks like a similar rear bushing without the steel internal support.
kcjaz
SILVER Star
I was going to do that but you would have to machine the shock and there isn’t much meat there.
kcjaz
SILVER Star
I sent them in when they offers “free” rebuilds. All the did was replace the bushings. They didn’t rebuild/replace any internal parts because there was no evidence of leaks. It also took like 6 weeks.
Counterpoint in the event we want to expand the sample size: the BP51s on my 2015 have been installed for ~4 years and maybe 50k miles, no issues whatsoever. They don’t make any noise, they have been comfortable, and smooth and I would buy them again tomorrow. Pick your poison.
If you are located in a state that heavily treats the roadways in the winter, you can expect many of the other “popular” suspension options to completely rust out within a season or two.
Alternatively you can find other suspension options that will do much better in high speed dessert driving. But for long distance travel, crawling through the San Juans or Moab, while also surviving the road salt in New England the BPs are a fine choice.
If you are located in a state that heavily treats the roadways in the winter, you can expect many of the other “popular” suspension options to completely rust out within a season or two.
Alternatively you can find other suspension options that will do much better in high speed dessert driving. But for long distance travel, crawling through the San Juans or Moab, while also surviving the road salt in New England the BPs are a fine choice.
