Skip OME BP-51’s

[linuxgod]

I'm 22k miles in with my BP51s. No evidence of rear shock mount bending when I installed the rear shock mount guards this spring after ~8-10k of driving (including a trip to Banff and back towing my trailer, which 100% will smash my bump stops on occasion).

I started to get a slight chirp from the passenger side rear area about 2k miles ago. I'm not sure if it's the rear BP51 shock or it's some contact from my rear bumper against the plastic body vent.

My issue with the BP51s is tuning. Mine are set C2/R6. Around the city at very low speeds (<~15 mph) I feel every pothole and bump. But on the highway at 70+ I'm soft and floaty. Slee had originally set the shocks at C3/R7 and around town was worse though the highway was better (but still a bit floaty). Running lower tire pressures around town and higher pressures on the highway seems to help but that's not really practical. I suspect I'd have the same complaint with any digressive shock design though.

 

[Artie]

I hesitate to even comment about this but I have more squeaking from my SPC UCA’s than my BP51’s. The only squeak from the BP’s was rear upper shock mount. I have the washers to replace them with but ended up putting a small squirt of silicone lubricant there and it’s been quiet ever since. Come time to rebuild I may switch things up to Kings and have Filthy Motorsports build me a set.

 

[stellite]

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.

I installed my MRR and there are zero squeeks. But I have never had squeeks with Dobinsons lifts, Icon lifts and kings lifts.

 

[skrypj]

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

That seems insane to me considering the Lx570 uses that post to support a significant portion of the trucks weight via the shocks.

 

[bloc]

That seems insane to me considering the Lx570 uses that post to support a significant portion of the trucks weight via the shocks.

We’d need an engineer to run the numbers (@turbo8 has done some FEA stuff before..) but that sleeve effectively adding so much diameter to the post dramatically increases its strength. Note that much of the post is hollow.. the cross-sectional mass with the sleeve there might be increasing by a factor of three, and does so with close to double the diameter which further increases resistance to bending.

Also, and this part is really important, the LX shock uses it in a way that Toyota built the post to be used in the first place.

Maybe someone can measure compressed lengths of these vs competitors. I might be wrong but my money is on the lack of post support being the root cause.

 

[turbo8]

We’d need an engineer to run the numbers (@turbo8 has done some FEA stuff before..) but that sleeve effectively adding so much diameter to the post dramatically increases its strength. Note that much of the post is hollow.. the cross-sectional mass with the sleeve there might be increasing by a factor of three, and does so with close to double the diameter which further increases resistance to bending.

Also, and this part is really important, the LX shock uses it in a way that Toyota built the post to be used in the first place.

Maybe someone can measure compressed lengths of these vs competitors. I might be wrong but my money is on the lack of post support being the root cause.

It was this post

 

[KilaCruiser]

Not a scientist or engineer but have bought two sets of BP-51s for two different cruisers. First set had 70K miles and still felt great when I sold the truck... from -50 on the outside thermometer to 111, they operated flawlessly and quietly. After initial setup, I never fiddled with adjustments regardless of whether I was solo or had a full truck going cross country... despite lots of salt, they never got rusty. Great great experience.

I bought them for the clearance and 'cause my stock suspension was tired, but I've learned that the on-road lack of roll, nosedive and control is where it's most impactful.... that and on 100+ mile dirt tracks . Tried to keep the stock suspension in my 21 and after the first long road trip, missed them too much and doubled down. That extra two inches removes a lot of questions from most of what I drive, I need to air down way less to have a comfortable drive to a good fishing hole, i rarely loose any control when I hit extended ruts on a fireroad at speed, wind gusts no longer rock the truck on mtn passes, etc.

Additional thoughts:

I do believe the installer has a lot to do with any suspension adjustment, as do the supporting bits like UCA's, tires, etc. Lots of negative comments I see end up being resolved by, "I flipped the suspension to the other side and now it's level / I used the right bolt / realized it had a lube port / realized I need to open the KDSS valve / etc". Not saying it's everyone, but experience/reps with the truck and the part goes a long way to having a great experience.

I appreciate that Filthy can dial Kings in even better.... but I also appreciate that I can likely get a longer active life from by BP's.

I dont run a heavy cruiser and use my truck for trail access and long trips in varied weather, more than dedicated crawling, but just wanted to share a counter opinion in the hope it might help someone else. For me, they've been my favorite mod.

 

[AWilson013]

Not much value in this response but it popped up as a "similar thread" for me so thought I'd share my experience.

I was the first person to install BP-51s on a KDSS equipped GX470. ARB/OME gave me a SUBSTANTIAL discount on them and anything else I added to the order in exchange for pictures and measurements. Walked away with the suspension, dual air compressor and all accessories, etc. etc.

After 7 years I have finally replaced them with a Fox Performance Elite setup w/ DSC from Accutune and I am so disappointed that I waited this long... The difference in ride quality is night and day.

In the 7 years and 10 months since I installed the BP-51s:

• I have been disappointed with the ride quality on my rather "light" build with no bumpers and aluminum skids. Slow compression they're great. Fast? I hope you don't have any fillings in your teeth - they may fall out.
• I have replaced the lower spherical bushings on one coilover 4 times and the other 3 times. They both need replaced again.
• I have put off sending them in to be rebuilt because I drive my GX daily and even though I live 10 miles from their Washington HQ I need to ship them in to be "assessed" for rebuild and I simply don't have time for that. They've been leaking for 3 years and the only solution is weeks of downtime.

Before my GX I had a 4Runner with Icon suspension and I expected a similar maintenance experience.. It's not even close. I was sold a rebuildable system - but it's only rebuildable by the manufacturer?

A close friend sent his in for rebuild and was told they're too old - they don't have parts. But, lucky him! They'll sell him a new set for a 20% discount!

I intend to send mine in now that I have replaced them.... We'll see how it goes. I suspect I'll be told that since my model number is for a 5th gen KDSS 4Runner and I installed them (to test for them) on a GX470 that they can't rebuild them.

Or that they're too old.

We'll see.