OME BP-51 Suspension coming in 2015?

No idea where she got this info. The literature from ARB and ARB tech support say these are 600 lb/inch springs.

 

Hmm any thoughts @HeadStrong Off-Road?

 

More questions. What are the shock lengths for the rear, and are the fronts considered extended travel? I'm wondering if they can be ran with a shackle flip for down the road, looking for basically a 12" shock. Or are they the standard 10"? If these are made to run with a steel bumper I'm gonna save a ton of money and go steel. Which is stronger anyways. - dying to see a build thread with this setup. Feedback is key: I'm about to pull the trigger. But icon is calling me in the back of my head.

 

These are more for an Overland style rig, they are not extended travel.

 

Cool. Know any of the other info? I'm guessing with that, 10" shock in the rear?

 

I couldn't find any specs on extended versus compressed length. So I just went out and jacked the truck up, and the extended length from the center of the lower eyelet to the top of the shock body (not including bushings) was 25". Getting fully compressed length was tougher, I basically measured the length of the shock body (13 1/2") and then added the length from the eyelet, to the lowest clean spot on the shaft, which might represent fully compressed length or just the maximum amount I have compressed the shocks, but there was only an extra 1/2" or so of shaft left, so I think this should represent full compression. That length was 1 3/8".

So, 25" Fully extended, and approximately 14 7/8" full compression. So, looks like the rears are 10" travel.

 

From Wheeler's Off Road. This is for rears. I ask Dan to measure a set when they first starting receiving them:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ome-bp-51-suspension-coming-in-2015.344508/page-11#post-12405004

 

Thank you - 10" it is!

 

When the BP51's first came out we contacted ARB directly to get the specifications on them. At that time it was prior to them actually being available here in the States. I was told the spring rate would be around a 720 lbs and would come preset to provide around 2" of lift on a Tacoma running a bull bar and winch which weighs in around 200lbs. Just to verify that this information indeed is still correct I called into ARB again and they did say that it is around a 700lb spring. They do have a Preset guide that they supply with the BP-51's and I thought this would be helpful to share.

They will come preset to provide 2" of lift on a double cab 4x4 running around 200lbs of additional front end weight. Now if you have only a bumper and not a winch you can remove 5 mm of preload to gain around the same amount of lift. If you are a stock weight double cab 4x4 you can remove 10 mm of preload to gain around that same amount of lift.

Here is the kicker you need to use a spring compressor to make these adjustments. The collar of the BP-51 SHOULD NOT be adjusted without the tension of the spring being removed. Failure to do so can damage the threads on the shock and/or the collar. In our experience with the BP-51's this can be a little harder to do. Not all spring compressors have lower profile "arms" that can fit between the coil and the shock without scratching the shock body itself.


We took measurement of the BP-51's here and this is what we came up with.

Our measurements for the Rear BP51
15.25 collapsed
24.5 extended

Our measurments for the front BP51's
17.25 collapsed
22.25 extended

The measurements we received from ARB on the Rear BP51's
15.35 collapsed
24.61 extended

The measurements we received from ARB on the Front BP51's
17.33 collapsed
21.68 extended

 

Interesting, I have been quoted 600 lb/in by two different technical support reps at ARB, and this article where FourWheeler Magazine reviewed the BP-51s says the springs rate is 600 lb/in. I wonder why they are all over the map on this.

I have an additional 60-80lbs up front and had them adjusted to 12mm of preload, and I am sitting right at 2" of lift, so their recommended specs seem to be right on the money for the 2nd Gen. To add, they also recommended 15mm of preload for a steel bumper without a winch.

This is 100% correct, and don't think you can just go down and get a rental spring compressor and do this yourself. I took mine to a suspension shop that had a really good spring compressor, but it allowed the spring to deflect as it was being compressed. This forced the inside of the spring to rub tightly against the preload ring (which isn't simply a ring, it also has a collar that comes down the body) and this made it a 3 man job to get the collar to turn to make the adjustment. So not only do you need to make sure these are off the vehicle to adjust pre-load, you need to make sure you're using a spring compressor that compresses the spring evenly all the way around so that the spring doesn't rub against the body of the preload collar.

 

As far as the coil numbers being across the board it is hard to say. I would say they are higher then 600 lbs though. The part that is hard is if you have a 2wd without weight and you are wanting to choose this suspension. The ride can be stiffer and the lift be more as a result of the lighter truck.

The compressor we have here will work but it is still not an easy task like you mentioned. Most compressors that you can rent from your local auto parts store don't really work on any of the coilovers wheter it is these BP51's or the other brands.

Another thing to note (that kind of goes without saying but I feel I should add it)...should anyone ever need to adjust the coilover again because you add or subtract weight or simple because you want to....you must take it back off of the truck and still use the spring compressor to make the adjustments.

 

Installed my OME BP51 setup with full Dakar leaf pack on my 2011 Access Cab 4x4. Front measurements with ARB bumper, front/trans/tcase skids, sliders, aux battery in engine bay. The front BP51 coilovers were left at the factory setting of 20mm preload.

I have a Leer canopy with Prinsu roof rack and awning installed. The bed is loaded with a sleeping platform, tools and supplies, and the fuel tank is 3/4 full. My guestimate of weight back there on a regular basis is roughly 300lbs. These are my eyeball with a tape measure and straight edge measurements for hub to fender. If anyone knows of an accurate way of measuring this please let me know.

Front driver side: 22.90"
Front passenger side: 23.10"
Rear driver side: 23.90"
Rear passenger side: 24.20"

I took my time installing the kit so it took me most of the weekend. I took it out for a spin earlier and I can feel the suspension working much better to support the added weight of my modifications. My previous setup consisting of Bilstein 5100s and Eibach 600lb springs felt like a boat up front with all of the weight. I left the compression and rebound settings where they came from the factory (front: 6 rebound, 4 compression / rear: 3 rebound, 3 compression). I can provide more feedback when I put more miles on the setup.

 

What is stock from the hub?

 

Not sure. I never thought to measure back then.

Edit: upon further research stock is roughly 20" in the front and 22" in the rear.

 

Exact same size as stock

 

Just put an order for these in with OK4WD, will have an Aluminum bumper from Pelfreybilt (65Lb), with winch (75 Lbs) and Aluminum Skids (46 Lbs). Also have a topper on my truck as well.

Think I will be good leaving the shock at the default value of 20mm of preload?

 

Pretty similar to my set up, you just have the additional weight of a winch. I went with 12mm and got about 2" in the front. So it depends on how much lift you want. The stock 20mm will probably give you about 2.5-3" of lift, if you wanted to stay in 2" range you probably want around 15mm of preload.

 

Will leaving the preload in cause the ride to be stiffer or softer? Or does it only really effect your lift height.

Thanks for the reply!

 

More preload is typically a little stiffer. You may be able to crank the compression dampening down to make up for this added stiffness.

 

Awesome, Thanks for the help!