Comparison on Radflo 2.5 vs OME BP-51

[PCH4R]

With the coming release of the BP51s, I'm wondering if they may sway me from my plans of purchasing the radflo's.

Here's my attempt at comparisons and unanswered Questions. Please affirm, contradict, or fill-in-the-blanks

Both:

• are expensive
• are specifically valved for the 4Runner
• large enough to house internal bypass systems (as opposed to none/external)
• have external reservoirs (optional on radflo)
• have the rear shocks that with adjustable/tune-able dampening (optional on radflo)
• provide extra length for further suspension articulation

Radflo:

• is 2.5 inch diameter
• are rebuild-able
• use 3rd party coil-over springs (can be tailored from 600 to 700lbs)
• have 20%+ over stock stronger rear springs

BP51

• is 2 inch diameter
• use arb's own springs
• robust materials/plating for corrosion

Unknowns:

• if the 2 vs 2.5 diameter is the overall determination of "what makes" the deal.
• what spring packages / tailor made for ARB may outweigh the diameter. Ie, they are overall better tuned/tailored as a whole.
• if the ARBs are rebuildable
• if either would have contact issues with Total Chaos or Camburg Arms

ARB has huge brand/backing, but Radflo is no slouch either! Both should provide great customer support and long term support.

 

[delloro]

here is a significant unknown for me: difference in ride quality. for those bux, I would want to know.

 

[Lava rocks]

The bp51 's piston is 51mm if I read correctly , so that is sl more than 2" and so I would think the body would b closer to 2.5" . It's also supposed to b rebuildable. Also separate setting of compression and rebound .

 

[turbo8]

With the coming release of the BP51s, I'm wondering if they may sway me from my plans of purchasing the radflo's.

Here's my attempt at comparisons and unanswered Questions. Please affirm, contradict, or fill-in-the-blanks

Both:

• are expensive
• are specifically valved for the 4Runner
• large enough to house internal bypass systems (as opposed to none/external)
• have external reservoirs (optional on radflo)
• have the rear shocks that with adjustable/tune-able dampening (optional on radflo)
• provide extra length for further suspension articulation

Radflo:

• is 2.5 inch diameter
• are rebuild-able
• use 3rd party coil-over springs (can be tailored from 600 to 700lbs)
• have 20%+ over stock stronger rear springs

BP51

• is 2 inch diameter
• use arb's own springs
• robust materials/plating for corrosion

Unknowns:

• if the 2 vs 2.5 diameter is the overall determination of "what makes" the deal.
• what spring packages / tailor made for ARB may outweigh the diameter. Ie, they are overall better tuned/tailored as a whole.
• if the ARBs are rebuildable
• if either would have contact issues with Total Chaos or Camburg Arms

ARB has huge brand/backing, but Radflo is no slouch either! Both should provide great customer support and long term support.

Are you sure the Radflows are internal bypass?

 

[Jetboy]

FWIW - I'd probably go for the BP51. Adjustable both ways and internal bypass. I don't put any value on remote res. as I don't think the stock suspension can ever heat up a 2.5" shock enough to matter. (I have fox 2.5 remote res., 100 miles of 60+mph dirt didn't get them much more than warm. And it was washboard and very rough in parts. Like jumping and bottoming out kinda rough. The remote res is a PITA to mount and keep from making noise. The FOX's performed beautifully BTW.) I don't know if you can overheat OEM 46mm shocks. Maybe? either way very few people are going to do it with stock suspension anyway.

There are a few unique options for 2" shocks that are not available for 2.5. Most importantly - to me - is air over coil setups. I would very much like in the next iteration of my 4runner to have air height adjust front and rear so I can ride low for daily driving and adjust up for offroad. The BP51's appear most likely compatible with this type of system. I have not found any supplier of a bag and coil spring combination set that will fit over a 2.5" shock body.

 

[T4Ranger]

With the coming release of the BP51s, I'm wondering if they may sway me from my plans of purchasing the radflo's.

Here's my attempt at comparisons and unanswered Questions. Please affirm, contradict, or fill-in-the-blanks

...Unknowns:

• if the 2 vs 2.5 diameter is the overall determination of "what makes" the deal.
• what spring packages / tailor made for ARB may outweigh the diameter. Ie, they are overall better tuned/tailored as a whole.
• if the ARBs are rebuildable
• if either would have contact issues with Total Chaos or Camburg Arms

ARB has huge brand/backing, but Radflo is no slouch either! Both should provide great customer support and long term support.

I just purchased the BP-51s last Thursday, after opening the boxes, these things were absolutely worth every penny! Pieces of artwork that I may just want to mount on my wall, haha. I ordered the 895E springs (I don't have a bull bar or winch and mostly commute on the highway), they are rebuildable, and they can be installed with the stock UCAs (what I plan on doing this week and will post up pics). I plan on going with camburg UCAs down the road, but will run on the stock UCAs for a while.

 

[MTN4RNR]

Another fun fact is the ARB's come with a 3yr/36k mile warranty :whoo:

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Are you sure the Radflows are internal bypass?

They are not.

 

[A.Wilson013]

The killer for me on the BP51 is the amount of effort it APPEARS it will take to adjust the dampening on them. It almost looks like you'll have to disassemble the whole coilover. Can you cofirm or deny, [MENTION=102009]T4Ranger[/MENTION] ??

However, being that they utilize internal bypass tech, I am sure they're going to perform VERY well.

The BP51 is also not a true 2" diameter. In order to fit the internal bypass goodies they were made a bit more girthy, and with that have a larger piston than your average 2" shock/strut.

 

[T4Ranger]

Per Toytec, they come preloaded at a 2.75" ride height. Adjusting dampening can be done while installed. There is a spanner wrench in each box to adjust rebound and compression and it is accessible. There is not a spanner wrench for adjusting ride height, apparently there is a part number out there somewhere, but it wasn't included in the kit... instructions say you should compress the spring, loosen the Allen bolt in the collar, and adjust higher or lower for preference/added accessory weight. If I can get ahold of the spanner wrench for it I believe I could easily adjust it while on the vehicle as well. I'm going to see how it sits once installed and give it a week or two to settle before I consider making any changes to ride height.

 

[CenCalTrail]

I was sold on Icon till i started looking at the OME-51, from my understanding there still not out yet .... im not ready anyway should givd people plenty of time to test and review b4 i buy

 

[Jetboy]

Does anyone know if the BP51 are using a bypass through the shaft or are they doing a bypass in the wall of the shock body? I'm thinking it must be in the shaft or how would they be adjustable, but I don't know.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

I believe it's in the body. There is. Cut away on Their site.

 

[Jetboy]

I believe it's in the body. There is. Cut away on Their site.

Yep. They have an extrusion with passages for the bypass system. Nice looking product. The King's bypass is internal through the piston/shaft. The nice part about the body port is that it works in both directions. The king will bypass everywhere but the top of the stroke. The downside of the body port is that it can't really be adjusted where the bypass range exists in the stroke. I'd bet the ride quality is great.

 

[Jono.ful]

[*]use 3rd party coil-over springs (can be tailored from 600 to 700 pounds)

[*]use arb's own springs
[*]robust materials/plating for corrosion

I used to run OME springs on a earlier lift, and while they were ok at first, they sagged horribly (especially in the front) and were extremely rusty after two winters in Northern Alberta. FWIW, I'm much happier with the Eibach's that came with my Radflo's on the front, and Metaltech progressive LT's out back.

 

[bsprelude]

I just purchased the BP-51s last Thursday, after opening the boxes, these things were absolutely worth every penny! Pieces of artwork that I may just want to mount on my wall, haha. I ordered the 895E springs (I don't have a bull bar or winch and mostly commute on the highway), they are rebuildable, and they can be installed with the stock UCAs (what I plan on doing this week and will post up pics). I plan on going with camburg UCAs down the road, but will run on the stock UCAs for a while.

T4Ranger - did you install them on your 4Runner yet? I ordered the BP51's as well for my 2015 Trail Edition with KDSS

 

[T4Ranger]

T4Ranger - did you install them on your 4Runner yet? I ordered the BP51's as well for my 2015 Trail Edition with KDSS

It begins...

 

[MTN4RNR]

It begins...

 

[jpostlethwaite]

T4Ranger, I am very much looking forward to your experience with these. I will be purchasing suspension for my TE this year and I am currently leaning toward the BP-51's. Al the marketing make these out to be the setup to beat. Also, they are OME so there's a lot of confidence behind them. Subscribed.

 

[T4Ranger]

Teaser... I'll definitely start a new thread on the install and results!