Dave’s Corner: Old Man Emu BP-51 & MT64 Shock Absorbers

I have over the last years have had the privilege of driving two vehicles fitted out with Old Man Emu suspension systems over a variety of situations.

why the bp51’s?

The first was our Hilux SR5 Hilux which has a large range of accessories fitted to it which includes ARB Summit front and rear bars, Roof Racks, Canopy and draws with a fridge.

Adjustable Compression and rebound settings allow drivers to dial their BP-51 Shock absorbers in to suit the unique needs of their vehicle and driving style.

These can be adjusted on the fly using the included C-Spanner, quickly and easily adjusting the BP-51s by rotating the adjustment collars at the base of the shock. They’re marked clearly, providing drivers with an easy indicator as to the settings of the shock at the time.

That is only just a few items to mention and the Hilux weighs in at 2880kg on the weigh bridge.

Hows the ride?

The ride is next level; with the advantages of adjusting the BP51’S with both rebound and compression separately which is handy as I at times tow a 730HT Barcrusher.

The Drop Bear Hilux is equipped the OME BP51’S, top wishbones and 300kg constant rear leaf springs.

This helps ensure the stock wheel alignment specs can be dialed in, despite changes in suspension geometry due to increases in ride height among other factors.

So that was brief overview on the BP51’S - now for the MT64’S.

Our other vehicle is a 2024 Ranger Wildtrak V6.

The reason for the Ranger was with towing the Barcrusher with the Hilux we ran into trouble with GCM. - A Common issue that many run into when fitting out their 4x4 with a range of accessories.

how was the ranger setup?

The Ranger has just about all the fruit that the Hilux has but features the all new MT64’S and the new Parabolic leaf springs with air bag assistance.

The OME airbags have inbuilt bump stops so you can run them at zero air pressure.

When you want to tow you go to your ARB Air control phone app and the in car compressor will inflate the air bags to your required amount.

As easy as that. If you do a lot of towing the parabolic springs are the way to go.

You can also use the Parabolic springs with the BP51’S as well, but when fitting out the Hilux at the time the Parabolic springs had not been released.

Our Ranger was one of the first vehicles to be fitted with the Parabolic Leaf springs offered by Old Man Emu.

So what do we think about both?

The BP51’S are next level due to their adjustability and makes them an absolute joy to drive.

The MT64’S do not have as much adjustability but again the ride is again next level.

Both the BP51’S and the MT64’S feature 6061 forged alloy bodies and ends with the MT64’S featuring a Massive 63.5mm bore

Here’s a pic of the MT64’s next to a stock Toyota Landcruiser 79 series shock absorber, showcasing the difference in size between Old Man Emus offerings and the stock suspension found on many 4x4’s on the market.

As is typical of Old Man Emu the shockers and springs are a matched set so that they complement each other.

The big drawback of driving these vehicles is that I get used to the level of ride and when I took our fleet Triton with factory suspension for an out of town drive the other day well all I can say is what a shock.

In the end of the day I can tell you what I think, but the best thing is to come and try them yourself.   

Regards David

If you want to deep dive into the full range of high quality Old Man Emu Suspension solutions, you can learn more about them: Range of Old Man Emu Suspension