Mazda BT-50 Suspension upgrade

[TheGrub]

Hi guys,

In a week or so I will become the proud owner of a new Mazda BT-50 Freestyle SDX ute with a pile of factory accessories

Looking at upgrading the suspension asap. I have had a bit of a look around and the Ironman kit with foam shocks seem very good value $1236 + fitting. Just wondering if any of you BT-50 owners out there have had any experience with Ironman and any comments.

Spoke to the Ironman rep on the phone and he claimed it is the same kit the US Army use on their Ford Rangers although I don't know how true that is...he is a saleman after all.

I'll be getting some other accessories fitted in the coming month before I move to Carnarvon for work. I'll post some pics if anyone is interested.

Grub.

[Urshtnme]

Hey Grub, have you had a look at the OME suspension upgrade? Only because I've had a set on the old Landcruiser I had (100 Series) and I've just put an OME set on my new ML Triton and it's come up really well.

I wouldn't trust a dealer that says "it is the same kit the US Army use on their Ford Rangers" cause that sounds like a load of BS to me.

Do some more research into it, the last thing you want is to be given a bum steer on one of the most important mods you can have on a new vehicle.

[mimmo_gsr]

I wouldn't trust a dealer that says "it is the same kit the US Army use on their Ford Rangers"

The US Army don't drive the same Ford Ranger that we do in Aus, it is in fact a totally different vehicle...?

I have a Ford Ranger Supercab so I will be following this thread closely as a suspension upgrade will be on the cards soon also :)

Mimmo

[Andrew8683]

ome have a nice set up for not much more than ironman and i think its much beter quality but it depends on what sort of work your planing on doing eg long haul touring , weekend mud driving or just a work ute
, also does that quote include upgraded torsion bars?

[TheGrub]

Thanks for the feedback guys

I have a quote for OME i think it was about $1700 although I'm not sure if that includes fitting or not.

And yes the ironman price does include te torsion bars.

[arcticwolf]

I have a bt50 and (you may want to look at my thread on diesel contamination) I have been back to mazda about the rebound of the front supension and their answer is that no one have complained. The rebound from a bump in the road is amazing.

[kermit]

hey guys. I'm a new member to the forum. I have been told that the bt50's have the same suspension as the 96 4 x 4's on. early 96 modles had rubber bushes on upper suspension arms and late 96 modles had steel upper bushes. later 96 modles had changed again to rubber. Snake racing have 4 to 5 inch lifts available so I have been told be another forum member. i have a 96 bravo boss 4x4 and just fitted tjm xgs series 2000 shocks to it and it raised by at least 15 to 20mm. you can also cut bump stop rubbers in half and wind up torsion bars to gain extra hight. let me know how much you can buy torsion bars for and i can most certainly be cheaper.

kermit

[TheGrub]

Hey guys,

I picked up my Mazda BT-50 Freesytle SDX today and so far I'm very impressed I even got a bullbar for free that I didn't ask for hahahaha Although when the ARB bar goes on in few weeks Mazda are coming to get it back as they couldn't take it off now as I would have no front bumper ha.

I'll post some pictures soon for those interested a soon as get rid of my other car in my garage its a little to crowded at the moment in there to move around and the BT-50 just fits with about 20cm to spare.

[A Goldsmith]

I now have 45,000 ks on my BT50 with no problems.
TJM have a suspension kit with torsion bar and a 40mm lift, foam cell shocks about $2,000 fited
Tough Dog also have a kit with 40mm lift, no torsion bar yet $1,600 fitted.
OME have a kit with only 20mm lift, no torsion bar supplied.

[MR AIRCON-BT50-]

Hey grub, I've got a BT-50 as well the SDX dual cab, Im looking around at the moment as well mate. Let me know how you go and im interested in seeing your truck, im going to start a shed for mine so that ppl can see it transform into something sweet.

I'll send you this as an email too dude, if i don't hear from ya.

Cheers J

[aza]

hi a have had the arb ome 30mm lift kit(heavy dute springs in the back) in my bt50 with new torsion bar and i was very happy with them had realy good travel and the ride was much beter than standed
my car was just riten off so when i get my new one im looking at going the tjm 50mm kit

[sudso]

hi a have had the arb ome 30mm lift kit(heavy dute springs in the back) in my bt50 with new torsion bar and i was very happy with them had realy good travel and the ride was much beter than standed
my car was just riten off so when i get my new one im looking at going the tjm 50mm kit
If you raise the front 50mm you'll be riding the upper bump stops which will give you problems and a crap ride because the front suspension has no droop left. I wouldnt go more than 35mm or leave about 10-15mm gap between the upper bump stop and stopper.
I cant see how travel would be any better unless the factory shocks were too short to start with. The upper and lower bump stops still have the same distance between them.

BTW does fitting aftermarket suspension affect your warranties?
I've heard the factory suspension is pretty woeful though on these once a bar is on and a load is in the back.


hey guys. I'm a new member to the forum. I have been told that the bt50's have the same suspension as the 96 4 x 4's on. early 96 modles had rubber bushes on upper suspension arms and late 96 modles had steel upper bushes. later 96 modles had changed again to rubber.
Not quite, the newer ones have longer torsion bars.

[dulvari]

I've taken mine up around 30mm, any further and i was running out of downward travel and the CV angles didn't look too good either, and i've also noticed that and the upper bump stops aren't as big as the ones that were on the bravo that i used to have, so cutting them down probablly won't make that much difference.

Jayde

[sudso]

So has anyone had any dramas with factory warranties and fitting aftermarket suspension?

[teedey]

i asked my mazda dealer today and if you lift it and that is the cause of the problem you wont get warranty. on suspension components.

[sudso]

Also have it on good authority that more than 35mm lift in the rear will screw with your diff pinion.