6" Bds Suspension Lift Installed With Pics!

silverbullet2005 · April 9, 2008

6" BDS High Clearance Suspension Lift

35/12.50/20 Cooper Discoverer STT Tires

20x9 Chrome Victory Wedge Nascar Edition Rims

(Dale Earnhardt #3 Center Caps)

Measurements

*Ground to bottom of frame under body mount locations - Front 20 1/2", Rear 19"

*Top of tire to wheel well lip - Front 11 1/2", Rear 10 1/2"

*Ground to bottom of hitch's square receiver - 21 1/2"

*Grount to bottom of front air dam at center - 19"

You've all seen my 3" Rough Country post so you know the problems I had with it so I removed it and installed the 6" BDS High Clearance lift like I should have in the first place. BDS now offers their kits in the original grey granite which is grey with black specs or wrinkle black so I chose to go with the wrinkle black. I went with the hydraulic shocks with black boots. The rear kit consists of a 4" block along with an add a leaf. The front has 6" longer struts, control arm crossmember drop brackets, CV spacers, differential drop brackets, 6" longer Steering knuckles and comes with differential skid plate and BDS Front skid plate.

The kit was super easy to install and was done with normal hand tools/air tools and a sawz-all. The only specialty tool needed is a strut compressor which I have but mine did not fit the size of the coils so I took my struts off the truck and brought them to PepBoys and had the mounts/springs swapped over to the new struts for $26 each. I tried autozone and advances loan a tools but they did not fit correctly so I dropped them off and went shopping with the wife while they got done. The kit comes with a weld on plate to strengthen the frame section where the crossmember mount was cut off but I chose not to install that. I called BDS technical service and the guy told me that he only recommends welding that plate on if you plan on taking the truck heavily off-road and jumping the truck, otherwise the new drop down crossmember acts as the support.

The BDS kit has very very easy to read installation instructions and has pictures and torque specs for every step so even a back yard mechanic can install their own lift. I could not be any happier with the way the truck now looks and rides. The 3" gave the truck a nice stance but now my truck looks BAD AZZ with the new BDS or Big Dicks Suspension.

The tires rub the GM mud guards on sharp turns and in reverse while turning mildly so they are coming off tomarrow. For Sale if your interested. $50 for the set.

Here is the link to my photobucket pics - BDS LIFT

2000DV4.8 · April 9, 2008

Nice, much better!

Biggie · April 9, 2008

B E A Utiful

03SMURF · April 9, 2008

lookin real nice now, before you couldnt tell your truck was even lifted. supercharger next? lol

hodo78 · April 9, 2008

DAMN NICE!!! I would love to have that setup, but I have other priorities for now

OutlawBiz · April 9, 2008

SWEET! That thing sits / looks awesome!

Looks like I'm gonna have to get one ordered up for my ride now. Thanks for the update / research you did on this project...another reason this site is so helpful. Nice job.

wlvrn1215 · April 9, 2008

very nice...I had great luck with my RC 3in...It handles and rides so much better IMO. The BDS is sweet. If I wasnt on a budget...that would be my 1st choice. Maybe in the future though. Truck looks awsome man!! Congrats and best of luck with it.

JAKD-UP · April 9, 2008

Looks awesome! How you like them tires? How much did they run you if you don't mind me asking? That's the same size I would to run and I like the looks of those.

silverbullet2005 · April 9, 2008

The tires list for $370 each from discount tire but I got them for $335 plus $58 for the replacement certifications per tire. Yeah it's alot of money but whether you go with the 35/12.50/20 or the 325/60/20 they are all around the same price per tire or more. Discount Tire had to special order these STT's for me directly from Cooper because there was not any stock available anywhere. I really like these tires and they are not loud like you would think they'd be. The tires ride smooth and straight and are not causing any vibrations or steering issues.

I originally thought the tires were rubbing the mud guards but my co-worker and I just got back from lunch so he jumped out of the truck while I was backing up while turning and he said the tire is actually catching the factory front wheel well liner at the bottom so I'll have to trim that up a bit and see how it does then I may not even have to remove the mud guards!!!

JAKD-UP · April 9, 2008

Awesome! Yeah I'm definitely interested in these tires. I have been researching them after seeing your pics and they have gotten great reviews. You could just add a body lift if ya wanted to and not have to trim a thing. But trimming is probably a hell of alot cheaper than a BL lol.

2000DV4.8 · April 9, 2008

I originally thought the tires were rubbing the mud guards but my co-worker and I just got back from lunch so he jumped out of the truck while I was backing up while turning and he said the tire is actually catching the factory front wheel well liner at the bottom so I'll have to trim that up a bit and see how it does then I may not even have to remove the mud guards!!!

Before you go cutting up the wheel well liner, see if you can tie it back with something. I know a couple of guys that have taken a zip ties, drilled a hole in the liner, and just tied it back.

BlkZr2 · April 9, 2008

Good looking truck, the nnbs's just look right on 35's.

silverbullet2005 · April 10, 2008

Awesome! Yeah I'm definitely interested in these tires. I have been researching them after seeing your pics and they have gotten great reviews. You could just add a body lift if ya wanted to and not have to trim a thing. But trimming is probably a hell of alot cheaper than a BL lol.

I really don't care for the looks of body lifts, too much frame showing and even with nerf bars I just think they look goofy. I took off the GM mud guards when I got home today just to be on the safe side, then I put a super thick coat of Meguires NXT Gen wax on by hand and boy is it shining now!!!

silverbullet2005 · April 10, 2008

I originally thought the tires were rubbing the mud guards but my co-worker and I just got back from lunch so he jumped out of the truck while I was backing up while turning and he said the tire is actually catching the factory front wheel well liner at the bottom so I'll have to trim that up a bit and see how it does then I may not even have to remove the mud guards!!!

Before you go cutting up the wheel well liner, see if you can tie it back with something. I know a couple of guys that have taken a zip ties, drilled a hole in the liner, and just tied it back.

I thought of that but you can actually see the small section on the liner that is getting rubbed so I will most likely just cut it and be done with it, It would be my luck I'd have a zip tie break every week or something stupid like that.

J-man67 · April 10, 2008

Man, I AM IN LOVE!!!!! Truck came out great. How long did it take to install? Any chance you could snap some pics of the CV angles? I didnt see anything in your PB album. Again, looks FANTASTIC!!