BDS kit, wider stance.

Frogfish · January 4, 2013

If you properly torque down the spacers, you will not have any problems. Thousands of people run the spacers on their trucks without issue. Just make sure you torque em down to 150 ft-lbs

And a personal opinion, but I think lifted trucks look way better with the wheels/tires sticking out. With too skinny tires, they just look stupid IMO

blackout07 · January 5, 2013

If you think you want 6" now, you will know you want it within weeks of getting a 4". Learn from many if our mistakes and go a little higher from the jump. 33's look great with 6" lifts and believe it or not, can still rub depending on the wheels you choose. I never noticed much difference between my fronts and rears with my BDS kit. I doubt the average joe will either. Don't let a little track width increase scare you off. If it even is 1.5", that ain't much.

LaserBlueZ71 · January 5, 2013

If you think you want 6" now, you will know you want it within weeks of getting a 4". Learn from many if our mistakes and go a little higher from the jump. 33's look great with 6" lifts and believe it or not, can still rub depending on the wheels you choose. I never noticed much difference between my fronts and rears with my BDS kit. I doubt the average joe will either. Don't let a little track width increase scare you off. If it even is 1.5", that ain't much.

I was just going to post this morning that I have made up my mind.

I cannot justify $2,000 for the CST kit that comes with no shocks, no struts, no rear leaf springs, really not much at all. It has incredible CV angles, flat actually, and maintains the track width, but that's it. You don't even get a skid plate!

For a little more money, I can buy a 6 inch BDS with rear leaf springs, stainless brake lines, full struts up front instead of spacers, shocks and skid plates included. The more I think about it, it's just a no brainer. Also, looking at warranty, everyone knows BDS is hands down the best warranty in the business.

Blackout07 - I think your right about the lift height. I am opting for the 6 inch kit, and not the 4 inch. This way if I decide to step it up to 35's, or even a 34.5 inch tire, it's possible to do any time I want without tearing the truck apart again to change out parts. It eliminates a lot of rubbing issues if I run 33's on a 6 inch lift. Overall, it just makes sense to run the 6 inch BDS kit, financially and mechanically.

Thank you to everyone for the helpful info.

cracked_up · January 6, 2013

CST does come with a skid plate and the rear shocks are an added expense. But when I bought mine it was ~1800 for everything. They have since increased the price and I do agree BDS is a great lift and a good value.

yukon25008.1 · January 6, 2013

I agree that a new set of keys adjusted to your liking and a set of 3-4" blocks and you will be around 3" front and 4 rear.. And cost 1/4 of the suspension lift.

I have been looking into lifts though and also DO NOT want my front wheels out farther the stock

And really like the idea of new springs vs blocks.

LaserBlueZ71 · January 6, 2013

I still need to phone BDS and confirm whether or not they actually make two different style kits like I was told they do. I think that information is incorrect, but one phone call will solve that.

The BDS kit is a great value when you consider everything it comes with, compared to the CST lift especially. BDS has basically covered every aspect of lifting a truck the right way, and included everything in one kit. Combine that with the warranty they offer, and it can't be beat.

Body lifts, even slight ones, are nothing but bad news in my opinion. I don't do/buy anything if it isn't high quality and the right way. Considering I will likely have this truck for at least 10 years, a $2,000 lift kit is nothing on a $40,000 truck. Body lifts don't give you any added ground clearance, and that is one crucial factor in my decision to lift. These trucks are too low stock, and I spend a lot of time in fields, where ground clearance is crucial.

Frogfish · January 6, 2013

I agree that a new set of keys adjusted to your liking and a set of 3-4" blocks and you will be around 3" front and 4 rear.. And cost 1/4 of the suspension lift.

I have been looking into lifts though and also DO NOT want my front wheels out farther the stock

And really like the idea of new springs vs blocks.

OP has NNBS, which has no torsion bars/keys

I still need to phone BDS and confirm whether or not they actually make two different style kits like I was told they do. I think that information is incorrect, but one phone call will solve that.

The BDS kit is a great value when you consider everything it comes with, compared to the CST lift especially. BDS has basically covered every aspect of lifting a truck the right way, and included everything in one kit. Combine that with the warranty they offer, and it can't be beat.

Body lifts, even slight ones, are nothing but bad news in my opinion. I don't do/buy anything if it isn't high quality and the right way. Considering I will likely have this truck for at least 10 years, a $2,000 lift kit is nothing on a $40,000 truck. Body lifts don't give you any added ground clearance, and that is one crucial factor in my decision to lift. These trucks are too low stock, and I spend a lot of time in fields, where ground clearance is crucial.

Two things. One, a suspension lift in itself wont increase the ground clearance between your front diff/rear axle and the ground. Increased ground clearance comes from running larger tires. All a suspension lift does is give you to ability to do so by lowering the suspension linkage without ruining your geometry. A body lift does the same thing, but by lifting the cab/body instead.

Second, there is nothing wrong with a body lift. They are a cost effective way to increase your ability to run larger tires without messing with suspension. and a 1.5" BL is barely noticeable on a NNBS. In fact, you will probably have to run a 1.5" BL along with the BDS if you ever decide to run 35s on wide wheels with negative offset without rubbing.

yukon25008.1 · January 6, 2013

What year did they stop the bars/keys..

ruggedlife · January 6, 2013

if you have a 1500 bds does NOT offer two different kits. they only offer their "narrow track" knuckles on their 2500 lift kits. it will only be one kit. you will almost never notice the track width increase unless looking from the rear to the front of the truck... It is not nearly as bad as the old 2500 kits where it would be many inches difference.

TimmyG · January 6, 2013

1.5 total, so 3/4 per side agree no one would notice

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LaserBlueZ71 · January 6, 2013

1.5 total, so 3/4 per side agree no one would notice

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Is that correct? I heard it is 1.5 inches per side, for a total of 3 inches increased track width.

Frogfish - I should have specified, I meant to say gaining ground clearance between the frame and the ground, and the body and the ground. I'm not so concerned with the suspension, just how low the frame and front bumper is to the ground. On my property we have a huge horse field that has never been touched by machinery, it's virgin ground. Because of this, it is very uneven with lots of rolling bumps and mounds. The frame almost hangs up in the middle on some of them, and when you approach a mound of dirt, coming off of another, the front end is so low the bumper is pushing dirt.

Overall, I want the increased off road capability more than anything, but also, I want the aggressive look.

Frogfish · January 7, 2013

Is that correct? I heard it is 1.5 inches per side, for a total of 3 inches increased track width.

Frogfish - I should have specified, I meant to say gaining ground clearance between the frame and the ground, and the body and the ground. I'm not so concerned with the suspension, just how low the frame and front bumper is to the ground. On my property we have a huge horse field that has never been touched by machinery, it's virgin ground. Because of this, it is very uneven with lots of rolling bumps and mounds. The frame almost hangs up in the middle on some of them, and when you approach a mound of dirt, coming off of another, the front end is so low the bumper is pushing dirt.

Overall, I want the increased off road capability more than anything, but also, I want the aggressive look.

Its 1.5" per side, and again the clearance comes from the tire size. The lowest point will be your diff/rear axle, and they will have the same clearance regardless of suspension lift or body lift.