BDS Lift

6591 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by G2SKIER, Aug 19, 2019

Blinddog

Discussion Starter · Aug 16, 2019

Hello all!
Been a "lurker" for several months. Proud owner of a 2018 ZR2, 2.8L. Love my truck.
Looking into the BDS 4" lift. Problem - Talking to BDS the say you must use a 20", 5.5 offset wheel.
In the install instructions they also list 17 x 8, 18 x 8, 17 x 9 & 18 x 9 all with 4.5 BS.
Does anyone have experience with this lift who can enlighten me?
Do not want any knuckle interference, and want lots of sidewall...
Thanks in advance - JT

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chuckatkins

· #2 · Aug 17, 2019

Blinddog said:
Hello all!
Been a "lurker" for several months. Proud owner of a 2018 ZR2, 2.8L. Love my truck.
Looking into the BDS 4" lift. Problem - Talking to BDS the say you must use a 20", 5.5 offset wheel.
In the install instructions they also list 17 x 8, 18 x 8, 17 x 9 & 18 x 9 all with 4.5 BS.
Does anyone have experience with this lift who can enlighten me?
Do not want any knuckle interference, and want lots of sidewall...
Thanks in advance - JT

I've got the BDS 5.5" for non -zr2 trucks and it has the same wheel specs. However I was able to install the Fifteen52 Traverse HD 17x8.5 wheels with 4.75 BS without any clearance issues on the beefier steering knuckle. I got a set of 3/8" spacers for the install to push the BS out to 4.375 but when it came time to put everything on I didn't need them as there was enough clearance without the spacers so I suspect the ZR2 kit is the same in that regard. I believe @G2SKIER is running the BDS ZR2 lift with the same wheels and can confirm this ( he's using the Turbomac HD wheels actually which are a different visual design but same specs).

If you do want a short spacer like that just for the little bit of extra clearance, even though it's not needed, then you will need longer wheel studs as the factory studs aren't long enough to accommodate any kind of thin spacers like that (the thicker spacers have their own extra set of offset wheel studs). The 2016 Ford F-250 uses essentially the same studs just .6 inches longer so those should work if you need them.

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Blinddog

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 17, 2019

Thank you!
This info is saving my a**.
What size/make tires are you running?

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chuckatkins

· #4 · Aug 17, 2019

Blinddog said:
Thank you!
This info is saving my a**.
What size/make tires are you running?

Tire clearance on the ZR2 is a whole different thing given the open front bumper and different suspension so I can't really speak much to that.

That being said, on my Z71 with the BDS 5.5 lift I'm running 285/75/r17 (33.8x11.2) Falken Wildpeak A/TW3s. The rears clear at full compression with no problem while the fronts have a little rubbing in the rear of the wheel well but major clearance issues on the front bumper. I believe most of that will get resolved when I put on my RelentlessFab front bumper (should arrive sometime next month) which is open in front of the tires, I should then be able to push the caster forward a bit to fix the rub without having to worry about clearance on the bumper.

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Blinddog

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 17, 2019

I do have that slight advantage : ). Was looking at your rig (beautiful) and got curious. That Fab bumper will knock the look over the top. Thanks for your detailed response. Now to spend some cash...be well.

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chuckatkins

· #6 · Aug 17, 2019

Blinddog said:
Was looking at your rig (beautiful) and got curious. That Fab bumper will knock the look over the top.

Thanks!

I like the "narrower" 11.2 tires vs 12.5, keeping things a little tighter in the wheel wells, it's to each their own really though.

Blinddog said:
Now to spend some cash.

Keep in mind if you're going with anything larger than 33s then you'll want to strongly consider 4.10 gearing as well. I've been running mine for about 2w now without the regear and can say it's really needed to make all the transmission gears usable again. After some relearning time it's shifting smoothly but has a hard time getting into 5th on the highway and 6th just isn't happening (mines a diesel, so 6sp, but I'd expect a similar result with the 8spd gas). You may need to budget an extra $2-3k for it ($1k for the gears and $1-2k for install). I've already got the gears sitting at home just need to find the extra $1-2k in the budget for install.

Most tunes can be adjusted for tire size and regear to recalibrate the speedometer and other things, often at no extra cost. The gas folks seem pretty happy with Trifecta, I've got DuramaxTuner for my diesel and am very happy with it.

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Blinddog

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 17, 2019

I'm 2.8L, too. And will go with a tuner soon enough, once I can decide which.
The gearing has been been in the dark corner of my thoughts, so that will happen down the road.
The knowledge base on this forum is crazy. I could read all day if I didn't have to work for a living.
Thanks, Chuck, for giving a lot more than asked.
John

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rolando

· #8 · Aug 19, 2019

chuckatkins said:
I've got the BDS 5.5" for non -zr2 trucks and it has the same wheel specs. However I was able to install the Fifteen52 Traverse HD 17x8.5 wheels with 4.75 BS without any clearance issues on the beefier steering knuckle. I got a set of 3/8" spacers for the install to push the BS out to 4.375 but when it came time to put everything on I didn't need them as there was enough clearance without the spacers so I suspect the ZR2 kit is the same in that regard. I believe @G2SKIER is running the BDS ZR2 lift with the same wheels and can confirm this ( he's using the Turbomac HD wheels actually which are a different visual design but same specs).

If you do want a short spacer like that just for the little bit of extra clearance, even though it's not needed, then you will need longer wheel studs as the factory studs aren't long enough to accommodate any kind of thin spacers like that (the thicker spacers have their own extra set of offset wheel studs). The 2016 Ford F-250 uses essentially the same studs just .6 inches longer so those should work if you need them.

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Any idea of what those Fifteen52's equate to in BS mm? Factory offset is +33mm if I recall. I'm yet to find a 17" wheel with negative offset and really don't want to run spacers. My Fuels are +7 which is a huge improvement, but really would like a -12mm offset.

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chuckatkins

· #9 · Aug 19, 2019

rolando said:
Any idea of what those Fifteen52's equate to in BS mm?

4.75BS on an 8.5" wide wheel is 0mm offset.

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G2SKIER

· #10 · Aug 19, 2019

Hi there, I worked with both bds and Fifteen52 in developing both of the products in question. The Fifteen52 are 0mm offset and work great with the bds lift.

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