Installing a BDS Lift

[Element207]

My 2" BDS susspension lift arrived yesterday but unfortunaly I cant bring it into the shop to get it installed any time soon sense my tranny is blown so I was wondering how hard it is to install them myself? It would save me around $500 which is the estimate I got for the installation.

[Gearhead2012]

I'm going to order mine in 2 weeks, when I get paid again, lol. I plan to install mine...but it will be the first. I've done my fair share of wrenching, and feel 95% comfortable doing it...I've found I've gotten to where if I take something appart, I can get it back together. Plus, reading what has been said on here has been an emense help too. The pics everyone supplies are great, and really let you know what you're dealing with before we get into it. I think as long as you rent a decent spring compressor, and respect the fact that it's holding a lot of pressure you should do fine. The rest seems like just nuts and bolts. I'd say go for it...think of what else you could spend the 500 on...wheels, tires, transmission, lol.

On a side note...what happened to your tranny? I have a feeling mine is a little sick too...I really, really hear a whining from it, but I always have. I've had strangers comment on it. It shudders everynow and then, just between 1-2, and it's just strange. I think in a couple weeks I'm going to drop the pan, and finish hooking up the gauge to a sending unit, and swap the fluid out for synthetic and see if that helps.

[Element207]

I'm going to order mine in 2 weeks, when I get paid again, lol. I plan to install mine...but it will be the first. I've done my fair share of wrenching, and feel 95% comfortable doing it...I've found I've gotten to where if I take something appart, I can get it back together. Plus, reading what has been said on here has been an emense help too. The pics everyone supplies are great, and really let you know what you're dealing with before we get into it. I think as long as you rent a decent spring compressor, and respect the fact that it's holding a lot of pressure you should do fine. The rest seems like just nuts and bolts. I'd say go for it...think of what else you could spend the 500 on...wheels, tires, transmission, lol.

On a side note...what happened to your tranny? I have a feeling mine is a little sick too...I really, really hear a whining from it, but I always have. I've had strangers comment on it. It shudders everynow and then, just between 1-2, and it's just strange. I think in a couple weeks I'm going to drop the pan, and finish hooking up the gauge to a sending unit, and swap the fluid out for synthetic and see if that helps.

thanks for the info... i think im gona go pick it up from the shop tomorrow and then read up on it and see if I cant get it on there. I will prob. be back with A LOT more questions but hell thats what the forums are here for right :yes:.

Anyway well I noticed the tranny was slipping a lot when I would gun it then it just kept getting worse and worse. It was mostly just in first and second gear. Then one day I was going around 75-80 on the pike and then just heard my engine rev. and lost power. Pulled over in the break lane and realized after a while I had lost third and fourth gear. Then it was brought to my attention after the third time this happened, the torque converter covers 3rd and 4th gear. Had it looked at and little did i know... torque converter was cracked which was causing slippage and three transmissions to blow. AHHHHH!!! Shocks me how it could go to two different tranny shops, the dealer ship repair shop, and not one person noticed the torque converter (or even thought of it). :weird: :confused: :rolleyes:

[BluavalancheZ71]

Little bit of useful info NOT in the BDS install instructions. I found that if you unbolt the rear brake hoses from the frame on both sides, (it has a 10MM head on it) it will allow the axle to pivot a little more to without over extendind the hoses. Hope this helps.
Later
Blu

[Element207]

Little bit of useful info NOT in the BDS install instructions. I found that if you unbolt the rear brake hoses from the frame on both sides, (it has a 10MM head on it) it will allow the axle to pivot a little more to without over extendind the hoses. Hope this helps.
Later
Blu

Cool thanks for the help. Did you find the BDS instructions fairly easy? And what tools did you need? I think I have everything but I dont want to get my head in to deep here.

[PROSPHOTO]

Make sure you do a search for BDS on here...there are a lot of people who have posted installs and problems they ran into . Something to make sure you read since you have an 02 :yes:

:offtopic: 1-2 shift shudder has been attributed (in a couple of bulletins) to debris in the valve body. A service may very well help your concern, but be careful if the mileage is high and you've never serviced it before http://www.unixboard.de/vb3/images/smilies/sm-nachdenk.gif

[unkljon]

I think Roadie has installed one of these..........:D :D OR 4 rather

Install did not seem to bad for me and my cousin, I just didn't like the spring compressing machine....a Bit freaky

[Element207]

Make sure you do a search for BDS on here...there are a lot of people who have posted installs and problems they ran into . Something to make sure you read since you have an 02 :yes:

:offtopic: 1-2 shift shudder has been attributed (in a couple of bulletins) to debris in the valve body. A service may very well help your concern, but be careful if the mileage is high and you've never serviced it before http://www.unixboard.de/vb3/images/smilies/sm-nachdenk.gif

thanks for the info Ill from both of you ill do a search right now. I have 137k miles on my tb so im thinking a service is needed badly?

[PROSPHOTO]

I have 137k miles on my tb so im thinking a service is needed badly?

I'm not too sure a service w/ 137K is the best idea (if it's never been done before) Are you trhe original owner/has a tranny service ever been done?

If not, I'd start a new thread (137K tranny service, or something like that) and see what some other members think about it :undecided There are a handful of other Members that are Techs; might be a good idea to hear what they say as well :yes:

[Gearhead2012]

Not to hijack this thread with tranny talk...but generally, you don't want to service a high mileage tranny for a first time unless you're having lots of major trouble. You've heard the expression, that the dirt is the only thing holding it together...well it's kinda true. I've always been a fan of doing all the ruitine maintanance...and then when I want to flush it, or whatever, it won't be a problem. The thing is, if you buy a car used...there's no telling what someone had done. I work at Advance Auto, and let me just tell ya...we get some horror storries, about people going 30k miles, and never changing oil, let alone trans fluid. And I think, some day they'll sell this car to some guy who has no clue what he's about to buy. Kinda a scary thought, especially cuz that's the kind of stuff that a CARFAX won't show.

[Element207]

Well I picked up my lift today... im sure I will be back with lots of questions haha. After looking through it it seems a lot easier then i expected. The only part I am sketchy on is the Spring Compressor.

[Element207]

Does this look like it would be an ok spring compressor? I can rent them from AutoZone which is right down the street, but I want to see what you guys think of it first cause saftey is really a high prior. with me.

Here is a picture:
http://www.autozone.com/images/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/steering_suspension/27035L.jpg

[Gearhead2012]

That one will work better for a regular coil spring. Ours, at least in the front have a shock in the middle...which makes using that kind really hard. I'd go with a set more like this...from Advance Auto.
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=APO&MfrPartNumber=T70570&CategoryCode=3492

You do one spring at a time, and compress both sides of the spring a little at a time.

[Element207]

That one will work better for a regular coil spring. Ours, at least in the front have a shock in the middle...which makes using that kind really hard. I'd go with a set more like this...from Advance Auto.
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?MfrCode=APO&MfrPartNumber=T70570&CategoryCode=3492

You do one spring at a time, and compress both sides of the spring a little at a time.

Thanks makes a lot more sense then the one I was looking at before and seems a lot safer haha. Thanks for the link. Anouther question. I just finished reading throught the instructions again and I am really starting to understand what needs to be done. Seems fairly easy to understand just time consuming. Id like to thank EVERYONE for the help! :thx

[Element207]

I found this at sears. This looks like it would work good just wanted to run it by you one more time cause it seems like you have at least some experience with them.

Here it is (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&pid=00947057000&cat=Mechanics+Tools&subcat=Automotive+Specialty+Tools&vertical=TOOL&ihtoken=1)

[Gearhead2012]

That would work just fine. The link I posted earlier is a tool you can buy from Advance Auto...they also rent one that's Identical to the ones in the sears link you posted. I like that kind better...the ones sears sells, and Advance Auto rents, as they kind of have a safety pin, so it won't slip out. I think it's like 50 or 60 to rent it...I'll try to check today and see, although you get it all back when you return it, so it really costs you nothing to rent it...just like a deposit.

[ghoster]

Autozone loans you all the tools you need, for free. I just lowered mine, so I needed the same tools. I paid a $70 deposit, that was refunded to me when I returned the tools. I borrowed the spring compressors, the tie rod/end link remover (used to pop off the bottom coil spring mount), and a fork. Didn't need the fork. :cool:

[Element207]

Went to VIP today and got a Pitman Arm Puller made by OEM for $8 and I can get that compressor for $39. Which I might just buy because we are going to be doing a few more lifts on some other cars.