Yet another BDS lift thread.....w/o tire upgrade

[LawBlazer]

I know y'all have seen a bunch of BDS lift threads already, but I decided to make one more....the more the merrier!!!

Since I'm finally done with formal education forever, I had time today to go back home so I could install the BDS lift. I've had this lift in my hands for about a month, but I didn't have time to install it until today. Needless to say, I'm glad I finally got down and dirty and installed it. If anyone is wondering how hard it is to install the kit, if I can do it then anyone here can. Just follow BDS's instructions and make sure you read all of Roadie's, Alexg's, etc. threads on the lift. It really helps! I did run into a couple of rough spots, but it wasn't anything too difficult to overcome.

P.S. A sledgehammer works when all else fails! :yes:

I'm debating on a new tire size. Not sure if I want to run spacers. I'm kinda torn b/t 265/75/16 w/ spacers and 245/75/16 w/o spacers. Anyways, here are some pictures.

On jacks
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6989/onjacksso5.jpg

Side pre-lift
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/8518/unliftedsideba2.jpg

Side post-lift
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/2715/liftedsidece2.jpg

Rear pre-lift
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/748/unliftedrearzo5.jpg

Rear post-lift
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/7685/liftedrearyl2.jpg

Rear side angle post lift
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/3738/liftedsidequartergy6.jpg

I'll keep y'all posted on my final tire decision and of course I will post pictures. I feel obligated too!:)

[idreama300]

Looks good. I assume that your keeping the stock wheels since you're looking at 16" tires. I'm sure which ever size you go with will look great.

[BluavalancheZ71]

Welcome to the BDS club. I hope that you will enjoy many miles at your new height.

[LawBlazer]

Looks good. I assume that your keeping the stock wheels since you're looking at 16" tires. I'm sure which ever size you go with will look great.

Yeah, I'm gonna keep my stock wheels for now. Ideally, I would like to run black rims one day, but I'll have to wait since I'm under tight wraps with my financial situation. I may bust out the black Krylon like Trailblazin did!

[Trailblazin]

I may bust out the black Krylon like Trailblazin did!

Go for it! I've had a handful of ppl compliment me on my rims.....if only they knew :D

[fredrik_wt]

looks awsume! I want it to, but I have to pay this F*****g VAT to import it to sweden from a company :( 25% more on price.... that sucks!

how ever, is a mysteri that chevrolet dident build the trail like this from begining

[LawBlazer]

how ever, is a mysteri that chevrolet dident build the trail like this from begining

Yup! I think we all agree that it looks so much better lifted than at stock height. It looked out of place before, but now it looks like a normal SUV with a little bit of height.

[Frostee]

how ever, is a mysteri that chevrolet dident build the trail like this from begining

i would think its because they thought more of catering to the 'soccer moms' and every-day drivers that the majority of owners would be. plus, the added height isnt needed for them, so keep it lower, more stable.

Yup! I think we all agree that it looks so much better lifted than at stock height.

:iagree:

nice job. i notice the shocks though, did you use the stock shocks, or did they just not come blue and yellow?

[the roadie]

i would think its because they thought more of catering to the 'soccer moms' and every-day drivers that the majority of owners would be. plus, the added height isnt needed for them, so keep it lower, more stable.If they wanted us to be able to lift it more easily, like Tahoes, they wouldn't have bolted the farkin' front differential to the side of the oil pan and run a drive axle THROUGH it. Evil, evil designers. Every mod I add to it now I curse their names. Hope it annoys them to know that I'm modding it, too, no matter how much they tried to prevent it.:D

[LawBlazer]

i notice the shocks though, did you use the stock shocks, or did they just not come blue and yellow?

I put HD Bilsteins up front and the gas BDS on the rear. The rear BDS were silver with a black boot. You can't see the fronts in the pictures, but you can make out the silver rears in the post-lift rear picture.

I didn't take many close up pictures since the Roadie and others have a library full of pictures during various stages of the install that are already posted on the site.

[Gearhead2012]

Looks great man, I really realize now how much the lift adds, seeing it with stock tires, not to mention, the before and after pics (which were taken at good angles, and from the same spots). Hopefully this next weekend I'll be able to start my own BDS thread, after I get paid again and install it.

[Frostee]

If they wanted us to be able to lift it more easily, like Tahoes, they wouldn't have bolted the farkin' front differential to the side of the oil pan and run a drive axle THROUGH it. Evil, evil designers. Every mod I add to it now I curse their names. Hope it annoys them to know that I'm modding it, too, no matter how much they tried to prevent it.:D

true, it is evil. but going on what i said previous (which of course is just assumption, since i wasnt on the design team), that they never really planned for this to be a major 'modding' vehicle, and if you did want anything different (rims, etc...) you would have to go to GM specifically since they made such common things unique...

i totally agree, evil :D

I put HD Bilsteins up front and the gas BDS on the rear. The rear BDS were silver with a black boot. You can't see the fronts in the pictures, but you can make out the silver rears in the post-lift rear picture.

fair enough, i guess i just expected them to be yellow and blue on the rears also ;)

[LawBlazer]

Looks great man, I really realize now how much the lift adds, seeing it with stock tires, not to mention, the before and after pics (which were taken at good angles, and from the same spots). Hopefully this next weekend I'll be able to start my own BDS thread, after I get paid again and install it.

I was suprised how well it looked after installing the lift. I expected it to look funny with the stock tires still on, but it looks a heck of a lot better than stock height! It feels so much better with the new shocks too! I just can't wait until I get some new A/t's on!!!

[tylerfm]

Any idea as to what you're gonna pick up for rubber? Gonna keep the stock rims or what's the plan?

[eshawgo]

That looks good and clean. I like it. Makes me want to get a lift for mine. :undecided

[LawBlazer]

Any idea as to what you're gonna pick up for rubber? Gonna keep the stock rims or what's the plan?

I'm gonna keep the stock rims. Ideally I'd like to get some black rims since I think they would look good on my color TB, but I don't have the extra money laying around right now.

I'm debating b/t tire size, but leaning towards getting spacers and running 265/75/16 or 235/85/16 (BFG's are a lot cheaper in this size). The trucks look so good running bigger tires. I've also thought about not running spacers and going with an A/T in 245/75/16, provided that this size fits. I have a couple more thousand miles on my stockers so I have a little more time before I will finally give up and just pull the trigger.

[betts687]

just curious.. what size tires are on your tb in those pics?

[LawBlazer]

Stock Goodyear Wrangler STs in 235/75/16. They have about 36,000 miles on them.

[Frostee]

a split image compare. once you see it like this, really shows the difference :)

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k5/frostee_ltz/liftedrearyl2.jpg

[tylerfm]

I love how these vehicles look when lifted! And I deffinately agree that they look even better with upgraded wheels/tires! I can't wait to do mine... eventually...

Good thinking to do that split image. Very dramatic change!


HAVE FUN!!!

[sirjorge]

I'm debating b/t tire size, but leaning towards getting spacers and running 265/75/16 or 235/85/16 (BFG's are a lot cheaper in this size).

Does anybody have pics witht he 235/85/16s on? I, too, am interested in saving $45 a tire! Any pros/cons to either size selection?

[Gearhead2012]

Personally, that's way too much sidewall for me. You're narrowing your tire from what it was from the factory, and adding more sidewall. Sure, you'll get up higher, but your on road stability would suck big time.

[topprolmc]

Personally, that's way too much sidewall for me. You're narrowing your tire from what it was from the factory, and adding more sidewall. Sure, you'll get up higher, but your on road stability would suck big time.

Not necessarily narrowing the tire...Mine came with 235's Stock. Some come with 245's stock as well....

But I do agree the tires will look waaaaay skinny....

[the roadie]

But I do agree the tires will look waaaaay skinny....... well on the way to being a Donk-mobile. :o

Tires are one place I wouldn't think of looking for cheap. Bargains, yes, once I've chosen a size and tread pattern. But your use should dictate what size you're looking for, not your current budget. If saving up a couple more months will allow you to get tires you have to live happily with for a couple years, that's my advice. Don't go cheap on tires, shoes, or eyeglasses. :no:

[Frostee]

Don't go cheap on tires, shoes, or eyeglasses. :no:

or toilet paper, cuz one-ply just doesnt cut it

:D

[the roadie]

or toilet paper, cuz one-ply just doesnt cut it......I think we've got the making of a great Off-Topic Everything Else thread. :undecided

[Gearhead2012]

... well on the way to being a Donk-mobile. :o

Tires are one place I wouldn't think of looking for cheap. Bargains, yes, once I've chosen a size and tread pattern. But your use should dictate what size you're looking for, not your current budget. If saving up a couple more months will allow you to get tires you have to live happily with for a couple years, that's my advice. Don't go cheap on tires, shoes, or eyeglasses. :no:

I agree...if it's something you'll have to buy a lot, go ahead, and save a buck when you can, but if it's something to buy just very seldom...especially something your life rides on, don't skimp it. My predicament is inspection. I definatly want to go bigger, but, my inspection is due next month, and my tires wouldn't pass to save my life. I was going to just eat it and shell out the money for the Nitto Dune Grapplers, but now I don't know...I may settle for the Terra Grapplers, which are 120 a tire, verse 200 a tire. Plus, I need to get wheels, as I just want to get a deeper wheel, rather than shell out more money for spacers.

[Habbard_O]

LawBlazer
Sry , but was it a body lift BDS or suspension lift ?

[fredrik_wt]

LawBlazer
Sry , but was it a body lift BDS or suspension lift ?

Guess that you, as me, not are from any english speaking country :) Nice to not be the only one that cant express myself and spell 100% correct =)

anyway, as I got it, (and I'm pretty sure that I'm right) is:
BDS is the trademark (name) of the products.

Bodylift from BDS is like it sounds, that will lift the cars body, only body, you will not have higher ground clearence (hard word :worried:)

With BDS suspensionlift you will lift the whole car and have more space under the car. You add stuff that make springs and shocks longer, not 100% correct but I can't explain better :(

anyway, suspension lift = you can go more offroad
bodylift = not posible to go more offroad (compared if you got same size at tires as stock)

do anyone understand!?? :D

[the roadie]

anyway, suspension lift = you can go more offroad
bodylift = not posible to go more offroad (compared if you got same size at tires as stock)

do anyone understand!?? :DYou explained PERFECTLY! The two main benefits of body lifts are: the ability to fit bigger tires (which can give you real lift) and a little more ground clearance to the bumpers and rocker panels, which can reduce the amount of trail damage you take.

But if you're putting your bumpers and rocker panels in danger, you should really have rock sliders installed also, and take the plastic bumper covers off and put them in storage.

A minor advantage of a body lift is you get a better look at your wife's or girlfriend's legs when they get in, assuming you're a gentleman and assisting her from outside the truck. If you're a female driver, this benefit may be of less interest. :p:woot::laugh:

[unkljon]

You explained PERFECTLY! The two main benefits of body lifts are: the ability to fit bigger tires (which can give you real lift) and a little more ground clearance to the bumpers and rocker panels, which can reduce the amount of trail damage you take.

But if you're putting your bumpers and rocker panels in danger, you should really have rock sliders installed also, and take the plastic bumper covers off and put them in storage.

A minor advantage of a body lift is you get a better look at your wife's or girlfriend's legs when they get in, assuming you're a gentleman and assisting her from outside the truck. If you're a female driver, this benefit may be of less interest. :p:woot::laugh:

plus when you have rock sliders its that much higher she needs to lift her legs up

[Habbard_O]

Thanks to all for explanations given, but i know difference between body lift and suspension lift )) and prefer suspension lift

The problem is that i CAN NOT see on his pictures, what EXACTLY hi has done - whether it is body lift or suspension lift )) I am not so familiar with car lifts )) in order to distinguish at glance what is it )))))


So due to this again , i kindly ask
LawBlazer - what kind of lift did you do - body or suspension ?

Thanks to all !!

[Gearhead2012]

he's got the suspension lift, which is the same lift I just put on as well. It's a spacer that goes on top of the strut in the front, and spring in the rear.

[Habbard_O]

Thank you very much. Apparently i'll take the same....

[LawBlazer]

I have the BDS 2" suspension lift.

[LawBlazer]

A minor advantage of a body lift is you get a better look at your wife's or girlfriend's legs when they get in, assuming you're a gentleman and assisting her from outside the truck. :p:woot::laugh:

2" spacer lift isn't bad either. I'll admit the wheels started turning in my head the first time I helped my girl (who was wearing a nice dress at the time) get in the truck after installing the spacer lift. I started thinking, it's this nice now and can only get better if it was a little higher. She might need a little bit more of a boost then! :) I'll go slow and concentrate on bigger tires first.