BD Diesel Performance 2wd Unlock Kit review

[Deleted member 995608]

So I was graciously offered a chance to test a new product from BD. It's their 2 wheel drive low range unlock kit that is pretty much a plug and play harness. Installation is simple, only requiring about 20-30 minutes, depending on your skill level. The hardest part of the install was removing the plastic corrugated push tabs that hold up the carpeted cover under the passenger side dash. I more or less destroyed the tabs pulling them out since they are essentially one time use item. I'm sure they're cheap to replace so I really don't mind.

The kit contains a wiring harness that get's plugged in between the drivetrain control module (DCM), two relay switches, a lighted toggle switch, a 2wd Low indicator name plate for the switch, and some zip ties to tidy up the wiring afterwards. The included instruction booklet is printed in black and white. The photo's aren't super clear, but the worded instructions are detailed enough for an average guy or gal to follow.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Installations starts by making sure the ignition key is out of the ignition for at lease two minutes to avoid throwing a code once the drivetrain control module is unplugged. Then it's time to tackle those pesky push pins. I ended up pulling the glovebox out with hopes that I could push the pins back through the hole from the top. I didn't have much luck with that, so I ending up using some pliers to grab the head of the tabs and pull them out. This is why I kiboshed those tabs. I'm sure they are reusable nonetheless.

This pic shows the 3 plastic push tabs under the passenger side dash that need to be removed.

If you decide to remove the glovebox, take note that this spring loaded retainer will wind itself back inside the dash. It's easily retrievable, but it's a little tricky getting it all back together.

Here you can see the mangled push tabs.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

With the cover removed, pull back on the front edge of the carpet to expose the ​drivetrain control module (DCM) located on the firewall. You'll need to remove the plastic cover on the DCM by carefully prying on the four tabs located on the sides of the cover. The tab on the bottom and sides are easy to reach, however, on top there is one more tab that needs to be released before it will let go all of the way. I used a thin bladed screwdriver to pop the top tab loose.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Once the cover is removed, the BLUE connector on the left will need to be disconnected from the DCM. From here, you'll plug in the BD 2wd Low wire harness into the DCM and then reconnect the other end from the OE wire harness that you first unplugged. The connectors are male/female configurations so it's impossible to get them backwards.

Now that that's complete, locate the relay socket in the BD wiring harness and plug in the two relay switches provided by BD.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

The last part of finishing the BD harness is installing the provided rocker switch onto the harness. Follow the harness to the end to where you find 3 colored coated wires with female spades on the ends. You should have (1) blue wire, (1) pink, and (1) red wire. With the switch indicator light on top, or up, attach the blue wire to the top spade, the pink wire to the center or middle spade and finally, the red wire onto the bottom spade.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Now it's play time! I was a little worried that my trucks electronics would disagree with the BD 2wd low unlock, but to my surprise, all is well and operating normally.

To activate the 2wd unlock, the BD rocker switch needs to be depressed. Then turn the 4wd selector switch on the driver side dash to 4wd. The BD rocker switch will now illuminate, letting the driver know that the 2wd low unlock is now activated.



Now your truck can be freely driven in 2wd low range without the front tires binding, hoping or skirting around on hard surfaces normally associated with driving in 4wd high or low range. Awesome!

Words of caution per the instruction booklet:
- Always engage the 2wd low switch first before putting the truck into 4wd.
- Never activate the 2wd low switch while the transfer case is in 4wd.
- Do not leave the unlock device enabled in 4x4 high range as this will cause the front drive shaft and differential to be driven without doing any work. This will reduce fuel economy and create unnecessary driveline drag.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I didn't have time this afternoon to do the testing that I'd planned, but I did drive around in my back pasture for a while. The ground this time of year is rock hard, similar to driving on asphalt. If I place the t-case in 4wd low and turn the wheels sharply in the pasture, the front tires will buck and grab as you would expect. Well not anymore.......

Flip the BD switch, place the t-case in 4low, and now I'm crushing in 2wd low range without the nuisance of 4wd low. I couldn't be more happy!

For years I've enjoyed the granny low gear of my previous manual transmission trucks. Especially when driving downhill at 5 mph or less. My 2016 is my first ever automatic transmission in a Dodge/Ram - Cummins configuration and I was afraid of the freewheeling created by auto transmission. I hate the fact that I have to use 4wd low to keep the truck at a crawl going downhill. Especially since most of the time, 4wd is not needed,.....just the low range.

With BD 2wd Unlock, a feller can have the best of both worlds now with an auto transmission and I'd recommend this kit to anyone considering to buy it.

Thank you Hector at BD for giving me this opportunity. This is yet another great product from BD on the books!

 

[BD-Hector]

Really Glad to hear you like. Thank you for the great wright up. Also a great advantage to this kit is you will not get any check engine lights.

 

[jhenderson]

Yesterday afternoon I installed the BD 2 Low Kit so graciously provided by Hector by BD products. As J. Hawes has already told you, it is a straight forward process.
#ad

I'll skip some of what J. Hawes has covered. This is the PCM cover.

Cover removed.

For me at least, this pick tool works better than a screwdriver to lift the three attachment clips on the cover.

The attachment clips are the long legs and need to be lifted slightly to release them from the module.

The blue truck side plug removed from the module you can see the latch that needs to be pressed in front of my thumb.

I modified the cover slightly by cutting a relief in the top left corner. The new harness wanted to lay in that direction because I tucked the two relays behind the passenger side kick
panel for a little added protection.

This shows how the wires ran out from under the cover and up behind the blower motor on their way to the kick panel.

of
This photo shows where I trimmed one corner of the fiber panel that is retained with the three push pins J. Hawes spoke of. I trimmed the corner of the tip of the panel to give a little
extra clearance for the wires that came out of the top of the protective cover.

Since I have a Tradesman with a manual 4 wheel drive lever, my panel has cubby holes on either side of the radio stack. I used an automotive trim tool to release the clips that hold
the trim around the stack to gain visual access since I didn't know what was behind the cubby compartment. Once I realized I had clearance to drill, I used a long zip-tie as a fish tape
for the control switch harness. You can see one end of the zip-tie just above the trim tool.

This is where I taped the harness to the zip-tie and pulled it through the back side of the panel.

I used a 3/4 inch step drill for the basic hole in the panel, then a half round file to finish the hole to size. A hack saw blade can be used to make a small notch for the locating tab on
the two low switch.

I've been told if you didn't know Ram Trucks you might think this was a factory option as the switch is high quality and very unobtrusive.

I rolled up the excess harness and tucked it behind the radio stack. BD supplies plenty of length if you should choose to go all the way to the far left of the instrument panel.
I won't bore you with re-assembly of the glove box and fiber board.

This is the reason for a Ram Truckr. This is a two cord load of 12 foot firewood. I make deliveries all spring and summer long to local home owners and firewood retailers. I also use it to clean up loads of logs at the end of my jobs when there is not enough to warrant hiring a log truck for a short load. The trailer grosses 18,500 pounds and the truck handles the load well. I tested the 2 Low option several times today and it worked as advertised, without a hitch. It's nice to have low range maneuvering in a tight area without binding the drive train on hard ground. I installed a free spin kit on my '04 for this very reason. I wish I would have had this option instead. We all know what a project a free spin kit is. I installed the BD 2 low kit in less than an hour, including taking photographs, and I'm sure I could do the next one in 30 minutes. The kit is high quality, easy to install and I'm sure will save on front drive train wear and tear during hard maneuvers. It also saves customers lawns and gravel drives. I'd like to thank Hector and everyone at BD for giving me the opportunity to install and test their new product. I'm sure to like it as much as I do their throttle sensitivity booster that I've already installed on my '15 and the exhaust brake I installed on my '04. Jeff. Ps. Sorry about the extra photo of the pcm cover at the end. I don't know how it got there or how to get rid of it.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Henderson - Click edit. Click advance options. Click manage attachments. Select photo you want to remove in lower left corner. Move cursor over selected photo. You should now see a x in that photo.....click the X and click done. Save edit and you're finished.

 

[jhenderson]

Thanks, I see how it's done now that you've pointed it out. I thought I couldn't do it even after your explaination but it turns out I got got rid of it.

 

[gsbrockman]

Awesome thread !!!!

 

[buntster]

I think I've just found my next mod....

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Thanks for this thread. I just got a 2016 and used my own mod for the 96 2wd low a LOT and now I don't have to engineer the mod for this truck...COOL!

jhenderson - I see you have the Aux switches on your truck. Could one of those be used to activate the BD device?

 

[jhenderson]

Not as far as I know. The BD switch uses factory power from the relays and switches ground. The aux switches are wired to the supplemental pdc and provide 12 volts but no ground.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

OK - Good to know what the BD switch controls. I ordered the service manual the day after I brought the truck home so I'm still waiting on finding out how certain things operate.


WAIT - you mean I have to cut a hole in the dash of my 5 day old truck?!?!?!:{:{

Hmmm, Now I have to do some more looking into the BD control device. I could use the Aux switch to control a relay that would emulate the BD switch and not have to cut a hole in the dash. Guess I'll order it from Geno's and look at how it works and go from there.

I really don't want to cut a hole in the dash. That is why I required the Aux switches. I'm always adding more work lights, backup lights, powered devices to a vehicle and the thought of using factory "nice" looking switches was really appealing.

Thanks again!!

 

[jhenderson]

If you put the hole where I did you can replace the panel if you ever want out of the kit.

 

[photowrite]

If you put the hole where I did you can replace the panel if you ever want out of the kit.

Me too.


Issue 94 of the TDR will have articles (unless postponed) about both BD's new 2Low UnLoc kit for Fourth Generation trucks, as well as one man's home-brew solution.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Got the kit installed - very easy to do. I also installed another relay in place of the switch. That relay is controlled by one of the factory aux switches so NO HOLE was cut in my brand new dash.

Works like a charm.

I'm soooo happy that BD came up with this, that way I didn't have to cut into my new wiring harness to create my own system!!

 

[SnoKing]

I installed a 2 low kit on my 2001.5. Just remember that you have a lot more torque applied to the drive train in low range and now just a single axle to handle the torque vs two axles. So this is for creeping around slow and not for working hard so to speak. Also with the tight DTT torque converter in Old Blue the truck became jumpy trying to over power the brakes with the additional torque.

SNOKING