BDS leveling ki

[Snipercoyote]

Anybody here running a BDS leveling kit? BDS claims it will raise front end 2". Kit comes with spacers, front and rear fox 2.0 shocks. Going to level truck and not wanting to spend a fortune in doing it, thought this looked like a good kit for the money. Should I get the adjustable tracbar with it?

 

[GrantP]

Check with BDS on those Fox 2.0's. Mine had a threaded adapter on the post that screws into the shock body for the pin mount. Twice I had that adapter come loose and completely disconnecting the shock, of course both times I was 1000 miles from home. I threw them in the trash for King 2.5's. The ride quality was pretty good with the Fox shocks, nowhere near as good as the King's though...and the King's won't self destruct on me. That Fox design is seriously flawed IMO. I also had problems with Fox 2.5's on my 97, I had to rebuild them every 50k or so. I'm done with Fox.

 

[GrantP]

Maybe this photo will help. This was during the second repair where I slathered it in red loc-tite hoping to keep it together, it got me home and came apart again. The stud screws in to the top of the shock body.

 

[AEdelheit]

If you just want to level it with no increase in ride quality it will be ok, Id recommend replacing the coils , shocks and track bar to do it properly.

 

[Shiner]

I second AE's advice. I used Bilstein 2.3" kit and an adjustable bar I got from DPP.

 

[Snipercoyote]

Might just pony up and get the Carli leveling kit, with adjustable trac bar. Heard a lot of good things about that kit. Just feel they offer so many options to add to kit that if you dont do all those options your short changing there kit. There leveling kit includes springs, front and rear shocks and I would probably spring for the adjustable trac bar.

 

[GrantP]

Might just pony up and get the Carli leveling kit, with adjustable trac bar. Heard a lot of good things about that kit. Just feel they offer so many options to add to kit that if you dont do all those options your short changing there kit. There leveling kit includes springs, front and rear shocks and I would probably spring for the adjustable trac bar.

I think that would be a good idea. I've been very happy with my Carli setup. You can always add components as you go. Much better than a spacer lift.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Don't know how you use your truck but ok now it's "LEVEL" I add a load now my AZZ is low so what do I do now???

 

[kthaxton]

Don't know how you use your truck but ok now it's "LEVEL" I add a load now my AZZ is low so what do I do now???

Move on?

 

[12LaramieHO]

I went with KORE Racing Suspension, ( https://www.koreraceshop.com/ ) Billet block front leveling kit on the 12' 2500 4x4 CTD.
Kit comes with billet lifting blocks, 12 coil progressive spring (takes the choppiness out of the highway ride and stiffens off road) and Bilstein shocks. Preforms well and no complaints. I see the new kits come with Fox shocks(?) Also the 12 coil springs are now separate @ $405 a set.
~Chad

 

[Cummins12V98]

Move on?

Yup right down the highway with headlights pointing in the sky like all the weekend warriors along I-10 Palm Springs, CA area.

 

[Snipercoyote]

Ok guys went ahead and ordered the carli 2.0 leveling kit with the adjustable track bar and carli torsion sway bar. Was a lot more then what I wanted to spend, but figured if I went the cheap route I would eventually down the road replace it with a nice system so figured do it right the first time. Got everything from cjc offroad.

 

[kthaxton]

Yup right down the highway with headlights pointing in the sky like all the weekend warriors along I-10 Palm Springs, CA area.

So, what happens with a non-leveled truck, without adjustable bags....when it is has a load? I mean, if the headlights were properly aimed at unloaded height, wouldn't they too be "pointing toward the sky" when loaded?

 

[GrantP]

Ok guys went ahead and ordered the carli 2.0 leveling kit with the adjustable track bar and carli torsion sway bar. Was a lot more then what I wanted to spend, but figured if I went the cheap route I would eventually down the road replace it with a nice system so figured do it right the first time. Got everything from cjc offroad.

You will love the difference in the ride, especially with that sway bar.

 

[Cummins12V98]

So, what happens with a non-leveled truck, without adjustable bags....when it is has a load? I mean, if the headlights were properly aimed at unloaded height, wouldn't they too be "pointing toward the sky" when loaded?

Truck should be adjusted with a designed load on the truck. By raising the truck and placing the designed load you will then really be nose high.

I don't care but the fact is when people do this mod then they are looking for a way to fix this resulting issue. Cause and effect!

He!! I get flashed a lot simply driving my DRW in ALT Ride with fog lights on. NOTHING to do with towing.

 

[AEdelheit]

Don't know how you use your truck but ok now it's "LEVEL" I add a load now my AZZ is low so what do I do now???

Well air bags would be the solutions , or adjust the headlights when loaded.

That is an issue weather the truck is stock or lifted though, I wish Ram offered auto leveling head lights.

 

[kthaxton]

Truck should be adjusted with a designed load on the truck. By raising the truck and placing the designed load you will then really be nose high.

I don't care but the fact is when people do this mod then they are looking for a way to fix this resulting issue. Cause and effect!

What about when you're not loaded? Headlights pointing toward the ground?
It's really a non-issue. If you level your truck, adjust your lights. No problem. If someone towed 100% of the time, it would make sense to adjust your headlights accordingly, otherwise it is absurd to think you need to adjust your headlights for loaded and not loaded travel.

Your problem with this appears to be the people that don't realize they should adjust their lights. So the solution is......adjust your lights, not avoid leveling your truck if you indeed want to level your truck. Two minutes, the problem is solved.

My truck came off the lot leveled, I likely would have done it anyway at some point. My truck goes off road occasionally and the extra approach angle is appreciated.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I was using lights pointing to the sky as a way to describer the fact with a leveling kit then adding a good load your truck will be AZZ low plain and simple. THEN they need to find a solution to towing aZZ low. I really don't care just want those considering such a mod there are consequences.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Here is my Son's 3500 with truck in standard ride height mode it looks exactly like this with or without a load with the factory rear air ride. He has a 2" front lift.

 

[kthaxton]

I was using lights pointing to the sky as a way to describer the fact with a leveling kit then adding a good load your truck will be AZZ low plain and simple. THEN they need to find a solution to towing aZZ low. I really don't care just want those considering such a mod there are consequences.

My "AZZ" lowers when I tow my 5th wheel, but not much, I certainly don't "need" to address it. Again, much ado about nothing.