Bds 2.5" Lift - Model 402h

I've got a '67 CJ5 w/ V6, stock springs and a good case of jeep lean. I'm looking at a suspension upgrade for this spring and I've read lots of good chatter about the BDS kit but I have a couple of questions. I'm not looking for a lift but it sounds like the BDS kit is a modest adjustment. I've got 16" wheels with 215/85R16 tires so no clearance issues.

Questions:

Go with the included shocks or upgrade to the Fox 2.0?
Any feedback on the steering stabilizer kit they have for 90 bucks? Pros / cons?
I've seen comments about the nose of the jeep being pointed down with the BDS kit, should I look at getting new shackles right from the start to address this? If so, any recommendations?

Appreciate any and all feedback, this site is a wonderful resource.

 

Upgrade if you can afford it. Always get the best your budget allows for.

 

Unrelated, but I'm installing the BDS lift on my '71 CJ6 right now (p/n 401h), and the front U-bolts are the wrong size for a Dana 25/Dana 27. It's a known issue dating back 15 years here on the forum. I'm probably going to end up ordering new, correct U-bolts from Walck's rather than bending them to fit and drilling out the spring plates, as BDS suggested just this morning. The three small front U-bolts are almost 1/2" wider than the 2.25" O.D. of the front axle tube.

Craig

P.S. - I just went with the standard lift and no steering stabilizer. My personal opinion about stabilizers is that they just somewhat mask bigger issues.

 

The BDS kit will give you a stink bug look, nose down and rear up. Nice springs, but the front needs about 2" more arch to be close to level. A 2" or more longer shackle would be needed
in the front to get close. Not doing that. The Rancho RS714 kit works for front U-bolts. For the back, you will need 1 more 2-1/2' u-bolt. BDS ships 3. If you ask, they will send you one.
The Fox shocks are nice. They are gas shock and can be mounted mounted with the body up as there are clearance issues with the body down. The stabilizer kit uses a light
gauge bracket that has a diameter that is too large for the axle and tie rod. It can be made to work with some modification. Not sure if it is necessary with power steering and I have
not used it yet. I have one piece tie rod and can deflect it easily by pushing in it. A heavier one may be in my future.it in
BDS is located in the US but I think they are more of an expediter of springs made in Canada. They don't seem interested in resolving known issues. Why would they for such a small market. Acan or Atlas springs would be a crap shoot for the price and re-arch is not recommended.

My real world experience cause I am anal and want what I want. This is for the front springs and using the BDS rears.

[1] The BDS 2-1/2" springs are nice and have a military wrap at each end. They have 2 bolted clips at on end, the front and a 1 crimped clip at the rear. The first bolted clip on the front interferes
with the tie rod and the one hole TRE when turning. Some have removed the bolt and bent the plate and welded a strap across the the remaining portion. Main leaf is .32" thick and 6-Leafs. Springs
gave good flex.

[2] The Superlift 4" springs gave the same ride height as the BDS 2-1/2" lift. Military wrap at the back fixed hanger and a slight wrap around the front spring eye. 1 bolted clip at each end. Some complaints
of the front wrap making a slapping noise due to being loose. Main leaf is .30" thick and 5-leafs. Springs gave good flex. $200 plus tax and free shipping.

[3] The Skyjacker 4" springs give close to a 4" lift and put my Jeep nose up. They do not have the hanging overload looking spring as shown in the picture on most sites. They utilize just 1-spring clip on
the front. Main leaf is quite heavy at just over .40" thick and is a 4-leaf spring. Springs gave good flex. $203 plus tax and free shipping. On sale from Quadratec. $100 off normal price.

[4] I ended up using the 3rd and 4th spring from Superlift. I removed the 3rd spring from the Skyjacker leafs. I put the Superlift springs on the Skyjacker and now have a 5 leaf pack. I used stock length
shackles on the front with WFO 4 degree shims. The shims bring the castor back in to spec, help the tie tie rod clear the springs and keep it away from immovable objects. I used 1" over shackles on the rear for 1/2" lift.l
A level on the back of the tub reads with the bubble just tou ching the line going downhill toward the front. I like it. It flexes well and I have adjustment as the springs settle.
Problems: If the tires rub, it contacts the spring clips. Solution: Smooth off clip with a grinder and use carriage bolts to give a smooth surface to contact. Adjust limiting bolts. The shocks seem to have good travel. Shackle angle at rest is 70 degrees forward.

[5] Option if using the BDS springs: Remove 3rd spring and clip. Put in Skyjacker 4" add-a-leaf. Bolted clip to the rear and bent clip to the front for tie rod clearance. Use a 4-degree shim and stock or 1" over shackle.
This should get you closer to a level ride height. I have not tried it but do know that it can be done cause I have them and love options. Skyjacker add-a-leaf $150.

 

I had a BDS 2.5” lift installed on my ‘70 CJ5. Couldn’t be happier. Sits level, rides nice.

 

Yours does sit pretty level. Fairly even gaps between the tires and fenders. Looks good. I have close to 160lbs on the front between the winch and bumper.
The front at least goes down now with my weight as opposed to the old Rancho 2-1/2". These were some springs I had swapped out on another Jeep to get
a softer ride. They were a Rancho softride and I believe they were a 3 leaf pack.

 

BDS customer service is awful, product is good. I won't buy from them again based on my last purchase

 

This is what mine looks like with BDS 2.5 springs (at least a decade old) 33 tires and a front winch. The back is a little bit higher but not much.

 

I bought the BDS 2.5” complete kit 7 years ago now. Very happy. My kit came with all the proper U bolts (I did have to modify the spring plates, but that’s known as the diameter is 1/2” not 3/8”)
It’s unfortunate that people are having issues now with them.

 

BDS may have had better service years ago when old Jeeps were more of a market for them. Times have changed and so have Jeeps. It seems more vehicles are being lifted these days
than before. We are just the small potato to them now and they concentrate more on the newer vehicles.

My post was to meant be informational only for off the shelf products that this group is using. I spent the time and money to bring a perspective here on what to expect when modifying
old Jeeps. I only want to present the options, problems and solutions for those buying off the shelf products with a real world experience. Nothing more. I really do appreciate the feedback
here from others experience. This place is the best!

 

vtxtasy, I really appreciate the detailed response and the options presented. As with any purchase I'm trying to get the best end result for my hard earned dollars and avoid doing this again anytime soon. colojeepguy and Beach66Bum's jeeps both look to sit pretty well with the BDS kit so that leaves me up in the air on which way to go. I also received a quote this morning from Alcan custom springs ($813 front, $853 rear) for a 1" lift. The BDS kit seems to be a good value compared to that but I do want to avoid the "stink bug look." Anyone else with a recent BDS purchase with feedback?

 

Thanks. I also did the price comps on the Alcan and Atlas springs. Deaver seems to offer more of a generic spring , or one size fits all. I figured that with the wait times to build the springs and the price,
would I really want to take that crap shoot on what I would receive. Also, there would be the expense and time of sending the springs back to have them corrected. I knew years ago how the
outcome would be before I got deciding on springs. I spent plenty of time doing research before making my purchase of the BDS. There were plenty of good reviews here and I liked the idea of the military
wrap, though I have never broken a spring. I have broken shackle bolts and been able to make it home. Once I came home with two bolts broken but it was just on one end. I would prefer 1/2" or 9/16"
bolts for that use. During that time there were a lot of companies that stopped making springs for older Jeeps and I kind of missed out out on those options. Thus the franken pack was born and I set out
to document it for others that want a somewhat level Jeep. You may have a V8 or heavy winch/bumper set-up and want an option without using super long shackles. With the limited options these days, it
was worth doing IMO.

 

I've run the BDS suspension in a couple different forms....I've got more custom-built spring packs now with rear length springs in front. But for a bolt-on kit, I think it's a good one. As mentioned, the military wrap combined with a nice ride and flex are desirable qualities. Personally I don't mind a little rake because I use my rig for back country camping. With a little weight in the back, it levels out and I prefer that to a high front and saggy rear-end.

Anyway, Vtxtacy has some good suggestions on playing with the spring packs to get where you want to be. A guy could probably pull a rear leaf to bring it down some.

 

I have many pictures of your jeep. It looks good and flexes well. The pictures do not show a military wrap one the front of the front spring nor do I see bolted spring
clips. Yours are a crimped over style clip. Makes me wonder how old these are and how much BDS has changed their configuration. Not being picky, only curious as to the
changes. Thanks for your input.

 

I put a 2.5" BDS in, and I love it. My 70 is pretty much stock with a warn m8000 winch up front. It doesn't lean front down, and it doesn't have the drivers side droop either. Comfy ride, completely changed the feel of my jeep from the spine busting factory leaf springs. Going on 2 years now and I can't say enough good about it.

The one bad side is the front ubolts don't work. I know we may be "small potatoes" to the suspension selling companies but for the 800 bucks or whatever I paid for the kit, I should get the proper ubolts.

 

I agree fully about the U-bolts. The price is now $931 shipped, which is what I paid. Ouch. It should probably bolt itself onto my Jeep for that.

 

To clarify, that included sales tax ($846.90 listed on their site as of 3/10/2023). BDS did tell me that they're supposedly going to add a blurb about the front U-bolts after I e-mailed them several threads here on earlycj5.com dating back 15 years. We'll see if that actually happens.

 

Has anyone used the Walcks replacement springs and shocks? Looks like he's selling a 10 leaf front and 9 leaf rear along with Monroe shocks. Price it all together and it looks to be about even money with the BDS kit. I'm not looking for a lift, just to have the jeep sit as proud and level as possible. Ride doesn't matter that much either, I've found the springs in the original bench seat do a good job of keeping the bounce comfortable.