BDS Lift Kit

[TJYAY!]

Hey all, I’m looking into getting a 3” BDS lift kit and not sure if I should upgrade the shocks when buying it or not. The base kit comes with NX2 series shocks, and the upgrade has 2.0 Fox series shocks for $300 more. I really don’t want to spend the extra money, but is it worth it? I do a lot of highway driving, and would probably be going off road every other weekend. Thanks in advance for the help!!

 

[JeepinK4]

I currently have the 3" BDS lift and i just replaced the shocks that came with the kit with the Rancho 5000x's and wonder why i hadn't done it sooner. The Rancho shocks are a big upgrade from the NX2's and work well both on and offroad. They are highly recommended on this forum - (thanks again Jerry Bransford for the recommendation). I would just buy the kit without shocks and purchase the Rancho shocks but that's just my 2 cents!!

 

[astjp2]

its worth it, contact @pcoplin if you need more info on shocks. He tunes the reservoir shocks. Shocks make or break a ride IMHO. Tim

 

[Allstar424]

I also have tuned fox reservoir shocks and the ride quality is great.

 

[bobthetj03]

Go with the Ranchos. They ride as nice as shocks twice their price IMO. Use the ones for a 2.5" lift. They run long and would be bout perfect for a 3" lift. The fox's are nice and all, but I think only the remote res ones are tunable and a bunch more coin.

 

[mots]

My 0.02. I love the NX2's that were installed with my 2" BDS lift about a year ago. Riding on 32x11.5x15 KO2 @26 PSI is like butter. They ride much nicer around town on rough roads etc. than did the Bilstein 9100's I had on there before. BDS lifts used to come with older hydro shocks. Many with older BDS lifts think they have the same base NX2's as are shipped today, but really have the older hydros. These are completely different shocks. The NX2's have only been out 2-3 years. If you look at the technology (compare specs to specs), they are very similar to the Ranchos and have lengths and valves specifically setup for the TJ lift they come with. I hope to try the Rancho's in the future, but don't knock the NX2's until you try them!

 

[pagrey]

Have you considered the Zone 3" kit? It costs less and the people don't complain about the shocks.

 

[Alex01]

Go with the Ranchos. They ride as nice as shocks twice their price IMO. Use the ones for a 2.5" lift. They run long and would be bout perfect for a 3" lift. The fox's are nice and all, but I think only the remote res ones are tunable and a bunch more coin.

x2 Ranchos and get the 2.5" model.

 

[TJYAY!]

I currently have the 3" BDS lift and i just replaced the shocks that came with the kit with the Rancho 5000x's and wonder why i hadn't done it sooner. The Rancho shocks are a big upgrade from the NX2's and work well both on and offroad. They are highly recommended on this forum - (thanks again Jerry Bransford for the recommendation). I would just buy the kit without shocks and purchase the Rancho shocks but that's just my 2 cents!!

I currently have the 3" BDS lift and i just replaced the shocks that came with the kit with the Rancho 5000x's and wonder why i hadn't done it sooner. The Rancho shocks are a big upgrade from the NX2's and work well both on and offroad. They are highly recommended on this forum - (thanks again Jerry Bransford for the recommendation). I would just buy the kit without shocks and purchase the Rancho shocks but that's just my 2 cents!!

Thanks so much for your help, I’ll definitely look into those shocks!

 

[TJYAY!]

One more question for everyone. I’m also looking into OME for a lift kit, but it’s more expensive than BDS and I’d be getting an inch less. I also want to run 33s and I’m not sure if I could do that comfortably with a 2” lift. I’ve heard great things about OME but I’m not sure if I should choose them over BDS unless there’s a huge difference in ride quality. What do y’all think?

 

[bobthetj03]

The springs are just there to give you the desired lift height. It's the shocks and the amount of real estate you give your shocks to do it's job of dampening the events. If you get a 2" lift and want 33's, and have to add bump stop extension to keep your tires out of the fenders, then you aren't giving your shocks a chance to do its job if you only have 2 or 3 inches of uptravel. A body lift will give you an added inch of tire clearance, and hence less bump stop needed, which will increase your up travel. a stock TJ utilizes 4" up and 4" down respectively, so you want to at least get that. 5" up would be better. Hope that makes sense.

 

[pagrey]

Research Zone, OME shocks aren't so good. Why support a company that can't make a shock valved for your Jeep? Same goes for BDS. Springs make little difference to the ride. Rancho makes good shocks, I run them in the rear. They seem to be the flavor of the week these days but that doesn't mean the Zone stuff is bad. I'd run Zone hydros but they don't make a no-lift shock, the 5000X is great when I'm loaded at 4000lbs+ but when I drive empty they are a bit rough compared to stock.