Yes I did. The first point of interference is the tires eating the fenders at full articulation.
What else do I need with 2" BDS lift?
- Thread starter Bruce20
- Start date
I say it is fine with personal experience when I installed my first lift, a 2" with 32" tires. WIth the standard pinion angle as is typically run with just a 2" suspension lift. The 2" suspension lift gives 2" more clearance above the tire which at 2" larger diameter, is 1" taller between the axle and top of the tire. It worked fine for me, it never gave me any tire rub that I could detect. But that's just my personal experience running a 2" lift with 32" tires about 20 years ago.
And I'm not about to get into a long drawn-out discussion on such a basic lift. Yes I run taller bump stops with my present TJ but that's a whole different ballgame.
Thanks. I’ll try it and and then if I need bumpstop. I will add it.
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FWiW, my Jeep came to me 100% stock except for 32" tires. The underside was pristine and there was no indication that the front sway bar was ever unbolted. Yet the previous owner was able to damage both of the fenders from having too large of a tire without adequate bump stop extension to limit the up travel. Just my personal experience and my understanding of why it happened...I say it is fine with personal experience when I installed my first lift, a 2" with 32" tires. WIth the standard pinion angle as is typically run with just a 2" suspension lift. The 2" suspension lift gives 2" more clearance above the tire which at 2" larger diameter, is 1" taller between the axle and top of the tire. It worked fine for me, it never gave me any tire rub that I could detect. But that's just my personal experience running a 2" lift with 32" tires about 20 years ago.
And I'm not about to get into a long drawn-out discussion on such a basic lift. Yes I run taller bump stops with my present TJ but that's a whole different ballgame.
So your Jeep came with 32" tires without the 2" suspension lift we're talking about? If so, of course the tires would rub. I'm assuming it did not have the 2" suspension lift since you say it was 100% stock except for the 32" tires. If so I rest my case.
Nicholas
TJ Enthusiast
I ordered my Rancho RS5000s last month for 198$ on amazon
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Did you not have extended bumps in your example? If not, what limited the up travel? Springs don't limit up travel unless they reach bind.
This pic is from the first time I cycled the suspension. 245/65r16 tires worn down to about 30" and a 1.25" body lift (Installed by me). The axle is at full flex on the stock bump with a disconnected sway bar. Now imagine where brand new 32s would be without the body lift. The numbers don't add up without damage taking place.
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Nicholas
TJ Enthusiast
I'm confused by your comments. Let me get this straight. So, the picture is of worn out 32's (essentially 31's), stock suspension, and a 1.25" body lift. Do I have this correct? For 32's, you really need to have a full 2" lift for even light duty off-roading etc. (and wheels or wheel spacers for a bit less back spacing than stock, say ~4 inches). If you were only 1.25" lifted in the pic, it is easy to see why damage occurred with this configuration.
I'm looking at getting a 2" BDS suspension lift with 32's (~31.5"). I will only do a bit of light duty off-roading (essentially 98%+ street driven). I'm planning on running stock bump stops and have been wondering if this is going to be a problem? The BDS expert I have been talking to hasn't mentioned needed them and they don't come in the basic 2" lift kit from what I can find.
Correct. You are seeing what I saw. To clarify the technicalities, 32s need bump stop to keep them out of the fenders. Because 32s don't fit correctly without modifications to the stock suspension. This results in a (necessary) decrease of suspension up travel. Stock is about 4". To regain that up travel, lift springs (or some other means of adding clearance) is required to regain that 4" of stock up travel.
Springs create clearance. Bump stops limit up travel. Limiting up travel is almost always needed when the tires and suspension are modified with larger and longer parts.
Keeping the stock sway bar connected will reduce the ability to reach full articulation. You can ignore this scenario, but if you are cycling the suspension in an attempt to set things up correctly, you will see where the problem is. The previous owner of my Jeep certainly found it.
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Thanks, I understand the concept in general, but this thread still helps! After you posted the pic, I just wasn't sure if you agreed whether or not a 2" lift was good enough for 32's, at least for minor off-roading duties. Hopefully my clearance will still be stock-like running 32x11.5xR15, the two inch suspension lift, and some 15x8's with 3.75 to 4" of backspacing. I keep reading here and elsewhere that I'll need taller bump stops with the 2" lift, so I'll have to make sure I get them. When I look at their 2" TJ Suspension Lift Kit instructions, it doesn't mention bump stops at all from what I can see. But, the kit does say it includes 2 Add-a-leafs...so the kit must be shared with other vehicles that have leaf springs, haha! Just what I needed.
@Jerry Bransford - I like the suggestion of 2" ProComp springs and Rancho RS5000x's. Quality-wise how much better would the ProComps and Rancho's be over BDS Pro Ride springs and NX2 shocks? To use a car analogy to say how much better, are they like a 3-series over Civic (appears better, but really isn't much better in the long run), Civic vs. Elantra (a cut above, but not by much any more), or a Civic vs Daewoo (obviously much better quality in all facets of the game). The things that brought me towards BDS were the "no questions asked warranty", good reviews by owners about their on-road manners (cushier than stock) and off-road capability. To boot, the privately owned shop near me specializes in BDS and have a large body of work with TJ's, and they are a "do it right the first time" type of shop. So, I assume that either BDS must have been good to them and their customers over all the years, or the BDS parts break all the time, are replaced for free, and they love the extra warranty work by installing them twice! Hahaha! On a more serious note, I don't want to find out that I installed something subpar a year from now and then be stuck with it or have to spend another 1k to replace it.
I can't/won't compare what I recommended to BDS. I have only said and will say again that the ProComp springs have a superb reputation among even high end builders. Not ProComp suspensions or shocks, just their springs. My personal experience as well as others here on this forum with Rancho's RS5000x has been outstanding. They are the most important part of a good riding with good offroad control suspension.
Nicholas
TJ Enthusiast
I forgot about that warranty. Both combos are $420. Idk which to pick. If Jerry’s combo will last me 3 years, then I’ll pull the trigger.
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Thanks, and understood. I don't have my plans in stone yet, but I'm not sure if the shop would be against the mix and match method. They do sell the Ranchos too, so it will be interesting to see.
The warranty is hard to beat. I'm sure both solutions would last over 3 years, if they are not beat on and don't have any defects. I am wondering if your costs also figure in the hardware that comes with the BDS kit. What else, if anything beyond the bump stops, would be needed if going the mix and match route? Does some of the hardware in the BDS kit also come with the shocks and springs?
P.S. also curious why you started out by wanting BDS? Any prior experience or friends that have their stuff installed?
I didn’t think any hardware came with the BDS kit. I thought you used the stock hardware. I started out wanting BDS because it achieved the ride height I wanted and I never saw any bad reviews. I’ll run BDS springs instead of the ProComps because of similar quality, but cheaper cost.
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I didn’t think any hardware came with the BDS kit. I thought you used the stock hardware. I started out wanting BDS because it achieved the ride height I wanted and I never saw any bad reviews. I’ll run BDS springs instead of the ProComps because of similar quality, but cheaper cost.
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Same here, I couldn't find any bad reviews, but did find several good ones. In some case you can reuse stock bolts, but replacement is recommended for some bolts (TTY bolts etc.). BDS manual says to consult the OE manual. The parts list in the 2" kit is in their following installation manual, so I assume these are the parts that come with the kit and that additional OE replacement bolts may be required beyond that.
http://bds-suspension.com/instructions/034204-11-06-08-114202.pdf
I'm not too concerned about the details since I'm not doing it myself, but it is good to know how the mix and match may or may not cost more. It is also good to know what bolts should be replaced so you can do it properly, or quiz the shop about it
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