BDS has a press release of November 09 stating that they have 2 new "high clearance" lifts for the 04-08 F150. The problem is that in their press release they picture 2 different front crossmembers. Here is the link:

http://bds-suspension.com/BDSLibrary...S_NPR-576H.pdf

I have seen the arched version that is installed on the yellow truck before but i have never seen the one that is pictured above that in the kit layout. When I talked to BDS they had me under the impression that the rounded version is the new one and the old one is not available. How is that possible? Am I missing something? The top picture of the flatter crossmembered kit is obviously an F150 kit. It has the double pin blocks and attaching points of an F150. it also doesn't look like any of the other kits they offer for other vehicles.

 

the one on the yellow F150 is the high clearanced one... well if you are using common sence.

if they are high clearanced from the ground... but could it be high clearanced from a certain part that the old one caused interferrences with? hope that makes sence

 

Yeah I get that part but it still doesn't explain the fact that all of the other 'high clearance' kits they picture for other trucks have the other style crossmember that is flatter and more angled. It could be that they are higher clearance in another aspect besides the middle of the front crossmember. The one not mounted just looks newer if that makes sense.

Anybody ever see a BDS with the flat front crossmember before actually mounted on a truck?

 

yeah i know where you are coming from and come to think about it, i think ive seen the curved one before, but not the flat one.

WEIRD.... somebody hep use.

tlt008 you got me intrested now

 

LOL good that means i have someone else that will dig in and ask questions to get this thing solved once and for all!

I looked at all of their press releases and it looks like their 4" and 6" HC kits are shown as the flat version and 8" HC is shown as the rounded version. That yellow truck is actually the 8" on 37's as advertised on their site. Check this page out:

http://bds-suspension.com/products/index.php#479H

 

thats intresting.

after reading that im more confused than before

 

OK I think I've got it all figured out. The rounded version is part #01087 as listed here:

http://bds-suspension.com/pdfs/023610-1-2-3-4.pdf

Member SamanthaGrace has confirmed that this is the crossmember she has and if you look at her pictures it is indeed the rounded one. Interestingly enough it the same front crossmember used for their 8" kits. The knuckle part#'s are even the same for thier related 6" and 8" kits

The flat version is part# 02092 as listed here:

http://bds-suspension.com/pdfs/023630.pdf

It is actually the same part number for their 4" kit. The knuckles that go with the flat crossmember share the same part number for the 4" kit and the 6" kit too.

What gives?! Does that mean that the round version in 6" format is really just a 4" w/ 2" extra spacer on it so that you couldn't buy it and add 2" more to make 8" like you can with other 6" kits? The same with the rounded 8".....Could you not add another 2" to make 10" like you can with the Rize?

 

haha... now you are onto something.

so essentially theres not much of a difference between there "high clearance" crossmember and the regular 4" crossmember.

So technically speaking you could get a kit, get so flat steel and make your own crossmember with the amount of lift you want and the design that you would want on the front of said crossmember.

thats rediculous

 

Who else besides SamanthaGrace and IDNC76 have the BDS kit? I need to check out their angles to see if it's what I'm assuming in that the flat version really measures 4" and the round version really measure 6". It's either that or the better option of the flat version actually measuring 6" and the round version actually measuring 8". The 2nd idea is possible for sure sonsidering you can lower a truck and not hurt the angles.

 

they are the only ones that i know of that have the BDS kit

but ill keep a look out

 

You are definitely on to something, sorry I couldn't help you out more!

 

You can help me out more actually......

Can you measure how tall the front crossmember is? Like from the center of the bolt holes where the LCA's attach now to the center of the bolt hole where the LCA's used to attach(the spot where the crossmember actually mounts to the truck). It should be either 6" or 8" or somewhere close to it.

 

Sure, I will do it sometime tomorrow and let you know what measurements I got.

 

I ll get you a measurement and a pic of the angles tmr


06yz250f was also running the bds lift before he sold his truck , mayb hes got some info

 

Here's a convo that I had with BDS tech support today via their live chat. I think it explains everything. Looks like I'll be going with the Fabtech or Rize again. What do you think?

Trevor: My question was regarding why the part numbers are the same for the 4" and 6"(w/ strut spacer) kits front crossmember and knuckles

Ted: Basically Trevor @ 4 inches of lift the CV steering angles are flat, there is little to no angle to them, when you move up to 6 they become more like your OE angles but better still

Ted: You are correct the strut spacer is the only difference

Trevor: So it really is a true 6" kit just "lowered" when sold as a 4"?

Ted: on IFS systems the strut controls the height of the front suspension, in essence Yes Trevor it is a lowered 6" when sold as a 4"

Trevor: So I would have no problems in adding another 2" to said 6" kit if I chose to do so in order to attain 8" then correct? It would be like adding a 2" leveling kit to a stock truck for the most part?

Trevor: Am I incorrect?

Ted: Sorry Trevor I had to step away

Ted: one second

Ted: no not at all, getting 8" out of the front would require much more than that

Trevor: How so? I had an 8" Rize before that I had King coilovers on cranked an additional 2" to achieve 10". What makes this different?

Trevor: It no longer had oem angles but it was not extreme and gave me the same angles as a stock truck with a 2" leveling kit.

Ted: well if we gave you a strut replacement @ 4" then you added a spacer to achieve 6", then you would be fine, but when you have something that needs to be correct @ 4" and want to double the lift height then you would need a coilover, as to not limit the droop with the strut assy.

Trevor: But if it's a true 6" kit then I'm really not doubling the lift.

Ted: as long as you are using the spacer, you can not go any higher than 6" if we provided a strut replacement with the kit

Trevor: I would be using a replacement strut built for a 6" kit with a 2" spacer on top of that. Is that suitable?

Ted: that would be a better case scenario, but what are you asking now Trevor?

Trevor: Ok let me put it all out there so that there is no confusion.

Ted: well that would be nice

Trevor: What I want to do is purchase a 6" kit for my F150 and then bump it up to 8". I want to do this for 1 reason only. Flexibility. In MD we have lift laws and at 8" I would be over the limit. I want/need the flexibility to remove the additional 2" to put me back to 6" and be within the law.

Trevor: Part of my criteria for purchasing a lift is good looks. I am fond of the look of your new HC lifts but, no offense, the older style with the rounded off design does not really appeal to me

Ted: I can not say that doing this with our 6" HC kit would work or not, or how long things would last if you do that to it. I suppose you could do what ever you would like to with the kit but we designed it for 6 inches of lift maxium and that is what I am willing to say it works best with

Trevor: I'm under the impression that the 4" kit and the 6" kits with strut spacers are the new design and then the 6" kits with replacement struts as well as the 8" kits are the old design. That assumption is based on the part numbers you have listed

Ted: that is correct Trevor

Ted: The fact is @ 6" the new High Clearance design is basically factory geometry on all facets. adding an additional 2" to this may cause issues with CV angle as well as steering component wear

Trevor: Gotcha

Trevor: Is the old design kit a true 6" or 8"? I see that they share the same components and I have heard that the 8" is really a bumped up 6" and not a true 8".

Trevor: sorry for all of the questions, I am just trying to ensure I am purchasing the lift that I need and want before I spend a few thousand dollars

Ted: No problem Trevor

Ted: The old design 6" kit is a full 6" drop on the crossmembers, the 8" kit uses a longer strut and the same crossmembers as the 6" as you already know. The new design keeps things tucked up a little more to give more ground clearance.

Trevor: That's what I thought but what is the difference in you selling the 8" kit which is really a 6" kit with a longer strut and me buying the new 6" but adding another 2" to it? Is it because the old design was based on preload lift in regards to the struts and not length of the strut itself?

Ted: some what, but to get you the best answer I would have to ask the engineer that designed the kit

Trevor: Ok let me ask you this... Do the old 6" and the new HC 6" offer the same height crossmembers and knuckles?

Ted: no the crossmembers are different of course and the drop on the crossmembers is different as well, the knuckles are made to match the systems HC and Non HC that is

Ted: so completely different both ways

Trevor: What is the drop on the old and new crossmembers?

Ted: let me look for you Trevor

Ted: they are 6" aprox old and 5 aprox. new

Trevor: So I can see why it is acceptable to turn the old one into an 8" and why it may not be for the new one. 1" could be crucial

Trevor: Is there any way that you could measure from center to center the heoght of the new front crossmember? Where the unit bolts to the truck and where the LCA's mount now I mean.

Ted: yes you are correct Trevor

Ted: that is that measurement

Ted: the measurement I gave you

Trevor: ok

Ted: Is there anything else I can help you with Trevor

Trevor: 1 last thing

Ted: sure

Ted: whatcha got

Trevor: Why is it thet you advertise an 8" HC but it still has the old crossmember?

Ted: because the 8" systems not comes with a newer looking crossmember, and there is a lot of ground clearance @ 8 inches of lift

Trevor: That was a confusing statement

Trevor: It does or does not come with a new looking crossmember?

Ted: no Trevor, we already went over the fact that it is the same as the 6"

Trevor: That's what i thought but the way you typed that last statement had me 2nd guessing that fact.

Ted: ok

Trevor: Is there any plan to build an 8" kit with the same design as the 6" HC?

Ted: perhaps in the future