got to test the BDS 3.5 tonight

[heavyarms642]

i brought one of my friends over tonight and was telling him about my debate between rubicon express and bds for a lift, and he is trying to sway my towards bds. he just installed this on his step-dads YJ, so tonight we got the keys and drove about 40 minutes to go test it out and prove to me that bds was a good lift. we tested the ride and the flex. what i got from the ride was it is very bouncy, a lot more than it used to be. it seemed like he was riding around without shocks, i mean it was way bouncy. we tested the flex in two differnt spots, one was some back ally in el cajon that had a huge dip in it where the roads came together at a big angle. flex was fairly decent, contrary to what pajeeper (or something like that) and others in another forum have told me. the rear is the only part we got to test, due to the fact that the sway bar discos were a bitch to get back in once they were out (according to my friend), but i was still impressed with the rear flex. the second spot we tested it at was a little better, it was a sloped wall near a bank in a parking lot. this test further proved that the rear was capable of some decent flex. but, in the end, i think i will still be set on rubicon express. the 3.5 just doesnt look that big to me, and i know if i go with the bds i will end up saying to myself "i should have gone bigger the first time and done it right". so in the end, bds DOES flex pretty decent (especially for brand new springs), just wish i had a rubicon express test subject also to compare them both. hm, isnt there someone in this forum selling a re 4.5 without shackles?

[93Sahara]

The BDS shocks kinda suck too, that doesn't help the ride at all. You gotta run the MORE boomerangs to get a lift close to what the RE is. The RE kit includes extended shackles.

[LeadFoot]

It's because the springs aren't settled in yet. Mine flex good enough for me.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/leadfoot/04%204wd%20jambo/Imag0042.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/leadfoot/04%204wd%20jambo/P1010065.jpg

[cory]

Damn Leadfoot, that thing is uuuuuuugly!:clapping:

[heavyarms642]

yea 93sahara, he isnt running the bds shocks. he got bilstein 5100's, and the only problem with the lift is the shackles as far as i can see. they are a bit too small and hit the frame when the suspension flexes.

[Pondscum]

-=- originally posted by heavyarms642 -=-
just wish i had a rubicon express test subject also to compare them both.

If you feel like taking a ride to Oceanside i'll let you take mine out for a spin to compare.

I had a buddy with the BDS and another with the RE, so i got to play around with both lifts before i made my purchase.

Here's a pic from my trip to Big Bear last week. Granted i'm not fully stuffed in this picture, but you'll get the idea. What you see is what you get with the RE XD 4.5 kit, i currently have no body lift, MM lift, aftermarket shackles....etc.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/Pondscum/017_14.jpg

[NomadJeep]

I have installed both... the bounce will be mearly the shocks... The RE has it's good traits, but the BDS is still a better spring... I find that most lifts work better with good shackles,,, like the MORE boomerange.

All I have to say is call RE and ask them warrenty info, and call BDS... I have done both... BDS is far more supportive... Here is a better bet, ask a rep who sells RE and BDS both, and find out who they feel treats them better...:puzzled:

Lifts,,, all YJ kits are basic, all you want are the springs anyway, they all use the same el-cheapo bolts and brackets for YJ's.

Pic flex only Limited by the travel of the shocks....

http://northeastjeep.org/gallery/albums/Paragon2004/normal_DSC00040.JPG

[MattPascoe]

Lifts,,, all YJ kits are basic, all you want are the springs anyway, they all use the same el-cheapo bolts and brackets for YJ's.

Very true. I only bought the Old Man Emu springs (~$500) and pieced the lift together with the components I wanted.

If you can wait a week till I finish my tranny swap, your welcome to try my OME steup with Bilstiens.:beerchug:

MP

[LeadFoot]

-=- originally posted by cory -=-
Damn Leadfoot, that thing is uuuuuuugly!:clapping:

I take that as a compliment. :clapping:

Chicks dig body damage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/leadfoot/04meetngreet/meflop2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v155/leadfoot/Imag0006.jpg

Can't wait to cut off dem front fenders. :agree: