BDS lift

[snazzberry2021]

I’m leaning more towards a 3” BDS lift for my 21 Willy’s Sport Gladiator, all 8 control arms, front and rear Tracking bars and Belstein 5100 shocks, looking for some feedback from guys who have it installed on their Gladiator, had the 3” on my 2011 JK but it’s a different platform, looking forward to hearing from you guys, thanks

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[Stan H]

Not familiar with the BDS systems

 

[Camaroboi13]

BDS is more geared towards larger trucks but their quality isn’t terrible. For the right price I’d say go for it. You’re getting 5100s so the ride will be a bit stiffer than stock but it’s a good shock for the price.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

You get a 20% off code for BDS with an OnX membership, can save you a decent amount on a full lift.

Also, BDS and JKS are both owned by Fox, so it's a roundabout way to get 20% off the higher end Fox stuff.

 

[WanderingTrail]

I have the BDS 3" lift with the fox 2.0 shocks. It actually rides very nice. However, I still have the factory rake or worse. I have almost no room between the front factory bump stops and the installed spacers. I can barely get my hand in between, so I'm constantly into the stops. It is a good budget lift since it does come with the front adjustable track bar. I would say that I did get about 1.25" of lift out of the rear, but the front only gave me about 2". I need a 1.5" spacer in the front to level it out.

For reference it's a JTR with the steel bumper (swapped to a fab four stubby) and a Badlands Apex 12k winch installed, nothing in the back.

Ron

 

[snazzberry2021]

I have the BDS 3" lift with the fox 2.0 shocks. It actually rides very nice. However, I still have the factory rake or worse. I have almost no room between the front factory bump stops and the installed spacers. I can barely get my hand in between, so I'm constantly into the stops. It is a good budget lift since it does come with the front adjustable track bar. I would say that I did get about 1.25" of lift out of the rear, but the front only gave me about 2". I need a 1.5" spacer in the front to level it out.

For reference it's a JTR with the steel bumper (swapped to a fab four stubby) and a Badlands Apex 12k winch installed, nothing in the back.

Ron

Thanks for the info, i’m just contemplating between that the 2 inch Mopar lift and the Clayton 2 1/2 inch ride right, I had a 3 inch on my JK and I only got like 2 1/2 inches of Lift, but I ended up putting all eight control alarms and also front and rear tracking bars, one of the service managers at the Jeep dealer where I bought my gladiator from has a Mopar lift on his 2024 and that thing looks really really nice. It’s just about the perfect height where I want it. I’m never gonna do any off-road with it anyways but thanks for the info. I appreciate that, just wondering if I can have them put a 1/2” spacer to level it out a hair more, Clayton lifts are good but every installer I speak with is glorifying the Lift and knocking everything else down.

 

[WanderingTrail]

Thanks for the info, i’m just contemplating between that the 2 inch Mopar lift and the Clayton 2 1/2 inch ride right, I had a 3 inch on my JK and I only got like 2 1/2 inches of Lift, but I ended up putting all eight control alarms and also front and rear tracking bars, one of the service managers at the Jeep dealer where I bought my gladiator from has a Mopar lift on his 2024 and that thing looks really really nice. It’s just about the perfect height where I want it. I’m never gonna do any off-road with it anyways but thanks for the info. I appreciate that, just wondering if I can have them put a 1/2” spacer to level it out a hair more, Clayton lifts are good but every installer I speak with is glorifying the Lift and knocking everything else down.

I am going to eventually pull the BDS lift off and install a Clayton 2.5" overland+ kit on mine. I've run clayton on almost every Jeep I've owned. I wheeled my JK hard and those arms just shrugged off everything I threw at them. I rebuilt the arms at 70K miles on them and really only needed to repair three of the joints on the JK. The Johnny Joints are solid. That said, I also loved the Teraflex and rockcrawler kits that I had ran on a couple of the Jeeps. I rode in my friends Metalcloak JL and it was impressive. So, honest opinion you can't go wrong with either the Clayton, Teraflex, Rockcrawler, or Metalcloak lifts.

Ron

 

[RudeJeepin]

one of the service managers at the Jeep dealer where I bought my gladiator from has a Mopar lift on his 2024 and that thing looks really really nice. It’s just about the perfect height where I want it.

Sounds like you need to pick his brain a bit. Maybe even see if he'll let you drive it, or aleast take you for a ride.
If it looks good and sits how you want yours, go for it. You say your not really looking for the offroad aspect and more the looks, then I'd say go with the Mopar lift. Unless you get in his and hate the ride.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I’m leaning more towards a 3” BDS lift for my 21 Willy’s Sport Gladiator, all 8 control arms, front and rear Tracking bars and Belstein 5100 shocks, looking for some feedback from guys who have it installed on their Gladiator, had the 3” on my 2011 JK but it’s a different platform, looking forward to hearing from you guys, thanks

I’m sure the springs are fine, but run as fast as you can from those control arms. The bushings are hot garbage. Same bushings and arms as jks. Same company.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

BDS makes decent stuff.

I think the Clayton 2.5” Ride Right is a good deal for the price. I’ve had that lift for about 65k miles now and it’s been great.

 

[snazzberry2021]

BDS makes decent stuff.

I think the Clayton 2.5” Ride Right is a good deal for the price. I’ve had that lift for about 65k miles now and it’s been great.

Yeah, thanks for that info. I think I’m gonna probably end up doing that 2 1/2 inch ride right only because I can add control arms after the fact if I wanna keep adding onto the kit, thanks a lot for the input I appreciate that.

 

[WanderingTrail]

BDS makes decent stuff.

I think the Clayton 2.5” Ride Right is a good deal for the price. I’ve had that lift for about 65k miles now and it’s been great.

Any chance you can get me a quick measurement of how much clearance you have in the front.
If you can a measurement from the axle bump stop plate to the bottom of the bump stop holder where the rubber bump stop get inserted. Front and rear would be nice. I'm thinking about swapping out to claytons or metalcloaks 2.5" springs since they seem taller. Thanks.

Ron

 

[WILDHOBO]

BDS makes decent stuff.

I think the Clayton 2.5” Ride Right is a good deal for the price. I’ve had that lift for about 65k miles now and it’s been great.

No offense to you, but I think they mostly suck. Middle of the road quality and crappy support, now that they’re all under the sport truck USA umbrella.

 

[Deleted member 57233]

No offense to you, but I think they mostly suck. Middle of the road quality and crappy support, now that they’re all under the sport truck USA umbrella.

When you call or email support, it goes to Fox, and they have been great every time I have dealt with them.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Any chance you can get me a quick measurement of how much clearance you have in the front.
If you can a measurement from the axle bump stop plate to the bottom of the bump stop holder where the rubber bump stop get inserted. Front and rear would be nice. I'm thinking about swapping out to claytons or metalcloaks 2.5" springs since they seem taller. Thanks.

Ron

Do the measurements I posted in this thread help?

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/lift-height-mega-thread.97543/

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