Offroad Trailblazers and Envoys

Lift Advice

BDS, ReadyLift, Smaxx... You name it, we know about it here.

by hiwy12 » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:31 pm

Everybody,
From what I can tell alot of these topic's are all the same, pretty much asking what kind of lift that everyone thinks is best for them.
Sorry for another one, Just wanted to get the opinion from the people who know and have used the lifts.

I was leaning towards the BDS 2" suspension lift, but after reading about the problems im not sure that is a safe route. It is between that or the MarkMC 3". I am pretty much guessing everybody will say go bigger and cheaper with the MarkMC.

I want to go ahead and replace everything while im under there, struts, shocks and springs on front and rear.
Front: I was thinking Bilstein HD front strut. and a GM front spring. (This is where I need some advice)
Rear: New Bilstein shocks along with Z71 springs.

My end goal is to definetly be able to due some trail riding/ off roading with my TB. Any advice will help.


:scratch:
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by JorDaneeKey » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:35 pm

So let me look into my crystal ball and predict what you want......

Radflo Coilovers for the front, skyjackers for the rear, Mark's 3" body lift, wheel spacers, and depending on your gearing.....35" tires are preferred.

You can thank me later.
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by Conner299 » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:37 pm

JorDaneeKey wrote:So let me look into my crystal ball and predict what you want......

Radflo Coilovers for the front, skyjackers for the rear, Mark's 3" body lift, wheel spacers, and depending on your gearing.....34" tires are preferred.

You can thank me later.


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by hiwy12 » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:37 pm

Well that was easy. Thanks.
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by fishsticks » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:47 pm

Buy Bilstein 5125 shocks for the rear, no white body (BDS, SkyJacker etc) shock even comes close.

If you're serious about replacing all of the front components, seriously look at the RadFlo coilovers. $1000 for drop in units that are adjustable? I'd take that in a second if I had it to do over again.

If you just want a spacer lift, don't bother with BDS. Get Mark's, but be careful what springs you buy.
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by hiwy12 » Thu Mar 28, 2013 3:57 pm

The radflo coilovers seem to be a bit high, I just dont know if I can swing that right now. I guess I could upgrade eventually,
The springs are what has me a bit concerned. I want to make sure I buy that right ones that will perform well with my lift and struts.
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by Conner299 » Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:05 pm

Think about it though... Itll be more cost effective to do the coilovers now, as compared to replacing the springs and struts and getting spacers, and then upgrading to coilovers later. Even if you have to save up for a little bit longer.

I know, I dont have the coilovers, but wishing I wouldve went that route...
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by mikekey » Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:07 pm

hiwy12 wrote:The radflo coilovers seem to be a bit high, I just dont know if I can swing that right now. I guess I could upgrade eventually,
The springs are what has me a bit concerned. I want to make sure I buy that right ones that will perform well with my lift and struts.


They are high, because they're adjustable up to 3inches and are custom made for our cars. They include a new spring and shock, so you won't be replacing those two items. You also won't need a spacer.

Let me put it to you this way. We started out last June with the BDS lift kit, in August it broke on us. Now, we just lifted 3 more inches. I have a choice, buy marks 3inch spacer or just buy the damn radflos. I am going to buy the radflo's even though I already have new front springs I just bought too in haste.

Just like Conner mentioned above, a lot of us wish we had gone that route.

My advice is think it over very carefully, do you think you might go up in size down the road after a while. We got bit by the bug.

If it's worth it to you to have the option for the best and room for improvement in the future, save the pennies for them. Patience is a virtue in getting what you want and having the best.

If you still don't want to go that route, I'm recommending marks kit over the BDS.

The Blistien shocks are great, we're riding with them upfront, I have BDS in the rear, but I might replace those too with the ones fish mentioned.

A few of the guys with old bad backs :poke: will tell you the Z71 springs are too stiff. I think they're perfect and make the truck feel like a truck. So good choice there, even better if you want to load up and haul stuff. If you like a soft ride like a pillow, then don't get them.
Last edited by mikekey on Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:11 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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by navigator » Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:09 pm

why do you want to change your front springs?
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by HARDTRAILZ » Thu Mar 28, 2013 4:50 pm

I would do the coilovers in a heartbeat if I was starting over. Bargain really.
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by JorDaneeKey » Thu Mar 28, 2013 5:04 pm

Price everything out and then do a comparison. Guarantee the radflos won't look so expensive at that point if you wait a bit longer and save.
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by DirtyBacon04 » Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:43 pm

Jeesh people, you're starting to make me kick myself for not buying radflos! I was happy with my BDS until now...

Now i won't be able to sleep...
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by JorDaneeKey » Thu Mar 28, 2013 8:49 pm

DirtyBacon04 wrote:Jeesh people, you're starting to make me kick myself for not buying radflos! I was happy with my BDS until now...

Now i won't be able to sleep...


Good. You should be.
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by djthumper » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:02 pm

JorDaneeKey wrote:Price everything out and then do a comparison. Guarantee the radflos won't look so expensive at that point if you wait a bit longer and save.

Look at the time that you can save by not having to compress the springs and take them apart to put the spacers in and then reassemble them.

Time is money!
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by djthumper » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:02 pm

DirtyBacon04 wrote:Jeesh people, you're starting to make me kick myself for not buying radflos! I was happy with my BDS until now...

Now i won't be able to sleep...

You don't sleep much anyhow...
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by The Roadie » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:36 pm

DirtyBacon04 wrote:I was happy with my BDS until now...
I thought you were as bullshit with BDS as I was with their upper mounts I used to have in and for the same reasons? They have a specific failure mode that's been pointed out as a problem for hard-core offroaders, and their "No Fine Print" warranty sucks donkey ass.
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by mikekey » Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:46 pm

The Roadie wrote:]I thought you were as bullshit with BDS as I was with their upper mounts I used to have in and for the same reasons? They have a specific failure mode that's been pointed out as a problem for hard-core offroaders, and their "No Fine Print" warranty sucks donkey ass.


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by Trail X » Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:03 pm

I don't know why so many of you hooligans are having trouble. I'm going on 5 years with the same bds bushing. Maybe I'm not hardcore enough.
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by The Roadie » Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:07 pm

Can you throw up a picture of your upper bushing, washer, and top nut? Perhaps you ARE a pavement puss after all. Or BDS had a bad batch of poly bushings and you got good ones.
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by 06MidnightBlue » Fri Mar 29, 2013 12:19 am

The Roadie wrote:Perhaps you ARE a pavement puss after all.



I didn't know you had the ability to use fould language Roadie.
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