Installing BDS 2” leveling kit

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 10, 2017 | 11:32 AM

Justa02TJ

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 52

Likes: 0

From: Norco

Installing BDS 2” leveling kit

I read the instructions and started the install. Got suck at disconnecting the track bar. Damn thing wouldn’t budge! Tried a breaker bar with a lot of a$$ behind it and still no go.

I have lifted all my trucks myself with only hand tools and air. This track bar bolt seems to be welded on. Any words of wisdom from experience. Do I need to get a high torque electric impact?

TIA,

Mike

Dec 10, 2017 | 12:43 PM

C_Smitty

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 190

Likes: 0

I installed the the 2 inch kit last weekend and used a breaker bar with a pipe slipped over the end of the handle to give me even more leverage. It'll come loose. Spray some kind of penetrating spray if you haven't done so already.

Dec 10, 2017 | 08:47 PM

Justa02TJ

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 52

Likes: 0

From: Norco

Quote:

Originally Posted by C_Smitty

I went ahead and bought an electric impact. I will bang out the lift next weekend.

Advice/concerns/tricks regarding your install? Did you have the truck aligned after the install? Did you use the alignments cams? Were the factory ball joint sleeves easy to remove?

Sorry for all the Q’s.....

TIA,
Mike

Dec 10, 2017 | 09:23 PM

C_Smitty

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 190

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justa02TJ

I get the truck aligned in the morning. I had to wait till my new wheels/tires came in before I made the appointment with the alignment shop.

The only challenge for me was getting the stock ball joint sleeves out. The passenger side came out no problem with a crow bar, but I had to use an impact hammer/chisel to get the driver side out. I couldn't find a big enough pickle fork that fits these sleeves for the life of me. I think the tool BDS suggests to get /use is like over $200.

Also after the install my steering wheel was off about 90 degrees. If you've never straightened a steering wheel on a Super Duty, there's a few youtube videos on how to do it. It's simple, took me 5 minutes to fix it.

Dec 10, 2017 | 09:34 PM

C_Smitty

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 190

Likes: 0

Here's a few pics after install and 35's mounted. It has just over about an inch of rake which is exactly what I still wanted.

Dec 11, 2017 | 08:27 AM

kylant

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Sep 2016

Posts: 1,613

Likes: 156

smitty,
is that the hellwig sway bar? did you use factory frame brackets or the ones supplied by hellwig. I have the factory bar, but am looking to upgrade to the hellwig. my camper induces lots sway still

Dec 11, 2017 | 09:04 AM

C_Smitty

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 190

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by kylant

it is a hellwig. I used the hardware hellwig supplied. My truck didnt come with a rear sway bar.

This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Joe Kucinski

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Brett Foote

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

Pouria Savadkouei

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Brett Foote

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Joe Kucinski

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Michael S. Palmer

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Verdad Gallardo

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Joe Kucinski

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Brett Foote

Dec 11, 2017 | 01:55 PM

C_Smitty

Senior User

Joined: Jul 2017

Posts: 190

Likes: 0

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inked Painter

what are the specs on your wheels and tires?

I did exactly what BDS recommended (35" x 12.50" w/18 x 9 and 4.5" back spacing). I have no rubbing even at full lock and didn't have to do any trimming.

Wheels - Fuel Sledge D596 18x9 -12 offset/4.5 b.s.
Tires - Nitto Ridge Grappler 35x12.50R18LT

You can also do 20 inch or 17 wheels, as long as you achieve the same width and back spacing.

Dec 11, 2017 | 03:12 PM

#10

Tricon

Logistics Pro

Joined: Apr 2017

Posts: 3,674

Likes: 51

From: SoCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justa02TJ

It's 406Lbs of torque if I remember correctly. There's a lot of tension in that bolt, you're gonna need quite an impact gun to get that sucker off. I used a 4ft breaker bar, then it only needed about 100lbs of force to break.

Make sure you get it back on there with the same amount of force, a loose track bar is no fun.

Dec 11, 2017 | 04:59 PM

#11

CBEllis

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 1,567

Likes: 539

From: DFW

I don’t think an impact is gonna do the trick. That track bar bracket is the reason I had a local (warranty’d) shop install and torque to spec. It was too much for a driveway job, for me. It’s the nicest truck I’ve ever had - too important for the family and the work to have it done incorrectly.

Dec 11, 2017 | 05:05 PM

#12

stewy604

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2017

Posts: 703

Likes: 1

^^^ I was in the same boat for my lift install. Had a local shop do the install. I took it back two weeks after install to have everything re-torqued to be safe.

Dec 11, 2017 | 10:59 PM

#13

Justa02TJ

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Sep 2017

Posts: 52

Likes: 0

From: Norco

Folks,

Thanks for the heads up on the tips and tricks. I am looking forward to the install and will reply with the results. The impact has 100/300/700 TQ and, from what I understand,1200# breaking TQ. Hoping I read the specs correctly. If not, oh well it will be another tool in the tool box.

BTW, nice truck C_Smiley. I dig the blue!

Mike