Leveling Kit Second Opinion

[JohnnyO]

I had planned on getting the BDS 2" level. I liked the idea of both upper and lower spacers and they claim less ball joint angle. This was an issue with the Truxxx 2.5" strut spacers I had on my old Sport Trac, I'd get maybe a year and a half out of the upper ball joints.
Since I am still active in Sport Trac groups I looked up the Truxxx site for someone the other day and found that they now have strut spacers for Gen 5 Rangers. 1.5", 2.5", and 3.0". Again, I had them before and they are well-built quality units. For my needs (and height of my garage door) 1.5" would be enough.
I'm still leaning toward the BDS, it includes rear shocks and doesn't cost much more than the Truxxx.
So..... What do you all think?

https://bds-suspension.com/product?ma=3&mo=25&ty=1&yr=2019-2020

https://www.truxxx.com/shop/?filter_make=ford

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[Pinepig]

The BDS kit is probably a better setup because of that spring spacer making it kind of a poor mans coilover in reality. Since you have to take the front struts apart to instal that spacer why not replace the stock shocks all the way around while you are at it. Bilstein has a perfect kit for what you want to do that takes the exact same amount of labor that the BDS kit has and you'll end up with a much better ride. It's not really that much more outlay in cash for MUCh better results. Disclaimer here I don't have the Bilstein ( I'm FP fox 2.0 ) but many here have went this way and I haven't seen anything but praise for them.

Stage 3 even has the 4 pack on sale.

https://www.stage3motorsports.com/1...stein-5100-adjustable-leveling-shock-kit.html

 

[McLeadslinger]

I know it’s a bigger investment but trust me, you don’t want to keep the stock struts and shocks. I went with Fabtech upper control arms and Eibach pro stage 2 adjustable coilovers and shocks. Mine are adjusted to 3.5 inches with 1.5 inch blocks in the rear.

Buy once, cry once. ?

 

[JohnnyO]

The BDS kit is probably a better setup because of that spring spacer making it kind of a poor mans coilover in reality. Since you have to take the front struts apart to instal that spacer why not replace the stock shocks all the way around while you are at it. Bilstein has a perfect kit for what you want to do that takes the exact same amount of labor that the BDS kit has and you'll end up with a much better ride. It's not really that much more outlay in cash for MUCh better results. Disclaimer here I don't have the Bilstein ( I'm FP fox 2.0 ) but many here have went this way and I haven't seen anything but praise for them.

Stage 3 even has the 4 pack on sale.

https://www.stage3motorsports.com/1...stein-5100-adjustable-leveling-shock-kit.html

Question. The Bilstein units say they will lift up to 2.5” so I guess I don’t need spacers then? Or do they mean they will handle up to 2.5” and I still need spacers to level? FWIW I have an STX with the regular shocks and I have no complaints.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Question. The Bilstein units say they will lift up to 2.5” so I guess I don’t need spacers then? Or do they mean they will handle up to 2.5” and I still need spacers to level? FWIW I have an STX with the regular shocks and I have no complaints.

You won't need the spacers with the Bilsteins.

The BIlsteins are height adjustable and I believe they come out of the box at 2" of lift so it's pretty much level.

I have the Bilsteins on the rear (BIG improvement) but not on the front yet as I haven't fully decided which direction I want to go with the suspension.

 

[Pinepig]

Question. The Bilstein units say they will lift up to 2.5” so I guess I don’t need spacers then? Or do they mean they will handle up to 2.5” and I still need spacers to level? FWIW I have an STX with the regular shocks and I have no complaints.

Dennis above me has it right, the front shocks on the Bilstein have a snap ring that goes in a set of groves machined right into the shock body. By seating the ring in a different grove along the body you get to choose how much lift you want when you install them. It works just like a coil over except you only get several steps ( I believe 1/2" graduations / 5 grooves ) to chose from rather than an infinite adjustment.

Best bang for the buck there is for the Ranger, a real sweet spot of money spent vs performance received.

 

[MountainGoat]

Best bang for the buck there is for the Ranger, a real sweet spot of money spent vs performance received.

Sounds like the Bilstein are the way to go. I was looking at spacers too but no reason when good shocks are that cheap. Are those in the link a BIN price?

 

[Pinepig]

Sounds like the Bilstein are the way to go. I was looking at spacers too but no reason when good shocks are that cheap. Are those in the link a BIN price?

I believe so, Stage 3 is a pretty well known vendor here.

 

[MountainGoat]

I believe so, Stage 3 is a pretty well known vendor here.

Awesome thanks, just ordered!

 

[Dr. Zaius]

I believe so, Stage 3 is a pretty well known vendor here.

And I'll also add that all of my dealings with them have been top notch.

 

[McLeadslinger]

Stage 3 is the way to go. They ship fast and customer service is great.

 

[awd.nv]

Man, I did not know Truxxx made a 1.5" kit. It must be new as it looks like they dropped the 1" kit. I was kinda hoping for a 1.5" to make the Tremor perfectly level. I tow a lot so the 1" may still be the better route for me. Good to know though.

 

[MountainGoat]

Welp the rear shocks are back ordered due to production problems. 4-6 weeks, maybe more. I guess I'm gonna be running only the fronts for awhile. At least I'll be leveled out.

 

[fortywater12]

Welp the rear shocks are back ordered due to production problems. 4-6 weeks, maybe more. I guess I'm gonna be running only the fronts for awhile. At least I'll be leveled out.

You will be fine, I did the same thing with the eibach variation. Installed my eibachs and set the level height, then 3 weeks later swapped out the rear. I didn't notice any difference what-so-ever on the road.

 

[landiscarrier]

I have the Eibachs and they do the same thing as the Bilstein....but this is the way to go! Don't use the spacers....you'll be happier going this route.

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