Any experience with BDS and/or rustys lifts?

Scorpiate · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:04 pm

Hey guys,

First time poster here ...

I have a question - Which lift kit do you guys prefer for a 2004 Liberty Limited (no mods ... yet):

BDS Suspension Kit 442H (2" lift) http://www.bds-suspension.com/kits/442H

or

Rusty's 2.5" Suspension Kit http://tinyurl.com/33gpqe

The jeep club guys in town likes both, but more are favoring BDS mainly cause how good the warentee is. Anyone have experience with BDS kit on libbys? I have heard lots of good things about Rustys but I can get the BDS kit locally so cheaper ... :wink:

I wont choose skyjackers cause its too expensive ... OME are ok (some local guys havn't had good experiences) ... Franken are outa my budget for first time upgrade... So I am left with those 2 ... haha

Note: I don't plan on putting bigger than 31" on my libby for now ... 4" lift and bigger tires to come in 3+ years once I have a second Jeep. :wink:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:11 pm

For about a $100 more you can do a OME lift with HD coils and Rancho 17505 front struts and Rancho 17004 rear shocks if you shop around.Your not going to get a better ride then OME coils.Otherwise go with the Rusty's and get some Rancho 17004 rear shocks to replace the junk shocks that come with that lift,the Rusty's uses OME front struts though.The BDS kit retains your factory front struts which aren't the best.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:20 pm

Xs 2 on the above, cant get much better than OME. I have the OME Heavy Dutys and Rancho front rear struts/shocks and no problems in over 45000 miles.

Freshmud · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:59 pm

im in the same boat but ive already decided on ome

scarletbegonias · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:04 pm

I'm wondering the same thing too. because I have bigger tires and spidertrax..will ome be enough lift for tire/fender clearance ((or)) would that extra 1/2"+ that Rusty's offers be better? Again, I don't crawl rocks it's a sand sled..

WV Jay · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:05 pm

I just installed the OME HD/Rancho combo this weekend and so far the ride is so much better than before! I would definately recommend it!

RAYMAN975 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:10 pm

^^you havent posted pictures yet?!?! lol

but yea, in about 2 weks im ordering my OME HD springs and Rancho front and rear shocks/struts, cant wait!

jsc7002 · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 7:11 pm

lol like everyone is saying Old Man Emu IS THE BEST!! well worth the extra money

Scorpiate · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:01 pm

seems like the OME are the best for libby ...

so your saying get this (didnt spend too much time looking but found):
OME927 Front Heavy $140 pair offroadtuff.com
Rancho RSX 17004 $65 each *(alljproducts)
Rancho RSX 17005 $85 each *(alljproducts)
then random parts like bumpers ... = 440$ + shipping + customs fees (yay...)
(I cant find a kit kit for KJs for OME online ... any help guys)

can I still put 31"s without trouble?

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:10 pm

Not sure about up "NORTH" but some parts stores have the Ranchos and will price match so no shipping. As far as going to 31s you can make them fit but you know you are going to the upper limits of tire size, gas mileage/ power will be hurting without going to 4.10s and you will have to do some trimming. Just want you to know up front.

Neatus · **Posted:** Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:13 am

I have the combo tjkj2002 is talking about with the Rusty's lift.
Buy the kit minus the rear shocks and get you the Ranchos for the rear. Mine has held up for a long time and rides great on and off road.

dloc_jeep_KJ · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:13 am

Scorpiate wrote:

seems like the OME are the best for libby ...

so your saying get this (didnt spend too much time looking but found):
OME927 Front Heavy $140 pair offroadtuff.com
Rancho RSX 17004 $65 each *(alljproducts)
Rancho RSX 17005 $85 each *(alljproducts)
then random parts like bumpers ... = 440$ + shipping + customs fees (yay...)
(I cant find a kit kit for KJs for OME online ... any help guys)

can I still put 31"s without trouble?

you missed the rear springs :wink:

i also have the Rusty's lift with the Rancho RSX 17004s in the rear and really like it. some really swear by OME and it is good stuff but so is Rustys minus the rear shocks. no complaints on mine. now if you have plans to get a new front bumper and/or winch then by all means get the OME HDs. the Rustys springs are only 10lb stonger spring rate than stock springs and cant support the extra weight. both lifts will alow you to run a 245/75/16 tire(~31"). most have to pound in the pinch weld and maybe trim the fender well around the fog light door area. mine only rubs at full lock in reverse w/ no trimming (plan to soon).

Scorpiate · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:52 am

yea I noticed afterwards .... to get all the parts I need w/o bumpers it is going to cost me min 600$ ... plus shipping...

Amazon wont ship the rancho parts to Canada ... so I am outa luck on that end ....

OME does not look promising for me right now ... with customs and shipping, I am probably going to be looking at 8-900$ ... way past my first budget ...

Plus the local guys are telling me to stear clear of them because 3 of them have had problems with them and changed them. 2 of them use BDS and highly recommend it... I am tempted to try them and just replace the front struts... no bad comments on them ... just everyone says OME OME OME ...

Side question: I read somewhere that some springs are affected by cold ... is that true? if so Its COLD up here ... my snow banks are 7-8' high (taller than the jeep by far ...) Winter is staying extra long this time around

Its delaying the provincial snow run cause there is tooo much snow... haha

KJ04 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:17 am

So, please tell us what kind of problems those people had with the OME springs :?:

I have only heard of one incident with rear OME 948's sagging, which was do to the guy carrying excessive weight in the rear of his Jeep constantly.

I have never heard anyone using the BDS 2" suspension lift complain about it, as some have had it on for at least 2 yrs. +.
But, if you're planning on adding an aftermarket bumper, their front springs will most likely not support the extra weight.

I just purchased a set of BDS front shock mounting brackets (strut plates) which are very massively built with 1/2" carrage mounting bolts that are supposed to help recenter the the shock rod. When I remove the stock shock mounting brackets I will compare them and take measurements to verify any offset.

snowsport · **Joined:** Tue Oct 18, 2005 11:52 pm **Posts:** 1211

Scorpiate wrote:

yea I noticed afterwards .... to get all the parts I need w/o bumpers it is going to cost me min 600$ ... plus shipping...

Amazon wont ship the rancho parts to Canada ... so I am outa luck on that end ....

OME does not look promising for me right now ... with customs and shipping, I am probably going to be looking at 8-900$ ... way past my first budget ...

Plus the local guys are telling me to stear clear of them because 3 of them have had problems with them and changed them. 2 of them use BDS and highly recommend it... I am tempted to try them and just replace the front struts... no bad comments on them ... just everyone says OME OME OME ...

Side question: I read somewhere that some springs are affected by cold ... is that true? if so Its COLD up here ... my snow banks are 7-8' high (taller than the jeep by far ...) Winter is staying extra long this time around

Its delaying the provincial snow run cause there is tooo much snow... haha

If you want Rancho parts, they are available in Canada. I bought some of their shocks at Canadian Tire a few years ago. They still sell them.

Those guys that had problems with OME products: were they on KJs? How were they set up? You have the experience of dozens of happy OME customers here (including me). They're not just good suspension products, they're excellent.

I've never heard of cold being tough on coils. Maybe leafs? I've heard some old suspensions creaking in winter, but I believe it's the bushings/mounts that do the creaking.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck!

Fouros · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:50 am

i love my ome coils, not the biggest lift out there but it copes with pretty harsh roads,

Scorpiate · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:07 pm

Can tire has them? interesting ... I'll check them... The local carquest where most of the jeep guys go have the rancho rear shocks at $90 ... the front struts were special order and the guy told me they would be expensive ... Being in a Northern NB province doesn't help where Moncton is the closest "city".

" E.L. bought some OME shocks and had to return them cause the valving wasn't properly set up for a jeep and gave him the death wobble more than once, then he changed to BDS and never looked back. I also tried some BDS shocks and found them to be the most comfortable and good resistance to bottoming the nicest ride I've tried." (from one of the mechanics that will install my kit ... :wink:

other mechanic says "i have seen ome shock cause bumpsteer and problem" (english is not his first language ... haha - this guy has 42" (or larger) on his YJ/TJ)

They all got YJs or TJs ... only one other guy has a KJ (plus his YJ) in the group and he doesn't have a lift just yet ... We are both curious on what it will look like and how it will perform in our area

I am not bashing OME ... everyone seems to love them, I just want to know if other kits are good that don't use OME ... It might be too costly for me to get the components to my location. I do plan to put a bigger steel bumper but not for 2-3 years or after I have second jeep and I would be able to afford a more expensive lift ... by then I will have my PEng. and get paid ~10k more

.... (Mining Engineer, EIT(engineer in training))

new info ... I now can get the BDS kit for $480 shipped to my house ... thats the best deal for my budget... I can get some nice mud tires now too

... and yea ... I may be ready to trim ... :cry:

Dje Ryu · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 2:38 pm

Summit has a sale on Ranchos right now. Buy 3 get one free. Pretty sure they'll ship to Canada.

Scorpiate · **Posted:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:45 pm

now the same place where I got the BDS kit for $680 to my door can get the OME springs (front and rear) for $320+shipping... Now all I need are him to quote me on rancho shocks/struts ... (he be getting back to me on Monday)...
So price might be similar

The summet place - I can't find the offer you talk about, but it sounds like I would need to buy 4 of the same item for that to work ... 2 17004 and 2 17505 would cost $317+12 (handling fee)+shipping+customs ... Hope the guy 2hrs away can quote me around 300 ...

Now the only big thing between the 2 is that BDS has full lifetime warrentee which I've heard is incredible. Other is that all you guys say OME are the best ride for a KJ .... Now I gots to think

Any experience with BDS and/or rustys lifts?

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