I read most of this. I have a 4" bds on my txr4. I am not sure on the rake, but it is bad!
I will try to post a pic and get some opinions on what I should do. I am going to go with some 35" to replace the 33" that are on it! Do I lower the back or raise the front?
My BDS 6" lift came with an option of 5" rear coils if you wanted instead of 3" coils. If I had gone with the 5" rear coils I would have had a 2" rake roughly.
It was on the truck when I got it. I really don't know. I have sent the pic to BDS. I hope they can help. If it is just the spring in the back what one might I need?
You're spot on! It is very very close to level. Every truck is a snowflake in terms of the amount of rake it come with. In my trucks case I guess I got a little lucky. In the instructions on the BDS site they tell you to measure your rake (measuring from mid axle to lower flare, front & back - subtracting the front measurement from the back measurement, giving you the rake. e.g.: 2.5" etc) Then they state if you rake is below a certain amount (which I can't recall) then go with the 5" coil, BUT if you have a LOT of rake already then go with the 3" rear coils, BECAUSE if you already have a ton of rake you absolutely do NOT want to add to it by installing a LONG rear coil.
Ok, HOLD it .. I just familiarized myself again with the BDS 4" lift and they only give you rear spacers for the lift; not coils. I was thinking 6" lift, sorry.
From BDS writeup:
Due to the OE ride height variances, BDS offers three rear lift options to get your desired stance: 2″ coil spacers, 3″ Pro-Ride coil springs, or 5″ Pro-Ride coil springs.
Can you check to see if the previous owner put a coil spacer in the rear? Maybe he carried a diesel tank (for bush equipment) or sleds etc requiring more lift in the rear.
Another guy near me with a white RAM went with the identical lift, save rear coils. He went with the 5". I should call and see if he put the coil-over spacer in up front. I was at the shop this afternoon and the truck looked pretty level.
Do you want me to inquire for you? If it's still there I could take measurements.
I returned to the shop and the truck was on the alignment rack. I measured from the centre of hub to under flare and got 26.5" front, and 27" in rear with the 5" coil, BUT it had the old tires/wheels in the bed of the truck so it's not a fair measurement.
What I can tell you is what I saw, and what the comments of the shop boss were in regards to the 5" rear coil - 'I sat in it and on yours (mine) you can definitely tell it is level .. your hood just appears to look that way, BUT on this other truck I could definitely sense the rake. The hood looks like its sloping way down from inside, and there is most definitely a big rake when looking at in from the side.'
Another guy near me with a white RAM went with the identical lift, save rear coils. He went with the 5". I should call and see if he put the coil-over spacer in up front. I was at the shop this afternoon and the truck looked pretty level.
Do you want me to inquire for you? If it's still there I could take measurements.
Ok, if it's there I'll see if I can measure it up. Maybe snap a photo. If not I can talk to the installer to see if they installed the spacer up front above the coil-over.
Year/Model - Ram 1500 4x4
Lift Size - 6" BDS
Bilstein: Yes- 2.8"
Body Lift: NO
Tire Size - 35x12.50 20s
Wheel Size - 20x12
Pros/Cons - Pretty easy install, rides amazing with Billys and rear Fox 2.0s, and I think it looks pretty good
Any other suspension add-ons - Next upgrade is 2.5 coil-overs
Unhuh .. I never mentioned his wheel size or the fact that he has 37's now.
I isolated my comments to the 5" rear coils and the hub to flare measurement being 27"
His OLD tires & wheels were in the 'box' of his truck, weighing down the rear making my measurement not entirely accurate.
I just want to be clear .. or were you making a general statement above?
The reason I measure from mid hub to flare bottom is so guys can see the pure suspension input, and then just add 50% of their chosen tire diameter (radius) to appreciate height increases.
General statement and your method of measuring lift in my opinion is the most accurate due to the fact that it takes different tire sizes out of the equation.
This is not surprising to me.
Many that we sell BDS kits to with 5" rear coil max their Bilsteins and still have some slight rake ranging between 0.75"-1.25" depending on previous rake.
This is partly due to the need to remove the 5/8" preload spacer leaving you with the 4.5" strut spacer.
And the lower drop brackets included.
I don't see this being any different on the kit with the coilover
My truck as an example is 45.5" front and 46.5" rear
I have 6" RCX, Bilsteins set at 1.4 and a 1" rear coil spacer on 37's
I'll have to measure my truck again now that it's settled, but a quick and dirty measurement the day the tires went on put my front at 45.5" from what I recall. Pure 6" coil-over & 37's
General statement and your method of measuring lift in my opinion is the most accurate due to the fact that it takes different tire sizes out of the equation.
I would be happy with 1" of rake... just a personal preference thing... If I happen to be drinking and look at my truck and even get a sense that it's nose high, I'll probably rob a liquor store or something...
It was on the alignment rack, and my phone camera lacks a 12mm lens My back was up against a wall. I could have shot a picture of the door handle for ya :gy:
I would be happy with 1" of rake... just a personal preference thing... If I happen to be drinking and look at my truck and even get a sense that it's nose high, I'll probably rob a liquor store or something...