Category Archives: Research & Development

Fans of BDS suspension will recognize “Project Work/Play” sitting on the right side of this video. The iconic SEMA build paved the way for alternative and environmentally friendly lifted vehicle exploration. Now, in 2022, BDS Suspension looks forward to the hybrid and electric options for the future.. starting with the development of some 2022 Ford Lightning lift systems. Watch the video and head over to the BDS Suspension website for more information! CLICK HERE! Quick Look: Stock Ford Lightning Project Work/Play Plans for Ford/BDS lifts Lifting Electric?!

The late model Tacoma has proven to be a formidable successor to 3rd gen trucks with new technology, powertrain, and styling. While the chassis/suspension hasn’t seen much change since 2005, there are several upgrades to allow customers to get more from their Tacoma on and offroad. For that BDS offers a 6″ performance lift system with FOX 2.5 coilovers and BDS chromoly UCAs. In this video Daryl from Victory 4×4 offers up a detailed walk through of the install along with tips and tricks along the way. Build Specs: BDS 6″ Performance Coilover System w/ UCAs (see online) 295/70r18 Nitto Ridge Grappler Tires 18×9 Mamba Offroad M19 Wheels Victory 4×4 Front/Rear Bumpers Photos: Video: (view on YT)

The newest build to join the BDS fleet is this 2016 Toyota Tacoma, packed full of new technology, new styling and a stout chassis. While the truck is fairly capable in stock form, the BDS team had bigger plans for this truck to improve the overall look, stance, and off-road prowess. For that we turned to a some of the best names in the business to take this Tacoma to the next level. This truck will spend a fair amount of time on the road as well as the trail so we needed a setup that would be comfortable, capable and up to any beating we put on it. The BDS 6″ performance coilover system is the perfect upgrade to correct suspension geometry, add extra offroad protection, provide additional tire clearance and improve high-speed offroad dampening for better performance across any terrain. Along with the coilover system a pair of the…

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The latest kit update from the engineers at BDS Suspension is a new bolt-in differential support bracket now shipping in all 2015 Ford F150 4″ and 6″ Lift Kits. This new gusseted support bracket has all the strength of the former weld-in support plate, now in an easy to install bolt-in design to speed up installation and eliminate the need for any welding during installation.

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July 31st, 2013: BDS Suspension FMVSS No.126 Compliant In an effort to reduce the risk of rollover crashes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 126 requiring all new passenger vehicles under 10,000 lbs GVWR include an electronic stability control (ESC) system as standard equipment. FMVSS No. 126 tests new vehicle ESC systems through a series of evasive lane-change maneuvers at highway speeds to ensure the driver can maintain control in critical driving situations. Effective August 2012 this law requires aftermarket products to be compliant with these same standards. With the new requirements in place, SEMA reached out to aftermarket manufacturers to test kit compliance of products. The initial investment to test compliance is large, so many companies have chosen to self certify their products without any formal engineering analysis. BDS Suspension, however, has been on the industry forefront by working…

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It’s been a busy week in the BDS R&D Shop as the guys prep Project KJ for the 2013 Ultimate Adventure. The project white board is looming over the guys with a daunting task list and only 10 work days to complete. From body work to engine prep the team is working on all areas of the build. The plasma table was been getting a workout with plenty of parts getting cut out over the last coulpe weeks. A custom aluminum fuel cell was designed in Solidworks and cut out to snuggly fit the contours of our recessed cargo area. We went this route over the conventional cell to allow us to maximize the space available and still allow us room for the dual Optima batteries, air compressors and full size 40” spare while allowing us to reuse the factory tank’s internals to ease plumbing the system. The body work is still on schedule and is being prepped for a fresh coat of paint next week. To help us focus on the KJ body, electrical, and plumbing projects, we decided to pull the axles and drop them off at All Pro Off-Road to help us out with the gear/locker install. You may recall from an earlier update the JK Rubicon Dana 44s we were sleeved, trussed, and gusseted to accept the BDS 4-link suspension linkage, Fox 2.5 remote coilovers, and Fox 2.0 bumps. Internal upgrades for the axles include 5.13 Nitro Gear ring & pinions, air-Ox Locker front with 30-spline Nitro Gear chromoly shafts, and an ARB air locker rear with 35-spline Nitro Gear chromoly shafts. We’ll have the axles back next week for final install along with custom driveshafts from our friends at Drivelines Plus to turn this KJ back into a rolling chassis.

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