4″ Lift Kit | 2017-2018 Colorado ZR2 | NPA #318

PR310

BDS 4" lift systems and accessories with new options for the 2017-2018 Chevy Colorado ZR2 are engineered for high performance on and off-road driving. Based off the widely popular BDS systems for the standard Colorado/Canyon, these new 4" systems have been updated for compatibility with the Colorado ZR2’s long travel control arms and retains compatibility with the factory DSSV shock package for on/off-road performance and clearance for up to 35" tires. As with all kits these new 4" systems for the ZR2 are backed by Factory Protection Plus offering you peace of mind for your adventure. This includes a BDS No Fine Print Warranty, ESC system compatibility and a 5year-100,000mile drivetrain warranty. Build your ZR2 up right with BDS Suspension.

 Promo Video:

Product Description

4" IFS Lift Systems for Colorado ZR2

Vehicle Fitment

2017-2018 Chevy Colorado ZR2
*gas and diesel models

Kit Info

745H (4" Lift Kit) - $1883.76 msrp

BDS Coilover System Features

Corrects Suspension, Steering,
& Driveline Geometry
Heavy Duty Design, Built for Abuse
Retains DSSV Dampers
Fitment of up to 35" Tires
Backed by Factory Protection Plus

Rec'd Wheel/Tire Specs

305/70r17 Tires on 17x9 Wheels (4.5" BS)
305/65r18 Tires on 18x9 Wheels (4.5" BS)
305/55r20 Tires on 20x9 Wheels (5" BS)
35x12.50 Tires on 20x9 Wheels (5" BS)*
*Additional sizes can be used, may require some trimming

Factory Protection Plus
  • 5-year, 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty
  • FMVSS No.126 ESC System compliance
  • BDS’s exclusive No Fine Print Warranty

MEDIA GALLERY

BDS 4" Lift Kit for Chevy Colorado ZR2
Colorado ZR2 w/ BDS 4" Lift Kit
Colorado ZR2 w/ BDS 4" Lift Kit

Coldwater, MI - After much anticipation, BDS Suspension is now shipping 4" lift systems for the new 2017-2018 Chevy Colorado ZR2 trucks. Designed to take full advantage of the ZR2's Multimatic DSSV (dynamic suspensions spool valve) coilovers and rear shocks, this new system further improves the trucks already stout offroad capability while maintaining its on-road comfort and handling characteristics with adequate clearance for 35" tires.

This new system builds on the tried and true design of BDS's 5.5" lift systems for the standard Colorado/Canyon to take advantage of the FMVSSS No.126 (ESC System) compliant Colorado kit components and build them into the new ZR2 system. Up front this 4" system utilizes a pair of 1/4" thick one-piece laser cut steel high clearance crossmembers to reposition the longer travel A-arms along with a multipoint differential relocation system to securely position the front axle and keep CV axle angles at a minimum. Tying everything together is a heavy duty full width belly skid plate that creates a stout subframe and improves offroad protection whether you are charging through the open desert of out on a backcountry trail. A pair of CNC-machined ductile iron steering knuckles are supplied to reposition steering tie rod mount points and integrate with the larger ball joints from the ZR2 A-arms. Top mounted strut spacers are supplied to correctly position the DSSV coilovers to set ride height and achieve clearance throughout suspension travel. At 4" of lift on the ZR2 the front driveline angles begin to be a issue. To correct this BDS supplies a transfer case indexing ring to rotate the transfer case and improve front driveshaft operating angle to allow the re-installation of the factory driveshafts.

Out back BDS supplies a 4" block and u-bolt kit to replace the factory block to level the stance of the Colorado ZR2 while retaining ride quality. Additionally a pair of axle mounted shock relocation brackets are supplied, specially designed for the ZR2 to allow integration with the factory DSSV shocks. As with all BDS suspension lifts, these new Chevy Colorado ZR2 4" lift systems are backed by Factory Protection Plus giving you the confidence to use it and abuse it out on the trail. Take your ZR2 to the next level with BDS Suspension.

© BDS Suspension, 491 W. Garfield Ave. Coldwater, MI 49036
(517) 279-2135 | bds-suspension.com | sales-bds@ridefox.com

69 comments

Just bought a ZR2 10 days ago. Looking at options, amazing kit. I am a TJ Rubicon owner, love my Jeep. But I dig my ZR can’t wait till I wear out my new tires. I’ll be back.

I noticed on the product page the lift states it will accommodate a 35×12.5 17×9 tire but on the instruction pdf, the the lift will accommodate a 305 70 r17 tire.

The instruction pdf did state the lift can accommodate a 35×12.5 20×9 with possible trimming.

Will the lift accommodate a 35×12.5 17×9 or 18×9 with the correct backspace or is the 305 70 r17 or r18 as large of a tire that can be fitted with a 17 or 18 inch rim.

Hey Jas,
to answer your question 17-18″ wheels require 4.5″ backspacing for clearance to the replacement steering knuckles. The smaller backspacing limited tire clearance which is by the 305/70r17 is recommended for clearance. If going to a 20″ wheel you can run a larger 5″ backspacing and keep the tires tucked under the truck more allowing for larger diameter tires to clear. Ultimately the tire/wheel recommendations are just that, recommendations based on what we’ve tested. Additional sizes may fit and may require some fender/bumper trimming to clear in all driving situations (on and off-road).

Just installed 4 inch bds on my 2018 zr2.lift looks good but you would think for the money it cost for the lift kit they could have found a way to take the factory rake out of it.should have been about 6 inch lift for front and 4 inch lift for the back.so expect to keep the 1970 drag car look.

Hey Jason,
this kit should level the stance or at least (depending on what other accessories have been added to the truck) get it very close to level front to rear. The front is lifted 4″, while in the rear the factory rear block is removed and replaced with our 4 block to level out the truck front to rear. Not knowing the full situation with your ZR2 I’d recommend reaching out to our tech support tech or your local BDS dealer so they can offer assistance.

BDS Tech Support – (517) 279-2135 or tech-bds@ridefox.com
BDS Dealer Locator – http://bds-suspension.com/distributor-lookup

I’m a new owner of a 2019 Colorado zr2 I was wondering if the 4” lift is compatible with the 2019 model.

Hey Brett,
While we’re not anticipating any changes for the 2019 model Colorado ZR2, at this point in time we haven’t had the opportunity to test and confirm compatibility between the 2017-2018 and 2019 models. For that reason we haven’t updated our listings, but keep an eye out as we’ll update our website listings and publish announcements once they have been confirmed.

Hey Rick,
The factory ZR2 wheels should be 17×8 with 5.8″ backspacing (+33mm offset). If running 17″ wheels recommend 4.5″ backspacing for sufficient clearance to steering components with our lift installed so a 1.25″ wheel spacer would be acceptable to allow you to reinstall the factory wheels.

I have a 2018 ZR2 and 4″ BDS lift installed by my local Chevy dealer. I have concerns over the angle of the upper control arm to the upper Ball Joints. The angle looks too steep and susceptible to breakage. Are my concerns valid or did my dealer do something wrong on the installation?

Hey Richard,
By design this kit will retain the OE UCA/LCA geometry so the ball joint operating angles should be similar to stock. Its difficult to diagnose over the internet, but our tech support team is available to assist you if you’d like to send some photos as is your local BDS distributor if you want to stop for them to take a look.

BDS Tech Support – tech@bds@ridefox.com
BDS Dealer Lookup – http://bds-suspension.com/distributor-lookup

Has anyone installed this lift on a 2019 ZR2 yet? Wanting to buy the lift, but wondering if it is indeed compatible?

Hey Erick, at this time we have not tested our #745H kit on the 2019 Colorado ZR2. That said we don’t expect any issues with the fitment. Once we bring a truck in house to confirm compatibility we we’ll update the fitment listings on our website.

I have installed in my 2019 ZR2. So far I’m still using the original 31″ tires and wheels and in the process of choosing new tires and wheels.

Does the 4 inch BDS lift remove the 2 inches that come on the zr2 from factory? Or does it add 4 inches for a total of 6 inches compared to a stock non zr2? Colorado

Hi Horacio, we label our lift sizes based on the net amount of lift, the truck will sit 4″ above a stock Colorado ZR2 (or 6″ above a standard Colorado)

Hi Aaron,
In a nutshell yes, you’ll still be able to jump your ZR2. To elaborate our 4″ suspension system for the ZR2 retains full functionality of the vehicle and its DSSV dampers so you can use it and abuse it out on the trail. What’s more we include both a no fine print warranty on the BDS product as well as a 5-year 100K-mile drivetrain extended warranty on all of the OEM parts.

Hey Erick, at this point R&D hasn’t given the official OK on Colorado/ZR2 kits for 2019. As soon as I hear kits have been tested and approved I’ll be putting out an announcement

I just installed the kit in my 2019 ZR2. I need to pick a tire now. Will the 35” require some trimming? Would it be safer to go with a 34”?

Hi Thomas, short answer is yes, it is possible to reinstall your factory 17″ ZR2 wheels with this kit, however it requires adding wheel spacers to achieve our recommended 4.5″ backspacing. This will allow sufficient clearance for steering components. We include a note about this under the important kit notes: Stock 17″ and 18″ wheels cannot be reinstalled with the lift kit. Aftermarket 20″ wheels with a maximum 5.25″ backspacing are recommended. Certain wheel and tire combinations will require weld on steering stops, these are included in the kit. See end of instructions sheet for details on installation.

Our wheel/tire recommendations with this kit are:
305/70r17 Tires on 17×9 Wheels (4.5” BS)
305/65r18 Tires on 18×9 Wheels (4.5″ BS)
305/55r20 Tires on 20×9 Wheels (5″ BS)
295/70r17 Tires on 17×8 Wheels (4.5” BS)
295/65r18 Tires on 18×8 Wheels (4.5″ BS)
35×12.50×20 Tires on 20×9 Wheels (5-5.25” BS)

I’ve been keeping the original 2019 wheels and tires after the lift. No spacers required, although there’s only a very narrow space between the front tires and a part of the lift kit (whose name I don’t know).

Hey Daniel, how did it go installing the lift on a 2019? everything work out? I have been waiting for BDS to update to say a 2019 will work with the kit before I go for it.
thanks for you input

Hi Erick, my experience was super good and smooth. The installation in my 2019 gasoline ZR2 was made by Roco 4×4, in Miami, which was referred to me by BDS. I was able to keep the factory wheels and tires without spacers, although with a very narrow clearance. Yesterday, I installed Maxxis Razr 34”s on the factory rims with 1.5” spacers (a .75” would to, but I didn’t want to trim studs). The front tires rub very little in the rear/bottom plastic of the front fender, but I think I can fix it by decreasing the spacer to 1.25” (I’ll try to remember to let you know when I do it). I must say, I liked the truck a lot with the lift and original rims and tires. I’m actually considering to have two sets of rim/tires, the original set for city and highway, and the Maxxis on new rims for trails. The M/T tires are not that great fuel and noise-wise, although they do look awesome. I’d have posted pictures if I could.

Thanks Daniel. I am awaiting parts, went ahead and put the order in yesterday. went ahead with 20″ fuel wheels and 35″ Nitto Graplers

Looking forward to the ZR2 with this package. Thinking of a Mallet Supercharger later on, give it some power

Hey Daniel, at this time we don’t offer a sway bar quick disconnect option for the Colorado/Colorado ZR2 models.

Hi Rob,
I reference this topic in a previous response in the comments section. Short answer is yes it is possible to reinstall the factory wheels, however you will need to add wheel spacers to achieve our recommended 4.5″ backspacing for sufficient clearance.

G2SKIER is using 17×8.5 wheels (4.75 backspacing) and 35×12.5×17 falken mud tires. Will his exact combo work with the production lift kit? Would the steering stops or trimming be needed? Thanks

Hey Ben, in the case of Greg’s ZR2 he has a .25″ wheel spacers installed with those 17×8.5″ Methods to get the necessary 4.5″ backspacing measurement. On the 17″ wheels is critical to use 4.5″ backspacing for sufficient clearance to steering components. While the steering stops are optional, they will help with limited the need to trim. Its common to do some level of some trimming, especially if used offroad to maximize the wheel well clearance.

Looking at putting a BDS 4” lift on my 2019 Chevy ZR2. Will your guys lift work for the year?

Hey Matt, while we don’t anticipate any changes on 2019 ZR2 and have heard from a few customers that have already installed them without any issues, its our policy to not list any fitment updates until our engineering team has had the chance to test fit in house and confirm compatibility which is why our website still lists 2017-2018 models only.

I have heard that it is possible to remove the rear overload spring to lower the rear of the truck .5 to 1 inch. resulting in a more leveled stance. is this true and if so, would it interfere with the suspension and the way it was designed to operate?

in addition, could you use the eibach 1.25 inch leveling springs?

thanks in advance.

Hi Harold, officially we don’t recommend any modifications outside of how our engineering team designed and tested those kits to be used. While alterations such as removing the overload leaf and or adding a taller coils may physically install, they haven’t been tested/approved by us and we can’t comment on compatibility.

*Sorry for the double post*

Would you say that the 35×12.5 setup has more suspension travel and capability in the 17 & 18 or 20” configuration?

Ex. Would a 35×12.5×20 stuff better than a 15×12.5×17?

can you use 315/70/17 ?

Hi Harold, wheel size won’t effect the amount of suspension travel, but it will effect tire clearance. If you look at our recommended wheel/tire specs on our website and instruction sheet we have it listed that 17-18″ wheels require a smaller 4.5″ backspacing to clear the steering components (which will stick them out further and limit clearance when turning). 35s are still a tight fit with the 4″ lift and our recommendation is the 20×9 wheels with 5″ backspacing for optimal clearance. That said other tire options can be used but my require some trimming depending on how you intend to use the vehicle (on or offroad use).

For those who want to learn more about my experience with the BDS lift, here is my build post: https://www.coloradofans.com/forums/265-2nd-gen-colorado-canyon-builds/407317-my-astrophotography-truck.html. It’s an excellent lift, really built for abuse. But the fender flares really are an issue. It’s not really a problem with the lift itself, but it’s something to be aware of. I went with Maxxis 34″s and I’m still having issues. I’m going to buy new flares and trim them A LOT.

Hi Glenn,
we don’t offer full replacement spring packs for the ZR2, our only rear lift option at this point is the 4″ lift block.

Hey Sam,
At this point (we know its late in the year) we haven’t brought in a 2019 Colorado ZR2 to the shop to confirm compatibility with our kits designed for 2017-2018 models. While we don’t anticipate any changes, we haven’t physically tested to confirm ourselves which is why its not listed on the website currently. As soon as they test/confirm we’ll be updating the website.

I’m running 35×12.50×20 on my ZR2. I have getting rub on my driver’s side inner fender on a left turn with some incline to it, like going up a steeper driveway. I think I see where I am rubbing, but don’t to go overboard trimming. I have already made some adjustments and it is better but not good still. Do you have any photos of a ZR2 with 35’s and the fender trimming done that I can use as a guide?

Hey Nate,
unfortunately we don’t have the specific info on what trimming was done on the Colorado shown and the wheel/tire specs were outside of our recommended specs. This particular vehicle was a customer supplied vehicle along with the wheels/tires and he handled his own trimming. The owner may be able to help you, look him up @gregfgallagher on Instagram.

The 4″ bds lift for the ZR2 says its for 2017-2018. I see a few people on here mentioning having it installed on 2019. Would the warranty cover 2019 ZR2’s?

Hey Terry,
Thanks for reaching out. While we have heard from several dealers/customers installed #745H on the 2019 Colorado ZR2, at this point we simply haven’t test fit them in house to confirm compatibility which is why its only listed through 2018 models currently. We don’t expect any changes needed and it will not effect our No Fine Print Warranty or 5year-100,000-mile Warranty coverage.

I don’t have the factory wheel backspacing handy on the ’19 Colorado ZR2, but I believe they are 17×8 with around 5.8″ backspacing (+33mm offset). We recommend 5″ backspacing for optimal tire clearance and suspension clearance. A smaller backspacing measurement can be used, but it’ll cause the tires to stick out further and increase the tire’s range of motion when turning left to right (aka more likely to rub). You’ll want to verify the backspacing on your wheels by measuring, but based on the 5.8″ assumption a 1″ wheel spacer will likely be your best option assuming there isn’t a 0.8″ spacer on the market.

Hello. We (GM dealership) installed the 4″ lift on a 2020 ZR2, the BDS site shows up to 2019. We confirmed that there is not suspension part changes for 2020. It fits just fine.

Thanks Terrence, much appreciated. I’ll relay along to our engineering team as they have to sign off on any fitment listings and typically require in-house fitment before listing

Hey Omar, at this point we haven’t had the opportunity to test fit the kit on 2021 Colorado ZR2 to confirm compatibility.

Waiting for my 745 h to come really looking forward to getting it installed on my zr2
2018
BDS… are they going to update there website
Where people could send there pics in from there builds and specs where people could see what others have done to get ideas ??
I’m sure you guys have been asked this b4
Just haven’t seen anything
Thanks…scott

Hey Sean, at this point we haven’t had access to the 2021 Colorado ZR2 and/or diesel models to test fit and confirm compatibility. We’ll be updating the website listings once they have been officially approved for use

I have a 2020 ZR2 bison I would like to buy your
BDS 4” lift I have not seen that it will fit as in many cases there hasn’t been any changes in that year that I have seen Will it fit a 2020 bison ZR2?
if so I will be buying your kit. Thanks Jeff

Just bought a 2021 zr2 colorado. Would really like to get your 4″lift and run factory wheels and tires for a while. I understand you have not officially approved it for this model year yet though a gm dealer on this blog installed it with no issues. Can you send me the recommended wheel spacer size so I can show the dealer this?

Hey Jerry,
the factory ZR2 wheels should be 17×8 (+33mm offset) which measures out to around 5.8″ backspacing. Assuming nothing has changed for the 2021 models our recommendation to run 17s in (33″) 305/70r17 tires and with a 17×8 or 17×9 with 4.5″ backspacing to clear the steering. You’ll likely be OK with 1.25″ wheels spacers, that said you’ll want to test fit prior to mounting up tires.

Considering the kit for 2020 ZR2 Bison
I have a handful of questions
Are you by chance aware of any Bison pkg issues from previous years?
Concerns are 1) the skid plates and 2) Front Bumper (includes winch)
I know you are thrown a ton of different wheel/tire combos, and these are difficult to pinpoint an answer…….
Here’s mine:
I would really like to retain the AEV wheels (stock Bison) with either 285/70R17 or 285/75R17
Will spacers be required?
I am assuming NO cutting with these smaller tire sizes!(?)
Are you aware of any aftermarket Rear Shock Mount Guards that work with this Kit?
(Really would like to see a rear leaf add or cluster rather than a block solution-if you build it we’ll come!)

Hey John,
At this point we haven’t brought in the ’20+ ZR2 Bison for fitment testing to officially confirm compatibility. That said the assumption is the factory front skid will not be compatible with our lift kit and would need to be removed/modified. There should be not issues with the factory bumper/winch configuration. As for the wheels, 17″ wheels limit clearance for the steering tie rod mounted in the new steering knuckles which is why 4.5″ BS wheels for sufficient clearance. According to AEV’s site the Bison wheels are 17×8 with 5.5″ BS so it’d require 1″ wheel spacers to achieve our recommended backspacing measurement.33-34″ diameter tires should fit with little to no trimming where a 35″ diameter tire may require additional trimming to clear in all driving situations (on/off-road). We don’t offer rear shock rock guards or rear leaf pack/add-a-leaf options at this point for the Colorado/ZR2/Bison platform. Once we’ve test and confirmed compatibility with the ZR2 Bison we’ll be adding the listing to our website

I have a 2020 zr2 bison with the bds 4 inch lift. Lift fit fine, bumper is fine I have a come up hidden winch too. The kit comes with a skip replacement for your diff, and I believe they had to trim the from skid to fit the two skids together, but the shop did it. I went with the moto metals MO970 wheels, 17 inch wheels tires toyo open country rt 285/75 R17. They have a zero offset so they will rub at just the right turn angle and hitting a good bump at the same time. Not enough to damage the fender, but I still want to fix it. I bought the AEV 33 inch fender trim kit to get rid of the rub, but have not installed it yet. I am hoping to go to 35 at some point with the trim kit.

FYI an update, with the moto metals and 285/75r17 and using the AEV 33inch Fender trim kit I have no rubbing.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *