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2001-2008 Chevy GMC 2500 HD BDS Suspension - Clearance Is Good

Bds' New 7-Inch High Clearance Suspension For Chevy/GMC 2500 HD
By Ken Brubaker
Photography by Ken Brubaker
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Front View After
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Side View Before
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Bds Kit
Here's the BDS '01-'08 Chevy/GMC... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Bds Kit
Here's the BDS '01-'08 Chevy/GMC 2500 HD 7-inch suspension as delivered. The kit we installed included new rear leaf springs. There's also another kit available that lifts the rear of the vehicle via lift blocks.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Remove Stock Parts
1. The installation of the... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Remove Stock Parts
1. The installation of the BDS kit begins with the removal of a variety of stock frontend components. The kit does require the removal of the lower rear driver-side control arm pocket. This piece (shown) is removed to make room for the front differential in its new, lower position.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Weld Support Plate
2. A provided support plate... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Weld Support Plate
2. A provided support plate is then welded into the frame where the previous cut was made.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Remove Upper Mount Bushing Differential
3. In order to provide adequate... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Remove Upper Mount Bushing Differential
3. In order to provide adequate steering clearance, the front upper mount bushing is removed from the differential housing. If you look at the top of the housing in this photo, you can see where the bushing was removed and then the housing was ground smooth. A new differential bracket is then attached to the differential using existing housing bolts (shown).
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Passenger Side Differential Bracket
4. There's also a new passenger-side... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Passenger Side Differential Bracket
4. There's also a new passenger-side diff bracket, which is attached on the existing studs on the passenger-side factory bracket.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Install Front Crossmember
5. After filing or grinding... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Install Front Crossmember
5. After filing or grinding the sharp lip from the original control arm/hardware, the new front crossmember is installed into the front lower control arm pockets.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Install Differential
6. The front differential... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Install Differential
6. The front differential is then installed into its new mounting points.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Bolt Bumpstops Crossmember
7. Before the new rear crossmember... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Bolt Bumpstops Crossmember
7. Before the new rear crossmember is installed, a pair of new bumpstops are bolted onto the crossmember as shown here. Why does the kit use an additional set of bumpstops? We'll answer that question shortly.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Rear Crossmember
8. Here's the new rear crossmember... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Rear Crossmember
8. Here's the new rear crossmember installed. It mounts in the factory rear lower control arm pockets.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Mount Bumpstops Brackets
9. The original bumpstop frame... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Mount Bumpstops Brackets
9. The original bumpstop frame mounts are used to mount the new bumpstop brackets/bumpstop assemblies. There is some drilling involved here to install the three bolts per side, but it's nothing major.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Lower Control Arms
10. This kit reuses the factory... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Lower Control Arms
10. This kit reuses the factory lower control arms and they're bolted to the new front and rear crossmembers.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Skidplate Support Tube
11. A new differential skidplate... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Skidplate Support Tube
11. A new differential skidplate (right) and a new crossmember support tube (left) are installed to the front and rear crossmembers.
2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Front Skidplate
12. The kit includes a new... 
   
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2001 2008 Chevy 2500 Bds Front Skidplate
12. The kit includes a new front skidplate/splash guard, and it fits to the original splash guard mounting holes on the upper frame crossmember in front and the bottom of the front crossmember in the rear. This design "sandwiches" the support tube and the differential skidplate.

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