BDS is Garbage

This looks like steering geometry.

I think they possibly designed with Ackerman angle, and designed the steering connection (pivot/balljoint) location based on a rear mounted TRE as opposed to a front mounted TRE.

The video on page 2 where you hear all kinds of tire scrub in a circle looks to confirm this.

If you were to draw an imaginary line between upper and lower ball joints, youd have the axis of rotation.

If the steering arm on the knuckle is anywhere other than in a straight line or point in front of or between this axis, and the center of the rear axle, then the steering arm was incorrectly designed.

Can you show or prove this, then BDS has made a massive mistake and needs to correct it.




Edit: do you have more pictures of the BDS steering knuckle (each one saves a thousand words

Edit2: It also seems to be accentuated by poor UCA geometry. He's getting too much camber as soon as the suspension travels at all.

The video shows huge camber changes when driving over bumps. Also the tie rod length and angle as compared to how the knuckle travels will have consequences (toe-in/out) with vehicle roll an over bumps.

 

I can provide pics of the BDS steering knuckles, they are sitting in a box.. Will soon be sent to metal recycling. They are literally "Garbage". They would do better as a cast iron frying pan than a steering knuckle.
Happy to upload pics of them, but I need a place to host them.

From a reporting feedback perspective, I've clocked on a couple thousand more miles on the Rough country knuckles and they are mint! I cannot believe this solved the issue. Shame on BDS for knowingly letting this problem perpetuate. Especially given this model Tundra (2007-2021) is a large range of trucks for many years. The blast radius on this is huge. I will put down BDS forever, for having me spend literally thousands of dollars on this problem.

 

Buddy! that blows that you had to deal with all that.

I would strongly encourage you to document (by getting good pictures and maybe measurements). If you can show they messed up with ackerman angle and built this wrong, it's not even an argument anymore, it's proof that they have a design mistake that's causing tires to wear out and for the handling to be crap.

If it is what I think they owe you replacement money for the parts, for destroyed tires, and your time.

Please don't throw those out yet, although I understand they are garbage (not as in waste, but crap product).

Gonna message you my email to try and get those pics if its cool.

 

Did you back with stock tie-rods or did you use the CB Steering kit with the new knuckles?

 

OEM Tie Rods work perfectly now with the Rough Country knuckles.
More fedback with several thousands more miles.. Truck feels amazing..

BDS is Garbage

 

If switching to Rough Country solves the issue, it truly was garbage.

 

Just a friendly reminder, that BDS sucks. Going on 7000 miles with the Rough Country knuckles and not a problem in sight.

 

Doing the RC knuckle conversion next week. I hope this fixes my issue too.

 

Good stuff. Pls post your feedback as well.. Let's keep this thread alive and raise awareness!

 

Picked up my truck today with the new RC knuckles installed. I have only put about 25 miles on it, but WOW what a difference. That terrible scrubbing is all but gone and somehow feels like the turning radius is much better. Time will tell if the outer tire wear issue is resolved but handling is certainly better.

As @DarknessReigns said “shame on BDS”. They are unwilling to acknowledge a real issue.

 

Nice! Happy to hear this helped someone else.

 

Hopefully it will continue to help others and having a second sample cant hurt. After I log some more miles and verify this fixes the tire wear issues, I will provide an update. I had my all my tires flipped so that the worn outside treads are now on the inside so I can have a clean slate to see what happens. Tires only have around 10K miles on them and are already 1/32 to 2/32 diff. from inside to out.

 

Here is a side by side of the BDS & RC Knuckles..

 

Those don’t even look like they go to the same truck.

 

Agreed, I noticed that as well when I swapped mine. The BDS ones are beefier no doubt, but they are incorrectly engineered, which makes them a heavy paperweight.

 

How much did the switch cost you to do? Did you look at any other knuckle options just curious I have a BDS lift not having problems at the moment but just curious. Thanks

 

I had my pro install shop do the research for me.. He called his suppliers, with measurements and figured it out, that the Rough Country ones would be a perfect fit and still use OEM toyota Tie Rods. Keep in mind, that the OEM tie rods, using the RC knuckles have to be swapped sides. Right side tie tod now installs on left and vice versa.
As for an update on the Truck, everything is butter smooth, zero wheel scrub.

BDS is trash

 

For me the cost was not significant. The shop that did the lift has been very understanding and helpful with trying to remedy the problem. I paid for knuckles & tie rods which were about $500 and the shop took care of the labor.

BDS is indeed trash

 

I'm not sure the shop installed the tie rods backwards on mine . I noticed that the angle on the tie rods looks a bit aggressive. Does this look right?

 

That lift is cringe

 

helpful...thanks.

 

Yeah sorry, I know it’s not helpful. Those shock extension lifts are hard to see.

 

Doesn't look bad to me, but yeah the shock extension bracket is

 

Yeah, I read the install instructions and it says they swap them for wheel clearance reasons. I don't have any issues in that department so I'm guessing its good.

I had always intended on switching over to an aftermarket coilover down the road and get rid of the extensions, but I have been spending my time and $$ fixing BDS's problems. If I am correct, the only coilovers compatible with this kit are FOX. Do you know if that's valid? If so, are they any good? I am now skeptical of anything related to BDS.

 

You're basically on a leveling kit right? Also, in the meantime, you need to extend your bumpstops.

 

That’s not a leveling kit. That’s a bracket lift. But instead of coming with longer parts for the lift, it just comes with bolt on extensions for the factory bits.

 

Well, what he'd call a leveling kit - was his initial goal to level his truck?

 

Yeah, its not a "leveling kit" although leveling the truck is one of the bi-products. Initial goal was to lift for larger tires and better ground clearance. The strut extenders do not hamper the performance for my applications since I only off-road at lease, I'm not looking to Baha or anything.

 

Well a hard hit like a deep pothole or even a good curb can wreak havoc on stuff like that

 

Good thing there are no pot holes in Houston