BDS is Garbage

I've already sent install pics to BDS.. There isn't a problem with install.

 

Could there be a wear issue with the steering rack mount bushings causing the steering rack to move about excessively and get out of alignment?

 

Late to party, but can I suggest you check your steering rack and rack/pinion bushings? I'm willing to bet money that they're moving around. Swap in some poly bushings from energy suspension and I think you'll get the feeling you want back. I'm in no way trying to be a smart ass, but the coachbuilder stuff wouldn't fail unless it snapped.

Crawl underneath and watch the steering rack while someones turning the wheel lock to lock. Willing to bet that thing moves a lot.

EDIT** I had a 7" BDS lift. The BDS tie rods are absolute garbage, but you shouldn't have to replace the coachbuilder stuff.

 

Coachbuilders also has poly bushings available. I bought a set as I thought I needed them. Ended up not being the issue so holding on until it makes sense to install if I ever need to do other work in that area.

 

I purchased the energy suspension poly urethane rack bushings as well.. I just never put them on, because a lot of the lift has to come down to install them. The shop told me the current bushings are still good. Truck only has 50,000ish miles on it.

That is a good idea though, to have someone move the steering wheel while I check the rack for movement. I'll do that once the weather warms up a bit. Thanks!

 

Don’t trust the shop on this one. Or just put the phone under the truck and record a video so you don’t have to lay in the cold.

 

Please report your findings for the next guy or gal too. Good luck!

 

Hey everyone, I've been looking on this forum for a while for info from time to time and this one hits home for me. I have a 2014 Tundra with the BDS 7 inch lift with Fox coilovers and the Coachbuilders outer tie rod ends. I also have excessive outer tire wear and my tires are shot. I have had it aligned multiple times and it never seems to help. My wheel size is 22x10 -18. Does anyone know if a different brand knuckle for a 7 inch lift will work and maybe that's the main issue of the outer tire wear? I had a Readylift 4 inch lift before this and never had an issue with tire wear...

 

You can do the bushing install without removing the rack - since you have the BDS bracket you'll more than likely have to do what I did and grind the corner for clearance of the bolts to come out. I had to also cut a flat spot on the bolt shoulder.(will get pics this afternoon)
It's not a fun job, but the poly bushings are 10x better than the OEM ones. It will NOT fix the scrubbing issue but its a giant improvement in steering with the kit.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/anyone-replacing-their-steering-rack-bushings-w-35s.61354/

 

@Rc23, thanks for this. Pics would be great if you have some, I will have a look and see if this is something I want/can do, or have done by a professional.

 

For those with BDS lifts.. Are you running aftermarket UCA's to get your caster in a 3.5+ degree position?

 

I am running a BDS upper control arm with Coachbuilders outer tie rods. I was told today to get my outer tie rods even and not to have a droop and that will help with the toe and should help with the outer tire wear. I have to measure this weekend and get some polyurethane bushings to level the outer tie rods.

 

Is that picture with the truck wheels on the ground? Maybe just me, but that CV angle looks steep....

 

I traded my 2014 with the 7” BDS because of the lift and tie rod issues. Went 3” coilovers on my 16 Platinum and have had zero issues.

Here is a good video I saved showing the BDS steering issue. Nearly everyone should have the gen 2 knuckle

https://youtu.be/yKvKLEGN2MU?si=dRFPD4CMNH-V87af



BDS told me it’s a Tundra issue and not a BDS issue, basically BDS isn’t going to do anything to fix the poor steering geometry

 

The truck is flat on the ground and I noticed that as well when I took the pictures last night. I'm not a fan of BDS and I should have went with the Readylift 8 inch in the beginning.

 

My Tundra is perfectly aligned, doesn't have any uneven tire wear and has neve had a tie rod end issue. So Toyota did a great job I think. It's definitely a poorly engineered lift solution by BDS.

 

100%, have had 4 07-21 Tundras and none of my non-BDS Tundras ever had issues. Funny how the two BDS trucks were the ones with steering issues and wearing tires

 

This is 100% exactly the problem my truck has. I am convinced that this is a flawed design of the BDS knuckle, which is what I started this thread with and this mini documentary video is highlighting.

Rather than put my new 8th tie rod replacement and re-aligning with more caster as per BDS recommendation (which caster is currently maxed out anyway) unless I bought new UCA's.. I've decided to go a different route after speaking with my local shop that did my lift.

We are putting on new Rough Country knuckles, which will retain OEM tie rods and from what I understand, keep the factory Ackerman steering specs and geometry in check.
I will report back after running these new knuckles for at least 6 months.. If the tie rod failures stop and the tire wear as well, then this will conclude that BDS knuckles are in fact Garbage. If the problem persists, then I will trash the BDS lift altogether and go to a 3" non drop bracket lift.

 

Preliminary feedback, with the Rough Country knuckles is that the nasty wheel scrub is all but GONE!!
Steering feels great, truck feels normal on tight turns again.
I can already confirm with a high degree of certainty, that the BDS knuckles are in fact GARBAGE.

Unbelievable... A company like BDS clearly knows there is an engineering problem with this part (see youtube video above) yet does nothing to fix it!
I've spent thousands to try and fix this and nothing other than replacing the knuckles with a different brand, solved this.

BDS can at the very least, make a cast of the Rough Country knuckles and brand them as their own.. Why would they continue to sell such a flawed product?
So much for the "No Fine Print" warranty.. Guess that doesn't apply if their product is flawed.

Buyer Beware! If you are shopping for a BDS kit.

 

What lift of a knuckle did you go with? I have the 7 inch and would like to stay with the same height. I knew that it had to be the BDS knuckles that is causing the issue with other tire wear!

 

Were you able to purchase the knuckles separately from RC? If so do you have a part number? I'd love to see pictures or any comparison you have. I'd swap them out in a heartbeat.

 

We checked the and Rough Country knuckles are the same part # whether you get the 4" or 6" knuckles (and the label on the box says this as well).
I have a photo of the box and label on it. I don't have a place to host the image (link), if someone can help with that, I can post photos of the box, label and knuckles installed on my truck.

 

Are the rc knuckles the same height overall?

 

I'm at work now but can just set up a onedrive folder I'll PM you. Interested in what coilovers you're running too (I'm busy and lazy to go back through the thread at the moment) since the tech I spoke to said the Vertex coilovers that are part of the RC kit will not work with the BDS kit - I believe it was the diff drop or some other dimension he listed. I have the 7" kit though and it may have been the issue.

 

I don't know, I was not able to lay them down side by side to compare.. Now that they are on the truck it is difficult to tell.

I will see if I can figure it out for you and let you know.

 

Over 1000 kms on the new Rough Country knuckles and the truck is solid. Straight as an arrow, steering feels great with zero wheel scrub. If you're thinking about doing this. You won't be disappointed.. Except @ BDS for making such a flawed steering knuckle.

 

in theory a drop bracket lift maintains the geometry. Some of them drop the subframe less than the overall lift amount. You want your arms as flat as stock for best handling

 

Without reading the thread: the ford broncos have the same problem and BroncBuster is working on a universal tie rod splint to help reinforce them:

the only issue is this may move the failure to the steering rack itself.

 

This thread is not about tie rods being the issue.. It's the BDS steering knuckle being poorly engineered.

 

Could be the same problem, but instead of fixing the cause, they’re gonna address the symptom.