BDS 5" Chevy ZR2 IFS Lift Kit

It wasn't long after our new "parts man," Jamie, joined us that he went for his first 4-wheeling trip with the guys in the shop. As the owner of a 2000 GMC Sonoma Highrider ZR2 he has one of the nicest factory offerings for off road enthusiasts. The Sonoma ZR2 comes equipped from the factory with a 3" lift over standard, Bilstein shocks, revised frame, 3.9" wider than standard track front and rear, factory rear locker and 31" tires. GMC has offered a very decent chassis and suspension combination to its customers along with arguably the best V6 on the market, the powerful 4.3L. As good as this sounds, his first 4-wheeling showed that there was room for improvement.

Like most truck owners, bigger tires and a lift kit to make the rubber fit were high on the list of things to do. Jamie wanted to move up to the newly released BF Goodrich 33x10.5x15 Radial Mud Terrain T/A KM tires. In order to fit these tires a BDS Suspension 5" IFS lift system was chosen. As with all IFS lift systems, a large variety of parts are required to make the complex system work properly. The BDS system uses a one-piece lower rear crossmember system that increases frame rigidity as the means of achieving the lift . The new "No Flex" drop drag link helps retain the factory alignment settings and reduce bump steer. In the rear a spring-over conversion was used which lifts the truck 4.5" in the back end. Our experience is that the BDS spring over conversion on the rear axle is an excellent method of achieving lift. The very flexible and soft riding GMC springs are retained for a great ride and off road articulation.

Follow along as we detail the install :

Front differential drop kit	One piece lower rear crossmember	Stock front setup with Bilstein shock
Upgraded BDS front suspension	Stock rear spring under with Bilstein shock	Rear track bar drop kit
Rear converted to spring over with BDS mount	Another view of BDS rear spring over mount	Rear wheel well clearance
Front wheel well clearance

This combination of lift and tires gave Jamie a truck that still handles great on the road while also performing far better in the dirt. If you want to have a closer look, come on down and have a look. Jamie will be happy to show off his freshly upgraded ZR2.