'14 with 3/2 readylifts, will stock wheels work with upgraded uca's?

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oldpaddy

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I'd like to go with bds, but due to lack of funds I might have to go with tuff country upper control arms. Either way, can I use my stock wheels?
 
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oldpaddy

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I hope I can because I ordered bds uca's last night and I really can't afford new wheels. I also ordered bilstein 5100 shocks.
 

Black

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Tuff Country claims factory wheels will not work but one of the suspension sales sites have a number of folks running factory wheels with no issues on the F150.

Some UCAs will not work with factory wheels due to backspacing.


I hope I can because I ordered bds uca's last night and I really can't afford new wheels. I also ordered bilstein 5100 shocks.

I might have some bad news for you my friend.
All my reading for the BDS just stated for trucks lifted 2” +
Get to reading the little print on the install instructions states that the BDS are designed specifically for Fox 2.0s and may fit some spacer kits (Bilstein is not a spacer kit).

Here is what I look like with 5100s and BDS upon install.
7437EC4B-BEEB-4765-8857-45D33B8AAAEA.jpg

That is the knuckle underneath the coil but the arm does not contact the coil. with factory UCAs the inside of the UCA hit the coil but the knuckle does not bind like above.
2CC5D519-BB39-4D0C-B461-54334C0C957C.jpg

Now this is prior to any load being put back on the suspension without tightening everything to spec.
I did not like the idea of it binding under the spring vs. just the arm to coil contact.
So I pulled it off as I did not have a full day to install, uninstall, and reinstall to find out if I was good.
I sent the pics to BDS and they said that “it should” pull itself out under load and be good.
I am holding out to see if there are any good Black Friday deals on the Fox 2.0s. If there are I’ll just grab them that way I don’t have to possibly end up taking everything apart twice again.
 
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oldpaddy

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Tuff Country claims factory wheels will not work but one of the suspension sales sites have a number of folks running factory wheels with no issues on the F150.

Some UCAs will not work with factory wheels due to backspacing.




I might have some bad news for you my friend.
All my reading for the BDS just stated for trucks lifted 2” +
Get to reading the little print on the install instructions states that the BDS are designed specifically for Fox 2.0s and may fit some spacer kits (Bilstein is not a spacer kit).

Here is what I look like with 5100s and BDS upon install.
7437EC4B-BEEB-4765-8857-45D33B8AAAEA.jpg

That is the knuckle underneath the coil but the arm does not contact the coil. with factory UCAs the inside of the UCA hit the coil but the knuckle does not bind like above.
2CC5D519-BB39-4D0C-B461-54334C0C957C.jpg

Now this is prior to any load being put back on the suspension without tightening everything to spec.
I did not like the idea of it binding under the spring vs. just the arm to coil contact.
So I pulled it off as I did not have a full day to install, uninstall, and reinstall to find out if I was good.
I sent the pics to BDS and they said that “it should” pull itself out under load and be good.
I am holding out to see if there are any good Black Friday deals on the Fox 2.0s. If there are I’ll just grab them that way I don’t have to possibly end up taking everything apart twice again.
Thanks, let me get this straight, are you saying you don't think the bds will work, or too close for comfort, with either the readylift spacers or the bilstein shocks?
 

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I cannot speak for the Spacers but they have a different geometry compared to the Bilstein lift so it is possible they could work.
I just have no first hand knowledge.

As for BDS and 5100s I took that picture above as it is my truck.
I had to pick my kids up in a bit so I did not have time to hope it would work, which it very well may.
I was not comfortable with it at that point because I did not have time pull it all out again if it did not move out from under the spring so I put the stock arms back on because I know my only issue with factory arms is a clunk at full droop and not physical binding like shown in the picture.

I have not had an opportunity to fully disassemble and reassemble everything to test it. So I can’t say for sure it won’t work.
If one did not have to pull the coil over to get the UCA bolts out it would be a much shorter task.

The issue for us is these parts are designed for F150s and while they fit. The spring rate of the Expedition is slightly different so it has some different effects and the fact that in most cases at full droop even with no contact we’re talking like 1/4” of clearance.

Fox.jpg

The Fox Unit is a touch shorter and the spring has a slightly smaller diameter which is why there is more room.
In the picture that is a factory coil over. The coil over with a 5100 is even slightly longer at the bottom than the factory unit which is likely why the 5100 does play as nicely with the BDS Arms, or factory arms compared to the Spacer kit since the height is added to the bottom and not the top like the spacers.
Just enough difference in geometry to give us issues since we are talking a very little clearance area any way.

I likely won’t have time to fool with it anyway before Black Friday so if I can get a deal on the Foxes I will just go that route.
If you bite the bullet and get it all bolted up and back together and there are no issues let us know.
Then I won’t have to buy the Foxes and save about $800.

I do have to say that the new HaloLift 2.0s look awesome and would love try them but since the BDS will work for sure with the Foxes I am not willing to risk $1k since I already have the BDS arms.
And all the reviews of the Foxes are very positive.
 
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oldpaddy

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I cannot speak for the Spacers but they have a different geometry compared to the Bilstein lift so it is possible they could work.
I just have no first hand knowledge.

As for BDS and 5100s I took that picture above as it is my truck.
I had to pick my kids up in a bit so I did not have time to hope it would work, which it very well may.
I was not comfortable with it at that point because I did not have time pull it all out again if it did not move out from under the spring so I put the stock arms back on because I know my only issue with factory arms is a clunk at full droop and not physical binding like shown in the picture.

I have not had an opportunity to fully disassemble and reassemble everything to test it. So I can’t say for sure it won’t work.
If one did not have to pull the coil over to get the UCA bolts out it would be a much shorter task.

The issue for us is these parts are designed for F150s and while they fit. The spring rate of the Expedition is slightly different so it has some different effects and the fact that in most cases at full droop even with no contact we’re talking like 1/4” of clearance.

Fox.jpg

The Fox Unit is a touch shorter and the spring has a slightly smaller diameter which is why there is more room.
In the picture that is a factory coil over. The coil over with a 5100 is even slightly longer at the bottom than the factory unit which is likely why the 5100 does play as nicely with the BDS Arms, or factory arms compared to the Spacer kit since the height is added to the bottom and not the top like the spacers.
Just enough difference in geometry to give us issues since we are talking a very little clearance area any way.

I likely won’t have time to fool with it anyway before Black Friday so if I can get a deal on the Foxes I will just go that route.
If you bite the bullet and get it all bolted up and back together and there are no issues let us know.
Then I won’t have to buy the Foxes and save about $800.

I do have to say that the new HaloLift 2.0s look awesome and would love try them but since the BDS will work for sure with the Foxes I am not willing to risk $1k since I already have the BDS arms.
And all the reviews of the Foxes are very positive.
Good call, thanks. I canceled the bilstein shocks.
 
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oldpaddy

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So no one on here has readylift 3/2 spacers and bds control arms?
 
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oldpaddy

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I called readylift and they had no advice about control arms or suspension. I wonder if I'm going to have to remove the spacers.
 
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oldpaddy

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:bump:
It's been a month and figured I'd check to see if there's anyone here with 3/2 spacers and bds upper control arms.
 

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I don’t recall reading about anyone putting arms on with spacers.

After my findings with BDS I would not bother with them.
I wish I would have tried the SPC.
 
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