Shackle Flips and U-Bolt Flips Info Needed

Hey everyone,
I just spent an hour reading other threads and I still have some questions about shackle and u-bolt flips.

U-Bolt Flip
As I understand it, the only advantage of a U-bolt flip is getting the U bolt bracket off the axle thus increasing ground clearance and having less to hang up on. Is that accurate? It
The u-bolt flips look fundamentally a little weaker. Any problems with people breaking them?

Shackle-Flips
I am particularly interested in the ATO shackle flips (though I don't want to raise the rear any more since I am already raked out when not hauling 1,000 lbs.).
It looks like they will clean up the back a bit and provide more clearance from rocks, etc... but how do they increase articulation?
What keeps the shackle from slamming the frame?
Will the front dive when braking or when going down steep drops more in this configuration?
Will my OME nitro charger shocks work?
Are longer brake lines required?

Can I use jounce shocks, airbags, etc?


Thanks everyone! Cheers.

 

with a shackle flip your rear will pick up when u accelerate

 

Wait... the rear will lift (as in decompress) when I accelerate? You mean from the torque reaction? I would have expected it to squat more...

 

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Flip kits are just as strong. I've never seen anyone break them. I love mine.

 

U-Bolt Flip....not a new design, however AP is the only one who makes it off the shelf for a 2nd Gen. Yes it cleans up the bottom of the axle to avoid hangups. If you use Tibrens or Superbumps you will loose a small amount of up travel.

Shackle Flip...pretty much makes the rear of the truck act like a truck and less like a car. You will have increased "roll" due to COG being raised. I assume its negligible when you have a lift, mud tires, and what not. Increases articulation as it lets the shackle extend fully. Look for older Toy pickup pics and you see what I mean. It will also allow you to run longer shackles for increased height. Correct if wrong here.

Longer brake lines...yes. (FWIW you can get away with stock lines, for 50 bucks its worth getting)

Not sure on your shocks. 5100's limited my travel and I went to Fox FJ spec'd rears that I had re-valved.

You can use any form of rear bumps you please....air bumps, jounce, feather pillows whatever. Obviously these choices will require a bit of fab work.

 

Thanks for the info... can you explain the rear squat/rise effect?
Are there concerns with inverting/stuffing/binding a shackle against the fwd facing part of the frame on these trucks?

Is the small amount of uptravel lost with bumpstops canceled out with the lift from the shackle positioning?

 

Found shock specs:

Shock | valving | Open length | Closed Length
N94* | Soft | 23.1" | 14.1"
N85 | Soft | 23.1" | 14.1"

So I have a 9" stroke... heh... that's what she said... anyways, is my 9" long enough?
oh so many jokes to be made...

 

I don't think you're going to get any "rise" affect on flat starts. I've never seen or heard of inverting or stuffing a shackle but it may have been done at one point or another. I would imagine your travel #'s would only increase even with the u bolt flip kit.

My advice: stop over thinking it and buy your junk

 

If anything, the u bolt flip kit is stronger than stock. The all-pro flip is super heavy duty and less likely to get damaged anyway.

edit: I want to emphasize that the the all-pro flip kit is incredibly beefy - its literally the last thing i would worry about breaking on my truck

 

HA! I think I'm sold on the u-bolt flip ... though I know our board race hero said to not use jounces for some reason... even though he did on his truck....

I'm concerned about all of this since I do a lot of 70 mph driving, and occasional towing, and occasional over loaded bed (1.5 yard^3 of loam etc) driving, and ...

It is a daily driver that I love modding and taking offroad every time I get a chance... so as badly as I wish it were a 4wd trophy truck, I need to keep my modding in check sometimes. One more concern with raising my rear is that I will lose any hope of towing low/medium height hitched trailers.

All Pro flip kit here I come.

ATO peeps, what is the word on the redesigned shackle kits?!

:Cheers:

 

That is inline with my initial reaction.

 

i got some pics of the all pro flip kit on my build page if u wanna see em. i was amazed at the quality of the kit when i received it.

 

You'll be fine man just go for it. I'm about to lift my rear 5" and I'm not worried about using my trailer at all and I tow a bunch in the summer.

 

I just bought a 10" adjustable drop draw bar in an attempt to pull my motorcycle trailer with the Taco. I don't think I will reach though... I measured it out as a 14" drop.

Should be here this week so i will know when it arrives.

 

Thanks. I am pretty sold on the allpro ubolt flip. I went to order but couldn't get the shopping cart to work on their site. I will give it a go in the morning. I was tempted to add the timbren bumpstops, and then remembered that I don't do any high-speed wheeling right now and don't need them... so hard to not buy random shit when you are tired and burned out from work!

Cheers

 

Man, would totally love to.. but I am working this weekend, and it would be cheaper to load the truck on a 747 and fly it their than to put gas in it for a round trip .

 

it may be easier just to call them

 

... edited...

 

Got a PM on this thread so figured I would chime in. We are finishing up the Shackle Flip Kits, it's been a long hard road to get to this point though. Many many changes in an attempt to get things right. I don't have any specific time range on when they will be out just yet, we still need to punch out a few sets of the newest setup and test them out before I will release anything. Rest assured though that we are working on them and they will be back. I appreciate everyone patience with these.