Flip U-bolt using stock plate and shock mount

Hi everyones!

I decided to become a member because sometimes even the longest search won't end to what I'm looking for. Also because I like how the folks are here! Hope to have fun with you.

I'm "rebuilding" my truck that I have for 3 years now. I gonna make some cool improvement "I guess". I bought OME 881 / Bill5100, new top plate, new bushings front. For the rear modified procrap 33211 sping pack with custom made 4" wide body shackles and 5125 afterthat to suit the travel.

My question is the follwing. While I'm working on the rear suspension, I'm considering the U-bolt flip. To be honnest I don't understand very well what is acheved by doing that mod, but I think it makes it very clean under the differential.

Could it be possible to take the stock U-bolt plate and reuse it on the opposite top of their first location. Lower left on the right top... By doing this my goal would be to use the stock shock mount. I also like to keep about everything bolt on as I don't want to weld new mount on the differential housing. The mounting angle would be increased also by switching over the housing the mounting location. Do someone already tried that?

Thanks!

 

By the way, just realized that the left-right thing doesn't matter as they are the same part. So it is really about to flip them.

 

I don't believe anyone has tried that but I can say it won't work well. The stock u-bolts are square and if you flip them, you will have square u-bolts on a round axle housing. Conversely, the stock u-bolt plate has a provision for a round axle housing so it won't sit very nicely on top of a leaf spring. Spend the $60 on a u-bolt flip kit and do it properly!

 

It's a sure thing that proper round U-bolts have to be use to follow the housing shape. I don't feel reuse the old U-bolts anyways.

The stock plate is round shaped but from the inside and it also have two flat parts that could sit well on the upper leaf.

 

No..don't even try this.

 

I'm not really sure why someone would think to attempt this mod...
without first understanding its intended purpose/use.

There are plenty of articles... regarding this modification...
^ if you do yer homework

But I'll offer my $ .02 'cause I wuz bored...

Most U-bolt flip kits are done 2ndary when accommodating longer travel shocks
and when doing a relocation of their mounting locations.

The Lower (OEM) stamped shock mounting plate is shit canned
in favor of welding lower shock mounting tabs directly to the axle tube's surface.

It's advisable to lose the notion of re-using the irregular lengths and offset of the OEM upper shock mounts...
in favor of fabricating a new cross member for the shock's upper mounts.

The intent of these modifications is to mount and allow for longer shocks
and shock travel... thus allowing more Rr. suspension droop then with the OEM configuration.

The U-bolt flip is used...
because the OEM lower shock mount is discarded and will not work sufficiently as a top mounted plate...
...because the OEM stamped plate would be too tall above the spring...
and even if its sides were cut down to lower it's profile...
it's likely the OEM plate would be weakened and could tweak when torquing the U-bolts to specification.

* a replacement top plate is commonly lower profile and stronger.
I wouldn't recommend top plates that are less then 1/2" thick.
Tho' a slightly less thick plate could work...
^ there's no reason to skimp here.


Doing the U-bolt flip does in fact clean up the underside of the axle...
and creates less possibility of hang ups.

But IMO would be not be that valuable... stand alone

Bottom line...
if you mounted the lower shock eye above the spring pak as you're suggesting...
...you would need a shorter shock and that would be counter productive.

 

Thanks for that input.

I'm back from the garage and by looking at the shape of the stock plate, it can't be done. There is a round shape in the other side also that won't allow to install it flat on the spring pack.

I'm gonna look at my options for the rear shocks.

Thanks

 

I've been looking around for a kit to do something similar to what you're thinking... I thought I remembered somebody making something similar for older landcruisers, but I've yet to find it.

What I have found is this Parks Offroad - U-bolt Flip page referencing a kit made by Rock Stomper. They list them on their site for $60 (http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/suspen/rear.htm). Seems like a good solution, but supposedly only works for Reg and Ext Cabs and does not work properly for DCab Tacomas (though the Parks Offroad guy seemed to be running it for a while anyway...)

I'm still looking around, but I'm def interested in anything you come up with.

 

Just found this from Ruff Stuff - Shock Plate Kit. If I'm looking at this correctly, the bracket welds to the edge in a similar manner as the tab on the Rock Stomper ones. These seem to give more of an option of where to mount the shock... Not sure why there's 4 brackets...I would think for dual-shear, but not sure how its supposed to go if so. I would love to see an already finished version....

 

Allpro makes a kit as does Relentless offroad.

It is cheap. But not easy as you have to relocate the rear shocks.

 

Please don't put the lower shock mount on top of the axle or leaf springs with one of those flip plates.

It should go near the center line of the axle.

 

I made up more drawings and calculations. The final result for my case if I don't change my mind will be to use the stock configuration.

I think the ultimate best way to go is the flip kit plus welding shock mount on the lower part of the housing (close to the stock location point of the shock). I don't want to weld on my differential housing, so I'm just gonna reuse the stock plate.

The kit you shown allow to reuse the stock shock but limit the drop travel as you have to use shorter shock. Anyways if you lift your truck, the only reason you want lots of compression is for articulation. Depending if you use your truck for off-roading or if you load it a lot.

I decided to go with 10" travel bilstein 5125 and extended bumpstop (6" long total). I will take advantage of the long drop travel and a relatively good up travel also. If I consider the fact that bigger tires will need more wheel well clearance there's no big deal to loose a bit of up travel. Anyways, stock Tacoma leafs are designed to go reverse arched for 3". I don't want to go in that zone anymore so going from the stock collapsed 13" shock to a 16" collapsed shocks makes sences... with the proper bump stop.

Therefore, I'm quite suprised there's no bolt-on kit for a flip U-bolt with an integrated bracket to mount the shock.

 

dude..really?

did you not read TacoDells post?

thats why there is no bolt on kit.

If you move the shock mounting location up..you NEED to use a shorter shock..not a longer. Its just not possible. That is unless you put a HUGE bump stop on and then you would have NO up travel.

Plenty of people weld on the axle housing. If you mount the shocks right you can actually gain lots of articulation up and down with a shorter shock. In your case, using a 10'' shock can merit results most get with 12'' shocks. If done right.


Don't for the love of god reuse the stock plate..

 

He said he's going to use "stock configuration". As in, no flip kit.

 

I did a quick sketch of what a bolt-on flip kit with shock relocation could look like. I'm a designer also so if a company would like to buy that design feel free to contact me!!

I did it fast so there's not much details. End plate should be bended upward adn some other stuffs.

 

That's a pretty slick design I think. BTW, The bolt hole closest to the shock mount corner seems to be slightly mis-aligned. Would also be nice to be able to add a slight bit of bracing on the back and/or top side....though you may have to space it over just a tad more to fit bracing on the back side.

 

That one begin to look like something that could work for real.

 

That one looks like it'd hold up well. I want a pair of them. Only thing is I start to see the $$ add up on this design vs the first one. If i could get something like these for under $100 including u-bolts (best I've found is marlin sells u-bolts for $8 a piece) I'd be totally in for a set.

 

More I look at them more I might try to custom fab some. There's a shop around here that make my welding and machining. I'm gonna make real print and gonna see them for a quote. I keep you aware if you want.

Depending how close to the axle tube the bracket is, it could require to route the brake line differently.

 

I wouldn't want to reroute any brake lines... Maybe it should end right above the brake line? Of course spring pack thickness varies....mine are 9 leafs thick...