"Official" Shackle Flip Info Thread

I’m looking at a shackle flip mainly for the 1” lift. i don’t want to run a lift block. i do off-road it once an a while and i have 5100s on current. is it worth it? would i have to put limit straps on it?

 

Well, since this has been revived again, I thought I would answer this question with experience. I didn't answer it before because I don't know the science behind suspension, I just know the experience.

I've run my shackle flip with Deavers, AllPro Expeditions, and the current custom pack I have now; I have not run it with stock leafs.

My empty weight is 6,200#. When loaded for long trips, I would estimate I've been as high as 8,100#, and probably regularly around 7,800#+. I have also towed a 27' travel trailer (the diff didn't like that one).

The shackle flip itself appears to have zero impact on weight capacity. It's the leafs that determine load capacity, be that towing or bed weight.

If you are like me and are always heavy, and are always grossly heavy for trips, then really the only two options you have are changing out the leafs, or adding airbags. The stock leafs are not designed for weight -- Toyota intended them to provide a cush ride like that of a Camry.

Speaking of airbags...
I have been running airbags since very early. All of my above-mentioned leafs had the airbags with them. I will say that if you run the kind of weight I do, airbags are virtually required. The alternative is to be replacing worn-out leafs every couple years.

 

And fwiw...

The current setup back there is this:
Custom leaf packs
Stock shackles
AllPro shackle flip
Energy Suspension poly bushings
Grease fittings at all bushings (holy shit trying to drill through that leaf metal!! Went through four cobalt bits)
Firestone airbags
Custom U-bolt flip
King RR smoothie CDC 12" shocks
BAMF shock mounts

I'll be beating up on it again for Spring Break when I take the family out to The Maze for a week.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6no8lTAMwY


Shackle Flip FTW

 

I'm curious about the worn out pack part of this! Could you explain some more?

 

Hey ya'll - bringing this thread back from the dead. Sorry lol

I just did a shackle flip using my stock shackles - and an AllPro standard leaf pack. Leaf arc is gone which was expected, running superbumps and 10" travel shocks currently. My concern is my shackle angle. I have the adjustable shackle hangers mounted on their middle option, I could move them back more but that's going to take a bit of work on the guide flanges for the factory tow package. I've ordered a set of 6" shackles hoping that will give me a better shackle angle under normal ride compression. I've already ordered the parts, but if someone has a sure fire corroboration to my line of thinking or alternate/additional advice I'm all ears!

 

If the leaf pack is perfectly flat at that shackle angle, its probably fine since the shackle wont kick back any more.
If the pack still has some arch, I'd just go to a 4 or 5" shackle.

 

Did the longer shackles help?

 

anyone try this or know how it compares to Icon RXT, 5160, Hammer Hangers

https://kflotacoma.myshopify.com/products/tacoma-rear-shackle-flip-w-4-shackle

 

I was looking at this for a while, I haven't found much info on shackle flip on road drivability.

https://www.4xinnovations.com/2005--2023-Tacoma-Shackle-Flip-Kit_p_38.html

If I end up going with it, I'll share my thoughts. It probably won't be until the summer though.

 

I don't have pics at the moment but I did a shackle flip homemade. I would not do this again. It makes the rear " swayeee" when hitting bumps. Not as stable as stock..

 

Thanks for the reply. That's what I was worried about. I can deal with a learning curve, but I have a wife and a couple teenagers that drive her occasionally. They've gotten use to driving her without the sway bar, I may pick up the flip kit when the teens are driving their own vehicles.

 

@TacoTuesday1
@andthen

I have an old archive garage shackle flip with two sets of shackles (4" and 4.75") that I'd be happy to get out of the garage, if either of you are interested. They arent free but i am motivated to move them for less than youd pay for either of the above new. It seems like fewer and fewer people are doing shackle flips with what the new hammer hangers can do for the same price.




Edit: added photo. A little dirty, but a fresh coat of paint and maybe some new bushings and these are good to go. Eric makes really good stuff.

I ran the archive flip with OME dakars and later with custom alcans, both paired bilstein B110 5100s if I recall. I came up from a basically stock rear to the dakars/b110s so it was overall a huge improvement for me and I can't really say I noticed a major change in rear stability, but I also wasnt looking for it as I was focused on off-road capability and droop at the time. I am sure there is more roll compared to stock or hammer hangers through turns, all other components the same, but whatever difference wasn't that big of a deal for me. I knew going into it that it wouldnt drive the same and I just adjusted my driving habits. I never felt like I did not have control of the truck, even hitting canyon roads hard.

That said, if the newer aftermarket hammer hangers you can get now had been out back when I first did my suspension, I'd probably have gone that route, and in retrospect probably should have swapped to hammer hangers when I got the alcans, because they were readily available by then. Might have been happier with my alcans if i could have gotten more droop. People seem to be getting as good or better numbers out of the hammer hangers than I got out of the shackle flip with either leaf pack.

I know I am not making a great case for getting crap out of my garage, but just trying to give an honest perspective based on my personal experience.

 

I installed the 4xinnovations flip kit on my new to me 2020 TRDOR several months ago and noticed no issues. This was one of the first mods I did to my truck. It raised the rear about 2" at the time with stock springs. I have since installed an ICON stage II suspension kit with Freedom OR UCA's. The ICON coilovers gave me about 2" of initial lift in the front and I just added an additional 1/2". I did not install the rear AAL from ICON, the truck sets good the way it is. I have not loaded it heavy and that may change in the future, but for now it is fine.
I have since put on a set of 255/85r 17s on Method bead grip wheels.
As for ride and handling I don't notice anything abnormal or weird. I only drove the truck about 1500 miles before I installed the flip kit, so maybe I did not get a good feel for the original setup. Have not been off road yet, but did pull it into a ditch to check flex and so far am happy with it.
Install was pretty straight forward and not to difficult, but I do have a lift and all the tools so that makes it easy. Took me about 3 hours if I remember right.
Thought I took some pics of the install but can't find them.