Shackle Flip Kit - The Official Armor Tech Offroad Thread!

LETS FLIP SOME SHACKLES SHALL WE!!!!

 

Alright guys i just did this for the second time....

The most effective way i have found to get these things off is to remove the shackles and springs then cut the bottom portion of the mount off using an angle grinder. Then drill a 3/16" hole in all 8 rivets using a hardened bit. Then cut an X on the exterior of each rivet. Then grind the heads off of the exterior side of each rivet. You should then be able to hammer off the mount leaving a portion of the rivets still in the frame. The 4 bottom rivets are are tack welded to the X frame support on the top side. I used a dremel tool to cut this tack weld. Then use a 3/8' drill bit to re-drill all of the holes. The rivet with then be pretty thin. I then used a hammer and a punch to hit the rivet in toward the center if that makes sense. I hammered towards the center of the rivet collapsing it. I then re-drilled the hole and most of the rivets broke loose from the frame at which point i used a fine punch to tap them out of the fame. You then have to use a 1/2" bit to drill out the holes to fit the new mounting hardware. Just be patient and try not to rush. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Thanks!

Give me a call when you're ready. We will likely be able to help with all of that. My avatar isn't getting to that point with stock shock mounts.

Good write up. Sounds like a good plan without a plasma cutter.

 

Ok I'm intrigued, what are you running?

 

I got the top 4 but the bottom 4 are winning... I can't see any tack weld on them though

 

If you look on the top side of the rivot there is a washer and it is tack welded to the x frame support that hold the spare tire. Hard to explain. That is what is most likely keeping the rivots from coming free

 

That's exactly what I've got. Plus airbags and homemade U-bolt flip. Works like a damn dream. Still re-thinking shackle length, though (currently on JKS banana shackles intended for an XJ).

 

As far as getting the rivets out, I had great success with an angle grinder and an air chisel with a pointed tip. I may have heated one or two of the rivets with a torch first, can't remember. But an air chisel is pretty much required to do the job.
No welds on any rivets (that would kinda defeat the purpose of using rivets......).

 

I was thinking the same thing, but I'm unsure of what springs to run. My factory ones (3+1) have slight negative arch with an empty bed, I don't like that.

I think deaver j66s would be perfect. They're supposed to give about 1" of lift on their own, plus the shackle flip (stock shackles) total lift would likely be around 2"-3" which is right where I wanna be. The downside is that I've heard they can't carry much weight. I've already got an aluminum truck cap, steel plate rear bumper, and some tools in the bed. Plus I load up camping stuff sometimes for a trip, maybe 200-300lbs. Anyone know if the j66s would handle this without much sag?

Deaver makes another pack, u402 I think, that can supposedly carry more weight but I've not heard much info on them.

 

I run the allpoo expos, I have a cap and lots of stuff in the back, they keep 2-3 pretty loaded down. Empty they are closer to 4. They flex well too, they have 10 or 11 leafs.

 

Drilled 3/8 holes through the bottom 4 but they aren't budging. Even c clamped the cross member is bending up right there. 3 bits have been broken. The cross member is about to get cut off at the rivets

 

1/2" drill bit and as much lube as you can spare.

 

Why not just grind the rivet heads off?

 

I just assumed that's what was done first.

 

The J66 will go negative arch just from the weight of a double cab, with the weight you plan on carrying you should look at the Dakars or All Pro expo. Both are designed for constant weight.

 

I was worried that dakars or the expo pack would offer too much lift. I like the concept of the shackle flip, I've heard it can give a better ride on and off road and increased droop, but with the flip and expo pack I'd end up with probably 4"-5" of rear lift. I'd like to keep my front suspension lift under 2", so I wonder if that much rake will look funny. I'm not opposed to some rake.

 

Mine looked funny with Dakars and the flip until I put a 200lb bedrack and now it rides nicely.

 

How much are you planning on running all the time? If not much then get just all pro standard leaf pack, or dakars and remove the overload.

 

I actually probably have 200lbs or more in the bed now that I think of it. Steel plate bumper is prob 80lbs, alum cap about 100lbs, tools and co2 cylinder maybe 50lbs, 235/85-16 spare on steel rim prob about 70lbs. It looks like the expo springs may be a good choice for me after all!

Are the dakars about equivalent to the all pro expo springs?