DC U-Bolt Flip...

[flyingwil]

Ok guys I am a loss of research here....

I Just put on some All Pro Offroad 5" lift springs, and encountered an issue with my U-bolts and need new U-bolts and shocks anyways, so I am now thinking of just doing a U-Bolt flip while I am at it and the truck is still up on the jack stands. This is all totally unlike any other mod, as it all was not planned or researched! YIKES! So now I need some advice from someone who has all ready looked into this.

Any advice?


So far a quick search brings me to the following possible manufactures:
Sky-Manufacturing
ORS
All Pro
Rock Stomper


Parks Offroad has a good write up on the rockstomper here. Peter writes the following which concerns me... But I am asuming he wrote it in 2001 or '02...

NOTE: If you install this kit on a stock doublecab, the passenger side shock is too long and bottoms out long before the bump stop makes contact. I contacted Rockstomper and they are going to have to get a doublecab in their shop and play with it and resolve this problem. They have never tested the kit on a doublecab, and thought that it was the same as the regular or extended cab as far as the shock mounts went. Looks like Toyota made a change with the doublecabs!

Rockstomper was very good and told me that I could return the product for a full refund if I wished to do so. For the time, I will hold onto the kit as it is. I was told that if they make a new plate for my application, they will send me one. Next year when I do the lift, I will use the plates that I have now, so I am not too worried about it either way, after all, we are talking about a $60 kit.

What are your thoughts on this? Flip it or not? IF so what kit?

 

[mountainpete]

Not sure it's really worth it for an expedition truck. You need to relocate your shock mounts on to the axle with a weld-on mounts from All-Pro or Demello. The relocated shocks will give you some additional travel, but it will also change the ride in a negative way.

Unless you are consistently hanging up on the bolts or have a real need for that extra little bit of travel, I would personally spend my money elsewhere - like fuel

Pete

 

[flyingwil]

Not sure it's really worth it for an expedition truck. You need to relocate your shock mounts on to the axle with a weld-on mounts from All-Pro or Demello. The relocated shocks will give you some additional travel, but it will also change the ride in a negative way.

Unless you are consistently hanging up on the bolts or have a real need for that extra little bit of travel, I would personally spend my money elsewhere - like fuel

Pete

That was my thoughts, and just stick with some 5100's to get an additional amound of droop.

 

[mountainpete]

Why not the Donahoe signature series rears? I know they are pricey, but so far mine have been very nice. Not to mention the bling factor

 

[erin]

Send Jeremy or Blake a pm, they did this on Jeremy's truck.

 

[flyingwil]

Send Jeremy or Blake a pm, they did this on Jeremy's truck.

Dang it! I forgot thier screen names...

 

[erin]

Tacozona and Bogus Blake

 

[edgear]

Demello u-bolt flip kit

I have the "protoype" u-bolt flip kit from Demello, and it's worked out ok so far. Blake fabbed up some new lower shock mounts for the Bilstein 5100's. But I did start to notice a loud clunk noise from the rear passenger area when I'm wheeling pretty hard (and also even when wheeling not-so-hard, but with a heavy load in the bed). I wonder if it's similar to what Parks Offroad had to say:

Quote:
NOTE: If you install this kit on a stock doublecab, the passenger side shock is too long and bottoms out long before the bump stop makes contact.

The ground clearance on the u-bolts was never really an issue before. I was just in the mode of doing several suspension mods, so it was just one more thing to do! The photos in my thread are messed up, so I need to find & post them again. Also, I forgot to paint the u-bolts, so they're all rusted now. If you absolutely don't have to do the flip, I would suggest not doing it. It sure looks cool, but for your expedition rig - probably not necessary. Save the money & effort for other mods.

 

[flyingwil]

If you absolutely don't have to do the flip, I would suggest not doing it. It sure looks cool, but for your expedition rig - probably not necessary. Save the money & effort for other mods.

Sweet! Exactly what I was looking for! But since I have bashed mine already on the rocks, :smilies27 I was thinking of preventing it from happening again, but I trust Toyota's engineering depart over any one else's!

 

[BogusBlake]

If you've already hit those lower plates on something, then you'll do it again. It's not just the extra inch of clearance, it's the shape of what's hanging down there that is important. Think about all the sharp edges and corners on those factory lower plates- they're rock anchors. Now think about the smooth rounded U-bolts in that flip kit- they'll slide over stuff much easier in the event you have to "grind" through a line.

In this case though, I'm going to vote against flipping those bolts for the following reasons:
-You don't have a rock rig; you probably don't grind often.
-You're not a fabricator; no one makes a truly bolt on flip kit for Tacos yet. Whatever flip kit you choose, you will have to come up with a solution for bumpstops and lower shock mounts. (I'd be happy to help you with this BTW).
-There's that "double cab clunk" issue to deal with. I have an idea about how to deal with this. We're talking about a half an inch difference in shock length between the sides.

If you still want to flip (and I encourage this even though I voted against it), check out parts from Trail Gear:

http://www.trail-gear.com/flip.html

I have their rear kit on my buggy. It fit cleanly the first time. You'll have to chop down the bolts, but that's the same as any other kit. I modified mine to accept my anti wrap shock mounts. I have Sky's kit on the front and it sucks. The bolts didn't fit around the '85 axle tube and I had to open up the holes in the plates over .125" to make them fit. A blind machinist in a dark room could have made better parts. (that's the ONLY Sky product I've not been really pleased with)

I was talking with Jeremy today about the "clunk". We think slightly longer shackles may help with this, but I think extending the metal part of the bumpstop a little would solve the problem too. You could also slightly relocate the upper shock mount, or you could position the lower mount on that side so it's a little lower, or you could just order a shorter shock for that side.

*edit* One thing to add- if you buy a kit, make sure you buy one with bent flanges on the upper plate. That extra bit of web in the vertical direction helps a lot with the stiffness of the plate when you tighten those bolts.

 

[Willman]

Not sure it's really worth it for an expedition truck. You need to relocate your shock mounts on to the axle with a weld-on mounts from All-Pro or Demello. The relocated shocks will give you some additional travel, but it will also change the ride in a negative way.

Unless you are consistently hanging up on the bolts or have a real need for that extra little bit of travel, I would personally spend my money elsewhere - like fuel

Pete

AMEN!!!!!!

:ylsmoke:

 

[ntsqd]

When I put the GM 65 inchers on the rear of Patch I flipped the U-bolts. I could no longer use the stock square type U-bolts anyway (wider springs) and even though they are OE I've never been that fond of U-bolts with sharp corners in them. Seems like you're asking for a failure at those corners.

I bought all the bits I needed for the swap from Trevor @ WFO. I ended up not being able to use his 5/8" u-bolts b/c I had previously mounted the shock lowers too close and the spring plates were rubbing on the 7100 bodies. I'd let they and the 3/8" bent end plates go for $20. Pics & dims avail on request.

I'm confused by the comment that the relocated shocks will worsen the ride. Where are they being moved to?
I'm not very familiar with Toyotas outside the 84-88 range.

 

[flyingwil]

The pre '05 Tacomas have the lower shock mount on the U-Bolt plate like this:

The DS side shock leans rearward and the PS shock Leans forward. Both U bolt plates are exactly the same.

I have decided not to flip my u-bolts, and just got custom U-bolts made yesterday to mitigate bashing them on the rocks.

Thanks for all the imput! unk03: