Tractor Supply Flip Kit

[xs-style]

Ive heard of people going to the local tractor supply for parts for a flip kit. I scouted out TS today, and from what I can tell, you can get the spring perches, plates, and u bolts there. Problem is, Ive not seen a thread where someone has said "these are the parts I got, and this is how I did it". Thats kinda what Id like this thread to be, but Im going to need some advice along the way.

Ill keep a tally of parts and cost and take pics when I do the install.

Parts: Spring mounts
Cost: 10.00

First question so far is about the spring mounts. I picked up 5200 lb spring mounts. After measuring them up to whats' on my truck now, they are a little narrow in comparison, but they are thicker. Will that make a difference?

[1LowToy]

Yep I did.

Another hole has to be drilled on the Tractor Supply perch to move the axle about 7/8 to 1" back. The factory spring plate the same way.

I took them to a machine shop because the hole is a Nat bigger than a .5" as I remember and the spring plate is at an angle that is poor to drill. Cost $20

I also drilled the old spring plate with 3/8" holes front and back. I used 3/8" bolts and a 2" all thread nut adjust and set the pinion angle. Once your satisfied with the pinion angle weld the new perch to the axle. Cost $13 in bolts.

I'd recommend buying shock extentions, through one of the vendors. I made mine but it was a pain and took a good amount of time

I also did some beefing of the springs as they were mush and it had a prevelent lean. I may remove one of the two that I added to soften up the ride.

Here's a pic

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 1LowToy

I also drilled the old spring plate with 3/8" holes front and back. I used 3/8" bolts and a 2" all thread nut adjust and set the pinion angle. Once your satisfied with the pinion angle weld the new perch to the axle. Cost $13 in bolts.

I saw your adjustable setup when you posted in another thread. The more I look at it the more I like it - not just for this application but for other stuff, too. Very clean but functional.

"Mental note" taken....

[1LowToy]

Well I'm here to admit defeat.

On the pinion angle post I may be entirely wrong with taking an agle measurement from the transmission pan. Now that I've checked a couple of other areas I don't think the trans pan is parallel to the output shaft of the transmission. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO WELD UP A BIG MISTAKE!!!

I think I amy need to remove the drive shaft and take it from there or???

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 1LowToy

Well I'm here to admit defeat.

On the pinion angle post I may be entirely wrong with taking an agle measurement from the transmission pan. Now that I've checked a couple of other areas I don't think the trans pan is parallel to the output shaft of the transmission. I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO WELD UP A BIG MISTAKE!!!

I think I amy need to remove the drive shaft and take it from there or???

Don't give up yet!

Take a look at your other thread and see if what I posted helps.

It's not hard -in person - but I do tend to keep quiet just because it is so hard to communicate via the internet (or over the phone).

K

[xs-style]

10-4. thanks for the info. Ill be gathering the parts for this and doing the install over the course of the next week or two. Hopefully we will have a halfway decent guide to doing it this way when its all said and done.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by xs-style

Ive heard of people going to the local tractor supply for parts for a flip kit. I scouted out TS today, and from what I can tell, you can get the spring perches, plates, and u bolts there.

Subscribing, so I can follow the discussion.

Which plate are you referring to? If that's the plate the u bolts go through, is there a reason a person cannot reuse their existing plates and U bolts?

Thanks -

K

[xs-style]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

Subscribing, so I can follow the discussion.

Which plate are you referring to? If that's the plate the u bolts go through, is there a reason a person cannot reuse their existing plates and U bolts?

Thanks -

K

I don't see why you couldn't reuse the plate. In other threads, Ive seen people change their stock u-bolts out for grade 8 u-bolts. From what Ive read, the grade 8's are supposedly stronger. But considering its you Im talking to, you'd probably know better than almost anyone else Ive also read that some applications take a longer u-bolt than stock, but just looking at it I don't see why it would.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by xs-style

I don't see why you couldn't reuse the plate. In other threads, Ive seen people change their stock u-bolts out for grade 8 u-bolts. From what Ive read, the grade 8's are supposedly stronger. But considering its you Im talking to, you'd probably know better than almost anyone else Ive also read that some applications take a longer u-bolt than stock, but just looking at it I don't see why it would.

Thanks - lol - my default would be to just reuse what I already have, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

K

[SCOTI]

I've always heard the u-bolts should be replaced once they've come apart for any service & why they're typically included w/a flip 'kit'. I've re-used them w/o issue if I didn't have an alternative but use new ones if/when I have them.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

I've always heard the u-bolts should be replaced once they've come apart for any service & why they're typically included w/a flip 'kit'. I've re-used them w/o issue if I didn't have an alternative but use new ones if/when I have them.

That's how I remembered it as well.

K

[jimboh247]

Subscribing, just to see...I've been thinking of doing a flip.

[1BadSS]

Why not just spend $35 on one of the bracket sets that are made for our trucks? They're sold by a vendor on the forum!

[Devillusion]

...truly not trying to be a dick here, but it looks pretty weak and unsafe to me. I don't see the advantage here, just buy some perches and weld them on. Would definetly not pass a safety here.

[1LowToy]

I like doing it the hard way I love a $10 idea the costs me $100 and lots of my time. But I'm learning that I love the science of a build and not being a bolt on cruiser. I've seen some of the pre-fab brackets and I'll hold my opinions on some of those.

[Devillusion]

I'd have to agree there, not a fan of any of the flip kits myself. Just don't see the point to be honest. It's not that hard or costly to put on a set of spring perches.

[1LowToy]

Originally Posted by Devillusion

I'd have to agree there, not a fan of any of the flip kits myself. Just don't see the point to be honest. It's not that hard or costly to put on a set of spring perches.

The idea if the bolt front and rear on the old axle pad are for adjustment of the pinion angle during setup only to dial in the correct pinion angle. Then the pad must be welded to the axle tube. The bolts may then be removed. I don't have a lot of faith that the prefab kits can hit the correct pinion angle with all the spring combinations out there. If I were to do it again I'd be looking for a higher quality of perch (Quality of steel). And I may do that before I weld it down.

[67_SS396]

Let me preface tha I ordered the $35 kit off the board due to my laziness and having a hard time getting around with a broken leg. Why not order a set of perches from DIY4X, weld them in and be done? This is what I've used on many rock crawler builds and its very easy to do.

To check pinion angle, you really should be checking at the output yoke on the trans and the pinion on the diff. Get it within 2* of each other and weld it up.
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[jitteryguy]

you can but the proper perch's from most any speed shop. Napa, jeg's, summit. not exspenive at all. the ones at Tractor supply are for trailer's with narrow spring's and made of the cheapest material they could find.
the premade flip kit's will work just fine, they look goofy cause there bolt in kit's.