4+ flip kit install - real time help please (1 Viewer)

[jgordon]

I'm trying to install the 4+ flip kit on the rig. Right now it looks like the top plate for the front axle is too small by about 1/2 inch front to back. I have the bottom plate lined up with the spring pin through the center hole. The axle is lined up with the top of the spring pin in the hole on the axle perch. When I put the top plate on, I end up with about a half inch that I need to overcome. I'm trying to work it together, but it seems like it shouldn't be this difficult. Are there different sizes of these things available? I ask because it looks like the top plate's little welded on bars that should fit in the hooks of the axle perch are also about a half inch too short, they're not seating properly on the perches.

I'll try to get a photo. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[Spike Strip]

Did you get this kit from MAF ? ... I've seen a couple of these now where MAF sent the wrong size plates (either 3 front and 1 rear, or the opposite) ... Or the wrong U-bolts, even. Either contact MAF or post some pix. Not a big deal, just have to figure out what's wrong...

lcwizard on this board is the manuf.

He might chime in if you have some pix.

 

[mwalls54]

post a pic and let us look.

 

[jgordon]

Got it on. It was the passenger side that was causing all the issues. Drivers side went on no problem at all. This is what I was dealing with. Wrestled it into place finally, but a bit uneasy about the amount of effort that was required.

Does that look like what you guys were dealing with at any point in the install?

 

[RAMZ]

YES!

SAME PROBLEM.
I ended up putting my u-bolts in my vice(protecting the threads)
and closed them up just alittle. No harm/ No foul.
RAMZ

 

[Burt88]

I had the same problem with my 62 but it had to do with the shim angle and the box style axle housing. Just didn't use the shims. glad you got it worked out. After scraping over a few rocks i'm glad i got the flip kit.

 

[mwalls54]

yes on the u bolts. just squeze them in there but if the plate dont sit on where the old u bolts go you might have the wrong top plate.

 

[slcfj62]

Make sure all the grease is cleaned off of the axle. Those U-Bolts are a tight fit. I also had to grind the bottom corner of the front top plate a bit where it met the pumpkin.

 

[mwalls54]

Oh and are you done yet? Do you know when your going to be done? i think if you use a grinder it will work.

Sorry had to lol

 

[Moby]

What I found was that on the front axle I had welds on the axle that were interfering with the ubolts. I ground them flat in short sections with a die grinder. The fit wasn't nearly as far off as your photo but this could be a contributing factor.

 

[jgordon]

Yep, the job's done. Everything else fit like a glove. The driver's side went in smoothly, the two rear sets were perfect. None of the warping that I read about in another thread. I think the top plate's been beefed up and the arch in the top plate axle perch was corrected. It was just a question of getting the old hardware off, which had seized solid in the last 3 years. It just sucked that the first one was such a bitch, so I started questioning whether I had the right parts, posting on here, wasted a bunch of time because I didn't want to "force" it.

Hey, do you think a grinder would work?

On a serious note, I noticed that I've lost an inch of upward travel due to the top plates. Are you guys leaving your bump stops in, trimming them, or losing them with this kit?

Thanks again for the quick and good responses. Was out at my buddy's shop in Millburn NJ. He's a bimmer guy, and runs a parts operation and mods his customers' cars, but he let me bring my bull in his china shop. No air tools of my own yet. Yet. He also has a lift that he rents out and has a bunch of tools available, if anyone is in the area and in need.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Sweet! No more broken u-bolts is a great advantage. Should help slide over boulders as well.

Good work man!

 

[jgordon]

It is nice to have less potential for suspension carnage when off road. I don't learn so good, so I just go break stuff, and replace it with bigger stuff until it stops breaking.

I figure if I show everyone how much beefier my truck is since cmcc, you guys might hang out with me again. And I'm bringing better beer next time for when things do break...

 

[444kyle]

now go play for awile then finaly go SOA

 

[Slowerthanu]

now go play for awile then finaly go SOA

For sure, but on that note, I'm gonna pick those up for my 62.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

It is nice to have less potential for suspension carnage when off road. I don't learn so good, so I just go break stuff, and replace it with bigger stuff until it stops breaking.

I figure if I show everyone how much beefier my truck is since cmcc, you guys might hang out with me again. And I'm bringing better beer next time for when things do break...

Hahahahya, excellent. I'll always hang out with you buddy! Are you going to Fall Gathering?

 

[mwalls54]

I will bring the tools

 

[jgordon]

When and where is fall gathering? Much appreciated on the tools. If you could toss some extra parts in there while you're at it, I might be mobile for more than 30% of the next get-together.

Just to keep this on track a little bit, with the loss of upward travel that comes with putting top plates over the axles, are people doing anything with their bump stops? Or is travel limited more by tire and wheel well than the bump stop?

 

[lcwizard]

I have found (fairly recently) that this is an issue with some 60 front ends at the pumpkin side. The plates
haven't changed but I did just install one a couple weeks ago that gave me the same fits. It's particularly an issue with caster shims. I know it's too late to do much about those already bolted on but I'm changing the drawings to widen the spread. There will be space front and back but that shouldn't be an issue

 

[mwalls54]

When and where is fall gathering? Much appreciated on the tools. If you could toss some extra parts in there while you're at it, I might be mobile for more than 30% of the next get-together.

Just to keep this on track a little bit, with the loss of upward travel that comes with putting top plates over the axles, are people doing anything with their bump stops? Or is travel limited more by tire and wheel well than the bump stop?

Its the 23-26 this month at rausch creek.

I would say the tire and wheel well will limit the travel. Most people will find out what the limit is and move the bump stop down to where it will stop travel before the tire hits anything. My suspension is way to stiff to travel that far.