4+ U-Bolt flip kit shock mounts too small

[slcfj62]

I'm installing the 4+ U-Bolt flip kit from Man-A-Fre and the shock mount bolts are too short and too small in diameter. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there supposed to be a sleeve that they didn't send? Or do I just tighten down the nut so that it squeezes the bushing down on the shock mount bolt? I'm afraid the shock will pound out the bushing over time as it moves up and down.

 

[Spike Strip]

Welcome to the world of buying stuff from MAF -

Are you talking about the mounting bolts welded to the bottom plate ?

 

[slcfj62]

Yes, those ones.

 

[dgangle]

my first call would be to who you bought it from rather than the conjecture and vendor bashing that has and will take here.

4+ is some well-thought out & built stuff. contact them and see what they have to say.

 

[slcfj62]

I will call them on Monday when they are open. I don't want to do any vendor bashing. I was just curious if someone had already crossed this bridge. When I first received the U-Bolt flip kit, the grooves for the U-Bolts on the bottom plates looked like a drunk had machined them. I took pictures and talked to Steve and they made it right, so I don't have any axe to grind with them. I have full expectation that I will get a satisfactory resolution eventually--I just wanted it today. I'm so close it's hard to be patient.

 

[Spike Strip]

4+ stuff is great.

MAF (at times) is not - I'm qualified to say so because of the multiple troubles I've had with stuff I've bought from them. Care to read my 40 gal tank troubles? My CAT converter troubles? My Tranny mount troubles ?

To MAF's credit, though, they made everything right. It was just lot of wasted time and frustration.

Anyway, sounds like you may have gotten the wrong bottom plate or wrong kit, unless the design has changed. Mine had no sleeve and bolts were plenty long.

Front :

 

[slcfj62]

Finally got this resolved. According to MAF, Toyota started making the shock mounts larger in diameter starting in 1987. MAF only stocks one size U-Bolt Flip Kit for 60 series, and it is the one with the smaller pin. MAF sent me some smaller bushings that fit the smaller diameter of the shock pins--the ones that came with the OME shocks were too big. They also sent me new front bottom plates, because the shock pins were too short. So with the new front plates and the bushings with the smaller holes, everything is finally together.

So, if you are ordering one of their U-Bolt Flip Kits, check to see if you will also need some different bushings. Hopefully they cured the other problem with the shock mount pin too short.

Ordering parts sight unseen over the internet is a bit of an adventure and requires some patience. So far, Man-a-Fre has made good on everything that I have purchased that was not right. I'm glad this rig is not my DD.

 

[bwesty]

Old thread here but reviving to see if anyone has the lower front shock pin diameter on the ubolt flip kit from ManAFre / 4+ they could measure with caliper? I need to make sure shock bushings size is correct.

 

[Spook50]

Old thread here but reviving to see if anyone has the lower front shock pin diameter on the ubolt flip kit from ManAFre / 4+ they could measure with caliper? I need to make sure shock bushings size is correct.

I just put on their current kit with my OME install week before last. The pins are slightly smaller than the stock Toyota pins, but they were a perfect fit for the bushings that came on my Bielstein shocks. The upper mounts for my rear shocks were too large for the Bielsteins but fortunately the bushings from my old shocks were in surprisingly good shape so I was able to swap a pair into the upper eyes of my new rear shocks. I have to put in caster shims one day this week so while I have it apart I'll try to remember to measure the pin diameter on the flip kit.

 

[pistonpete]

16 mm

 

[Skniper]

Can’t find my good calipers, but the crappy plastic caliper says the pin is 16mm.

4+ sells sleeves for the shock mount pin if needed, or just get other shock bushings to match the pin size.

 

[Spook50]

Can’t find my good calipers, but the crappy plastic caliper says the pin is 16mm.

4+ sells sleeves for the shock mount pin if needed, or just get other shock bushings to match the pin size.

Appropriate sized bushings is what I would recommend. Metal sleeve is just another part that could corrode and play hell when changing out bushings. For these and the sway bar bushings I went back to rubber that I'll change out every 4 or 5 years so they can be kept fresh. Body and springs I'm sticking with poly.

 

[Skniper]

Appropriate sized bushings is what I would recommend. Metal sleeve is just another part that could corrode and play hell when changing out bushings. For these and the sway bar bushings I went back to rubber that I'll change out every 4 or 5 years so they can be kept fresh. Body and springs I'm sticking with poly.

Yep, correct bushings is the way to go. I used the sleeves for a short time and slathered them in grease when installed. Didn’t like them for a long term solution.

 

[bwesty]

16 mm

Can’t find my good calipers, but the crappy plastic caliper says the pin is 16mm.

4+ sells sleeves for the shock mount pin if needed, or just get other shock bushings to match the pin size.

Appropriate sized bushings is what I would recommend. Metal sleeve is just another part that could corrode and play hell when changing out bushings. For these and the sway bar bushings I went back to rubber that I'll change out every 4 or 5 years so they can be kept fresh. Body and springs I'm sticking with poly.

Thanks everyone for the info.