I have an 88' 4x2 4 cylinder auto standard cab/bed truck. I had a 4 inch suspension lift installed but the 6" shackles didnt lift the rear quite high enough so I custom built some 12" shackles to level the truck out. Of course my drive shaft angle changed so I would lose transmission fluid from the rear of the transmission. After having it sealed 3 times, it stopped leaking. Later I had a 3" body lift installed. The truck has always had the leaf springs going UNDER the rear axle. I was looking last night, it appears to be just a plate on bottom with 2 U bolts on top and 4 nuts (and 1 small clip to secure a small brake line before it runs across the rear axle) Is it possible to just flip this apparatus up side down and allow the leaf springs to sit on TOP of the axle ? Im no expert but it looks plausible. The only complication I foresee is I may have to swap the left assembly with the right to keep the brake line clips in the rear. Is this an easy thing to do or are there are more complicating things I'm going to encounter (ie changing the drive shaft angle, length, compromising the stability of the truck, etc.. ) I hope if I can raise the leafs up with this move, I can go back to the 6" rear shackle that came with the kit and take off my custom made 12" ones because the leafs will be higher. It may also put my drive shaft back at the angle it was at originally (or closer I hope). Thanks for any replies.
'88 leaf over axle conversion
- Thread starter Larz28
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Ya, photos please. I gotta see this.
Sure, you can physically flip the rear axle 180deg. Then you'll have 1 forward and 4 reverse gears. Truck will go backwards in D. Think about it.
It is feasibly possible to convert to SOA (Spring Over Axle) in the rear, but you will need to have the spring perches torched off the bottom and new ones welded on top of the axle. This will cause some other problems, not impossible, but I believe you may get to the end of the project and wish you'd never started.
Hilux, go for it. Jibberish plug-in enabled.
Sure, you can physically flip the rear axle 180deg. Then you'll have 1 forward and 4 reverse gears. Truck will go backwards in D. Think about it.
It is feasibly possible to convert to SOA (Spring Over Axle) in the rear, but you will need to have the spring perches torched off the bottom and new ones welded on top of the axle. This will cause some other problems, not impossible, but I believe you may get to the end of the project and wish you'd never started.
Hilux, go for it. Jibberish plug-in enabled.
- Thread starter
- #4
here you go... I hope the pic works
no i dont want to flip the entire axle. just the U bolts and plate they clamp to, with the leafs on TOP of the axle. i dont think i have to cut or weld anything to the axle to do this (as far as I can see)
no i dont want to flip the entire axle. just the U bolts and plate they clamp to, with the leafs on TOP of the axle. i dont think i have to cut or weld anything to the axle to do this (as far as I can see)
- Thread starter
- #5
KLF, you were absolutely right about the leaf spring perches. I thought that was all part of the plate. I think you're right, it can be done if you want it done bad enough but it will probably be 10x more trouble than its worth. I appreciate the info...
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All this for just a 2WD truck????????????????
ditto... a 2WD with a 4" suspension, 3" body and 12" shackles...
I don't do 7.5" diffs geared higher than 4:11's and slip yokes, so I'm out.
Somebody wants a pre-runner BAD!
I shudder to think the effective gear ratio it will have after whatever tire's gonna be used...
2wd's had what? 3:50-3:90 gears? And that was at what? A 20" tire?
A person wanting to do a proper build could buy a IFS 4WD and rip out the 4WD and buy either Blaze or Total Chaos arms and have a way better base to start from.
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I was thinking lift it, throw on some bling rims, a spoiler, some miscolored body panels, a hood scoop and a fart can and call it a tuner. Making it into a pre-Taco prerunner would be... interesting.
Or combine them... Pre-tuner?
i been away from this section for months and then come back to this??!!
wow. hey do u live in newberg? i seen a over done 2 wheeler at fred meyers a few times.
since ur goin full throttle here, u may as well put a 4x4 rear axle in there. basically bolt and go.
but dont tell anyone i gave u that idea
wow. hey do u live in newberg? i seen a over done 2 wheeler at fred meyers a few times.
since ur goin full throttle here, u may as well put a 4x4 rear axle in there. basically bolt and go.
but dont tell anyone i gave u that idea