GMC/Leaf Spring Axle Flip Lit - ?

[maverickmk]

Anyone with leaf springs use an axle flip kit like this one to lower your truck?

https://djmsuspension.com/product/fk1012-5/

How much did it drop it? Are they solid, sturdy?

[Rufas]

I did a flip kit early on my 70 GMC 2500. I removed all but one leaf to get the drop I wanted. I felt that setup was extremely weak and might have a lot of axle wrap.

I finally decided to get rid of the leaf springs completely and went RideTech's Strong Arm bolt in 4 point trailing arm suspension. Glad I and no regrets.

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[maverickmk]

How low does a flip kit go? I'm looking to get 3-4" at the most.

[Rufas]

Originally Posted by maverickmk

How low does a flip kit go? I'm looking to get 3-4" at the most.

Take the height of the axle perch pad and the diameter of the axle tube. Add those two values together and that will be the amount you will lower your truck when the axle has been flipped.

[lobuck64]

I got a 65 GMC using a rear axle out of 75 C10 so using a flip kit for 73-87 c10 p/o put Nova rear axle under it but I didn't like that set up hope to have it all together this weekend

[maverickmk]

Originally Posted by Rufas

Take the height of the axle perch pad and the diameter of the axle tube. Add those two values together and that will be the amount you will lower your truck when the axle has been flipped.

Thank you for answering a question that if I had just taken a minute to use my noggin I could have figured it out on my own
Feeling like a doofus now.

[dagnabbitt]

I did an axle flip on my 81, it went much much lower than 4 inches. It was more like 6. I dropped the front 4 1/2 too using spindles and shocks. I plan to basically do the same thing with my 70 stepper if I can get my act together.

If you are just looking for a mild drop an axle flip is probably not what you want IMO.

But maybe you bite the bullet and slam that truck! Most people in my experience who start off with a mild drop end up dropping it even further later on.

[Mike C]

I used the DJM flip kit on my 69 short step. It dropped the truck 7 1/4" with the HD springs that my truck has. 4 leaf instead of 3 I think? I am running CalTrac bars and removed the overload because it hit the bars, but that has no bearing on the lowering amount.

4 1/2" drop in the front with ECE spindles and springs.

[maverickmk]

Originally Posted by Mike C

I used the DJM flip kit on my 69 short step. It dropped the truck 7 1/4" with the HD springs that my truck has. 4 leaf instead of 3 I think? I am running CalTrac bars and removed the overload because it hit the bars, but that has no bearing on the lowering amount.

4 1/2" drop in the front with ECE spindles and springs.

There it is! That's what I wanted to see. I didn't want to get new spindles, but it's looks like that will "have" to be done

[Mike C]

I had a specific goal in mine and that started with disc brakes which need spindles anyhow, so dropped made sense.

The 275 55 17 tires in the back on 17x9" wheel with 5" bs required the wider axle from a 71-72 truck to put the wheel in the right spot. I am running the urethane puck bump stops that came with the kit and have not c-notched. It hits the stops sometimes but really a non-issue.

I am running 4 stock length front shocks. In the rear I re-drilled the upper mount plate to put the shock in the more vertical 2nd hole. I think I may have run a 69 Camaro multi-leaf shock mount in the hole? Don't remember now.

On the front it has 17x8" wheels with 4.5" bs and 235 55 17. I added a sway bar from a parts truck I had but bought the ECE sway bar lowering brackets.