Loweriiing
New User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Eugene, Oregon
I dont think that the springs will function upside down. the arch is then going the wrong way and you wont really have any rear suspension. I would just do a spring under conversion, if you are trying to do it yourself. That way you still have suspension in the rear, you just have the springs going under the axle instead of over it. Just my $.02 worth.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Portland, OR
Yes, of coarse you can flip your springs. Don't forget to check your pinion angle though. If it's off more than 90 degrees it's best to flip your rear axle upside down as well. Don't forget to switch your brake backing plates when you do this, otherwise your E-brake cables won't reach.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
Funny...
What we used to do a lot when racing was to disassemble the leaf springs and flip just the main leaf (this was on a passenger car so it was already undersprung, and we wanted to stay away from lowering blocks as much as possible.)
This was a bit of a pain to do and since it put the leaves in conflicting arcs, was pretty touchy to assemble, very interesting when one would slip before you could get them bolted back together.
I don't really recommend trying it...
It had the effect of flattening the spring and reducing the spring rate. But since you have a truck which is oversprung (spring sits over the axle) I'd do the spring under conversion mentioned above. Much simpler and will get you a quick and easy (relatively easy) 4 inches or so of drop.
What we used to do a lot when racing was to disassemble the leaf springs and flip just the main leaf (this was on a passenger car so it was already undersprung, and we wanted to stay away from lowering blocks as much as possible.)
This was a bit of a pain to do and since it put the leaves in conflicting arcs, was pretty touchy to assemble, very interesting when one would slip before you could get them bolted back together.
I don't really recommend trying it...It had the effect of flattening the spring and reducing the spring rate. But since you have a truck which is oversprung (spring sits over the axle) I'd do the spring under conversion mentioned above. Much simpler and will get you a quick and easy (relatively easy) 4 inches or so of drop.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 74
From: Hartford, AL
Why would you want to do that...just flip the axle for 5" of drop, then you could add lowering shackles and hangers for another 4" if needed....that would be pretty low. Lower than that I would go to a 4 link with airbags....of course you will have to c-notch your frame for suspension travel. The challenge will be to get the front as low as the back.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 295
Likes: 0
From: conway arkansas
Originally Posted by averagef250
Yes, of coarse you can flip your springs. Don't forget to check your pinion angle though. If it's off more than 90 degrees it's best to flip your rear axle upside down as well. Don't forget to switch your brake backing plates when you do this, otherwise your E-brake cables won't reach
i sure dont understand what you sayin here, like an earlier post said, springs are arched for a reason, as they are compressed they flatten out and become longer center to center meausured at teh spring eyes, hence the reason for a shackle that moves basically in a front to rear motion as the compresss and rebound, yes it would be possible i dont doubt it, but it'll be like ridin in a mexican rice wagon
Last edited by TigerDan; Jun 7, 2007 at 07:13 PM.
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Hotshot
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,462
Likes: 74
From: Hartford, AL
I would just leave the springs as designed and put the axle on top of the spring instead on the bottom of they spring...will lower like 4-5". forget flipping the springs and everything else.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by jake11
What if I flip the frame instead. Redo the cab and bed mounts.
its a truck for gods sake.. leave it like that, i know u want it to look good. but dang, if u want it that low put some bags on it, be a heck of alot easier in my eyes.
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