Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Gday i see the topic of flipped leaves on here a fair bit and was just wondering how to do it and is there a benifit to it at all

Not sure what you mean. Do you mean spring over axle conversion? This moves the springs from their position under the axle and places them on top of the axle.

Landcruisers, Suzukis, Early patrols and Jeeps are candidates for this conversion. The only common australian market car with spring over axle standard is the Toyota Hilux.

It nets about 5" of lift on average depending on how it is done. It is easy to physically do if you have basic welding and mechanical ability (or pay a workshop) but it can be very hard and expensive to iron out all of the complications that it causes- all of the control systems of the car are affected, so steering work is required, brake lines, driveshaft work, and often the front axle has to be cut and rewelded to correct alignment issues.

It increases ground clearance, provides room in the guards for larger tyres and removes the springs from uncer the axle so clearance under the axle tubes improves too.

I hope this helps.
If you need more information, look fo the current (airfreight) issue of Petersen's 4Wheel and Offroad (July '06). It has a nice explanation of leaf spring suspension in it, with diagrams. Petersens is available in most decent newsagents and on airfreight at Borders bookshops in capital cities.

Steve.

Or do you mean shackle reversal again on Sierra's etc where the shackle for the front springs are on the front of the spring and you want to change to the rear of the spring a la Hilux. (Why do Lux's) have all the good ideas?? - Well, some)

Greg

or does he means flipped arms on the front of a landcruiser or patrol?

I JUST SEEN A FEW THREADS ON THIS AND OTHER SITES ABOUT FLIPPED SPRINGS FOR A BIT OF EXTRA HEIGHT ON HILUXES.JUST WANT TO KNOW IF ITS EASY OR HARD AND HOW ITS DONE?

NO NEED TO YELL!

I am still none the wiser as to what you mean. I cannot think of any way you can "flip" a spring on a hilux and gain any height.

PS- Hilux's sure do have all the good ideas... underpowered, high COG, track too narrow, stuff all wheeltravel, junk steering.... blah blah blah

I have had three hilux's and whilst I like the idea of them, they sure have their fair share of problems.

I am not a big fan of shackle reversals. They can be good at speed, but lead to poor behaviour on obstacles.

Steve.

maybe he means turning the springs around to lengthen (or shorten) wheelbase. not sure if you guys do that on hilux's though

Since we're talking Hiluxes - maybe he means if you flip the springs over the roof.....but don't think that'll net much height either

3/4 or full eliptic?