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U-Bolt Flip Kit Instructions

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PLEASE READ all instructions all the way through BEFORE YOU START!

IMPORTANT: A.O.R.’s front driver-side U-Bolt Flip will not work with the stock Toyota steering arm. You must use crossover steering or an inverted ball-joint setup.  

stock     A.O.R. U-Bolt Flip

NOTE: Do not start REAR U-Bolt Flips until you’ve planned out your lower rear shock mount setup. The stock U-bolt plates have integral shock mounts that are not reused. A.O.R. offers several weld-on lower mounts for a variety of shock setups.

SAFETY FIRST: A.O.R. U-Bolt Flip Kits can be installed without jacking up your vehicle, i.e. with the truck’s weight resting on the springs, PROVIDED YOU FOLLOW THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:

·         Park your Toyota on a firm, level work surface;

·         Apply emergency and securely chock the tires to prevent rolling; and

·         Complete each U-bolt and plate swap—from start to finish—in only one location at a time. For example, do the driver-side front completely, then do the passenger side. Never have more than one set of U-bolts loose at one time.       

Front U-Bolt Flip Installation:

            IMPORTANT: A.O.R. Front U-bolt plates are not interchangeable from side to side (i.e. Driver-side plate won’t fit on passenger side). U-bolts may also differ, depending upon application. Plates are labeled to indicate where they must be installed. To avoid confusion, do not remove labels until installation is complete.

Driver-Side (left) Front: Complete all driver-side steps before starting passenger (left) or rear installation.

1)      Secure your vehicle as described under SAFETY FIRST above.

            2)      Remove your existing driver-side (left) front U-bolts, bumpstop and U-bolt plate. They will not be reused.  

Stock U-bolts will not be reused, so carefully torching them off may be faster and easier than trying to unbolt them.

            3)      Place new A.O.R. driver-side U-bolt plate on top of the spring pack. Make sure arrow on label points to the front of your truck.

             4)      On trucks with ’84-’85 front axle, install new square-bend U-bolts, tighten with 7/8” or 22mm wrench or socket. Torque to 90 ft-lbs. For ’79-’83 front axles, install new short, round-bend U-bolts.

   It's normal to have a wedge-shaped gap between the bottom of the axle gusset and a square-bend U-bolt when the bolt is first installed. After torqueing nuts, check to be sure the U-bolts are snugged up flush with the bottom of the gusset.

Passenger-Side (right) Front:

            1)      Repeat Steps 1-3 from Driver-Side instructions above.

            4)      Install new long, round-bend U-bolt nearest the differential housing. Install           short, round-bend U-bolt on the outboard side of the spring pack. Tighten and torque to 100-120 ft-lbs.

Rear Installation (all models):

Remember: Complete one side before loosening the other!

1)      Unbolt shock absorber from existing U-bolt plate.

         2)      Complete Steps 1-4 from Driver-Side instructions above, EXCEPT: rear U-bolt plates and U-bolts are identical and symmetrical.  No need to worry about which end goes to the front.    

         3)   Install new U-bolts using 7/8” or 22mm wrench or socket. Torque to 100-120 ft-lbs.

         4)      Position and weld new shock mount tabs. Reinstall shocks.  

A.O.R. offers this and other weld-on shock mounts. Click HERE to see them!

            5)      Hey, You’re Done. Happy ‘Wheelin!!