Well, after a lot of searching/thinking/researching, I have came to the conclusion that the explorer axle is more suited for me.

1. Disk Brakes
2. 31 Spline
3. Avalibility/Cost

So the main question being, can I use a "flip kit" on an explorer axle to make it SOA (spring over axle)? Or will that not work?

I can find expo axles ALL DAY LONG!!! I almost picked one up after work for 105 out of a 01 with 45k miles...it's a 4.10 w/ ls of course. It's gone now, but I got the offer from a company I emailed. By the time I emailed them back, it was gone.


So like I said, flip kit? Would that work.

I can't afford welding it, nor do I want to.

 

if it will, i got a flip kit that you can buy : D

 

I just read this over at explorerforum

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...&highlight=soa

I can make perfect sense of it, and it seems EASY as can be...but the question is where can I find perches?

I'm like a second away from it...I just can't find a place!

 

Summit part # DCC-4120074

 

yes you can use a "flip kit" instead of rewelding the perches.. at least thats what i did for mine

 

I was trying to get the superllift one, but I can't find JUST the flip kit for it. Is there anything else I can use? The perch needs to be 3.25, most guys just run the mopar perch and grind it out until it fits, then put the leafs on top, use the shock mount as a stabilizer and turn the u bolts upside down. No problems that I've heard of, although I'd rather use a KIT!

 

google "spring pearch mounts" and see what comes up....there is some company out there that sell just the perch....all you would have to do is weld the new perch on top of the axle and there you go.....well besides take off the perch uner the axle....

 

here ya go....get the ones from Summit........you only need a 2.5" spring perch because that is how wide the ranger springs are.....

JEG's...
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...d=34305&CT=999

Summit...
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

 

Yea, I found some other ones from summit that everyone uses on explorerforums. They swear by em, the mopar ones. They are 3" axle tube diameter, so have to be ground down .25" all the way around (8.8's are 3.25").

So, I was thinking about just setting all the angles and all that jive myself, then taking it to a place like an exhaust shop and having them weld them on, I'm just scared they will mess it up.

I'd almost rather do the 32 dollar SOA mod, which is to NOT weld the perches on, just use SQUARE bolts and flip the bolts, so that the bolt goes over the leeaf spring. I dunno if I can do that though BC of my blocks, I have 2" blocks. We'll see.

 

Blue Torch Fab. They are located in the South and the have these:

http://www.bluetorchfab.com/oscomm/c...roducts_id=423

They fit 2.5" springs and a 3-1/8" to 3-3/8" tube. No Grinding to fit.

 

look at a Dodge 2500 rear end......that is how they are done.........they still have a spring perch just the u bolt plate is curved to fit the axle tube......and squared off u-bolts.....i guess they would be called square bolts....

 

Thats pretty cool!

Right now I'm in the process of trying to find superlift part number SUP1160.

It is the bolt on SOA kit for 109 dollars, I'll gladly spend that knowing I will not have to worry/weld/find pinion angle, etc. I can still use readily bought shocks and it will be a nice bolt on kit. I can use my blocks still, all I need it longer U bolts.

But...I can't find a place that sells em, tried jegs/4wp/summit, nothing, superlifts website too!!

Well worth it IMO. The strength I heard is good too!

I need all the strength I can get.

 

give superlift a call and see what they say....they may not make that kit anymore........have you ever tried looking into the chevy s-10 lift kits and see what they do for the rear? the s-10 has the spring under axle also....

 

find a local metal shop open the phone book and have them weld it, it serously takes like 10 min to weld those, and flip it. to easy

 

I'm just worried about the pinion angle.

I may just do the 32 dollar SOA mod (as they call it on expoforum) and get SQUARE u bolts (i don't know where to get those) and use the shock mount as a stabilizer on the bottom leaf perch and just plac ethe top leaf perch on top and bolt down. Everyone goes crazy about it and say's it's not all that bad...I may try it.

I called superlift, the guy didn't know what I was talking about. Nice customer service.

BTW here's the mod website http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/...&highlight=soa

Tell me what you think, I may just do that, it's cheap...

 

if you look he also has a spring perch on the top of the axle also.....you WILL have to have a upper spring perch no matter what....the springs can't just sit on the axle tube........

 

Yea, it didn't come out right when I typed it. I know there will always be a perch up there.

I was just wondering opinions on that setup, it seems kinda jimmy rigged, but he wheels HARD (or so he says) and he said 6 months it's been fine. I may just do that!