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Installing lowering blocks

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by pokey, Oct 29, 2010.

  1. pokey
    Joined: Apr 3, 2009
    Posts: 217

    pokey
    Member

    Does anyone out there know the correct way to install lowering blocks under a GM Rear. I had blocks put under my car and it raised the car up two inches clearly there is something wrong.
     
  2. lawman
    Joined: Sep 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,665

    lawman
    Member

    How about a picture taken of the blocks under the car ? Tom (Tired Old Man)
     
  3. 38FLATTIE
    Joined: Oct 26, 2008
    Posts: 4,349

    38FLATTIE
    Member
    from Colorado

    You did put the blocks on top of the springs, and below the axle housing?
     
  4. tooslow54
    Joined: May 6, 2005
    Posts: 929

    tooslow54
    Member

    How the hell did that happen? As mentioned, they go between the spring and axle tube.
     
  5. 38FLATTIE
    Joined: Oct 26, 2008
    Posts: 4,349

    38FLATTIE
    Member
    from Colorado

    Just a thought- your springs are UNDER the axles tubes, correct?;)
     
  6. pokey
    Joined: Apr 3, 2009
    Posts: 217

    pokey
    Member

    I hope I get this right, The block is on top of the spring. I thought the block went in at the shock plate. I'm I wrong with this?
     
  7. 38FLATTIE
    Joined: Oct 26, 2008
    Posts: 4,349

    38FLATTIE
    Member
    from Colorado

    Put the blocks on top of the springs, and below the axle housing. Have a pic?
     
  8. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,635

    Kerrynzl
    Member

    A picture is worth a thousand words

    Lesson 1:
    [​IMG]
     
    vtx1800 likes this.
  9. Lone Star Mopar
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 4,220

    Lone Star Mopar
    Member

    Damn, Pokey for a guy that " Built 12 cars and modified 5" this should be pretty simple :D ! Your block goes between the axle tube and leaf spring, then clamp em together with some longer ubolts. Finish up with new shocks if needed.


    edit: kerrynzl beat me too it.^^ That pic pretty much sums it up.
     
  10. 53sled
    Joined: Jul 5, 2005
    Posts: 5,817

    53sled
    Member
    from KCMO

    Put the car up level on jack stands.
    You should pull 1 u-bolt out on one side,
    put in the 2" longer u-bolt and start a nut on the end.
    with the frame on jack stands,
    use a jack to support the axle on the side you are working on.
    remove the second, original u-bolt.
    now, use the jack to make room for the lowering block.
    put in the block and second u bolt.
    lower the jack to rest the axle on the block. finish installing the u bolts. the shock should be fine, as the location of the spring doesn't change. It would be a good time to replace worn shocks though.
     
  11. pokey
    Joined: Apr 3, 2009
    Posts: 217

    pokey
    Member

    Sounds like you have done ths before:D No you did not hurt my feelings. I have restored a bunch of cars however I have never tried to lower any of them. That pic makes things simple. In the beginning I did just what is in the pic. The car raised up 2 inches:eek: This is what I don't understand. I had 3 inche lowering blocks under the car. I got some Posies slider springs which were suppoed to lower the car 2 inches. I had them installed. the car was just a bit to high so I got an 1 inche block and a 2 degree shim. This threw the drive shaft angle off( you can see its pointed downward and it raised the car up( why do they call them lowering blocks) This is why I think I have done something wrong. Now I had the guy remove the block, he left the shim in and the car is at the same ride height. I am going to the garage tomorrow I will take some pic's
     
  12. Domino
    Joined: Jul 2, 2009
    Posts: 529

    Domino
    Member

    If you put the blocks on top of the springs and under the rear end it has to lower the car. It is dropping the springs down the thickness of the blocks and therefore lowering the car. I put 2" blocks on my Galaxie and it did just as advertised. This is mine.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. RDR
    Joined: May 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,546

    RDR
    Member

    definitely sounds like your shackles are flipped down and raising the car...look and see if they are...if so jack it back up take a bar and flip them back up where they belong
     
  14. Domino
    Joined: Jul 2, 2009
    Posts: 529

    Domino
    Member

    That actually makes sense. When I put new shackle bushings in my car the shackle got flipped on one side and my car sat crooked.
     
  15. pokey
    Joined: Apr 3, 2009
    Posts: 217

    pokey
    Member

    OK GUY'S i GOT SOME PIC'S i WANT YOU TO LOOK AT HOW i HAVE THE SHIM, THIS IS WHERE i HAD THE BLOCK. tHE SHACKLE WAS AND IS FLIP BACK(GOOD POINT) WHEN WE FIRST DID THE SPRINGS THEY WERE FLIPED DOWN. i WOULD ALSO LIKE YOU GUY'S TO LOOK AT THE PINUON ANGLE. cAN YOU SEE THE SHIM LOOK VERY CLOSE.
     

    Attached Files:

  16. pokey
    Joined: Apr 3, 2009
    Posts: 217

    pokey
    Member

    cOULD MY PROBLEM BE THAT i HAVE TWO MANY LEAFS AND MY SPRING? tHIS IS WHY THE BLOCKS DID NOT EFFECT THE HEIGHT?
     
  17. pokey
    Joined: Apr 3, 2009
    Posts: 217

    pokey
    Member

    The shock!if the shock is extended all the way it will not let the bdy drop. I need some longer shocks how can I orderthem?
     
  18. re49
    Joined: Jun 7, 2003
    Posts: 196

    re49
    Member

    The shocks shouldn't have to be changed. You're just raising the axle on the blocks, not changing the distance between the shock mount plates and the frame. Blocks between axle and spring, if the spring is below the axle, has to work. How could it not??
     
  19. 53sled
    Joined: Jul 5, 2005
    Posts: 5,817

    53sled
    Member
    from KCMO

    I don't know, maybe your tape measure is broken.
     
  20. BBYBMR
    Joined: Apr 27, 2007
    Posts: 612

    BBYBMR
    Member

    Are you serious? Holy ****!
     
  21. RDR
    Joined: May 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,546

    RDR
    Member

    it must be those wheels....I don't think a car with those kind of wheels can be lowered?!
     
  22. terrarodder
    Joined: Sep 9, 2005
    Posts: 1,101

    terrarodder
    Member
    from EASTERN PA


    Your axle stays at the same height but your body drops the same amount as the blocks. So the shock will too long. Been there, done that.
     
  23. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 24,536

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    This only holds true if the shock is attached to the axle.

    In the case that it is attached to the u-bolt plate, as is the case with the person posing the question, then the lower shock mount goes down too.

    In that case, the shock geometry does not change.
     
  24. hillbilly4008
    Joined: Feb 13, 2009
    Posts: 3,095

    hillbilly4008
    Member
    from Rome NY

    X2, pretty straight forward stuff
     
  25. 50styleline
    Joined: Apr 23, 2010
    Posts: 375

    50styleline
    Member

    I had a chevy on jackstands for a long time. When i put back on pavement it was about 4" high. It took a few days of driving and it wound up at regular stance. Springs were not sloppy but i still don't know why it did that.
     
  26. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,635

    Kerrynzl
    Member


    WHAAAAT!!!!

    The shocks are mounted to the bottom spring plate! When the spring gets lowered so does the body [by the same amount ]so the shocks remain the same length
    The springs and shackles, spring plate etc are totally unchanged
    The number of leaves is irrelevent.
    All you're doing is moving the axle UP under the car a bit more [ which effectively lowers the car ]
    If your shackles flip, thats piss-poor-mechanical-ability ,not the lowering blocks fault

    Be careful you don't lower it too much, the diff might scape over bumps! [ Sarcasm totally intended to offend ]
     
  27. The Shocker
    Joined: Dec 30, 2004
    Posts: 3,538

    The Shocker
    Member

    Now im confused :confused: .If the shocks are attached to the spring plate then the same shocks should work.I have never had a problem with the length of the shocks after adding lowering blocks ...
     
  28. Kerrynzl
    Joined: Jun 20, 2010
    Posts: 3,635

    Kerrynzl
    Member


    Don't be confused, you've never had a problem.
    Read my last comment, and look at the photo I posted on this thread.

    On some rear-ends [ usually Pom **** , or coil rear-ends converted to leaf springs] the lower shock mount is on the diff housing not the spring plate
    This will require a shorter shock when lowering [ or a shock mount spring plate ]

    Google Image "lowering blocks"
     
  29. The Shocker
    Joined: Dec 30, 2004
    Posts: 3,538

    The Shocker
    Member

    Got ya .Fortunatley all the ones i have installed used shock studs made on the spring plates.If the shocks are mounted on the housing i can see how the shocks would be too long after the blocks ...
     
  30. pokey
    Joined: Apr 3, 2009
    Posts: 217

    pokey
    Member

    I have installed the lowering blocks
     

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