Lowering blocks-Does this look right?

Need some help with these lowering blocks...

Take a look at these pics and comment on what you see...

After they were installed the rear didn't appear to be lowered...

Thanks.

 

you need to flip the shackles up

 

Was this how your rear spring shackle was before or did it flip on you?

 

With those blocks it should look lowered. Might need shock extensions.
Looks like there may be a scrub line issue too.

 

X2 Shackles need flipped.

 

Your shackles flipped when you jacked it up, now the *** end is stuck on the shocks being topped out, pic 1 you can see where the dust cover is pinched on the shock

 

Disconnect the shocks. Jack the frame with rear wheels hanging. NOW flip the shackles.

Regarding the 'scrub issue', are those 15" wheels? If they're 14", get 15". The lower shock mounts are very close to the 'limit', as 'that guy with the coupe' pointed out.

 

LOL did this on a '53 Ford, had me scratching my head for a good 20 minutes.

 

I would think the shocks would be back to the stock location once the shackles are "flipped".

The location of the lower shock mount was not changed with the installation of the
lowering blocks.

If the scrub line becomes an issue, a new lower spring plate could be easily fabbed that
would put the ends of the U-bolts next to the spring and the lower shock mount could be raised at the same time.

 

ditto rich b, no shock issues, flip the shackles and your golden

 

Heres what it should look like, ok my pic is kinda ****py, you get the idea, also looking at your picture it looks like the spring bushings are shot, it would be a good diea to fix that while your working in that area.

 

Damn, that is right !! Essentially the "lowering" blocks just raise the axle.
Thanks !

 

My comment was that it looked like someone held the shocks with a set of channel locks and pinched the dust cover.
Obviously the shackles are flipped, but if that "pinch" is past the lip of the bottom it may catch when the car is brought down

 

Not the main issue, but something to keep an eye on...

 

I think your shackles flipped down when you were doing it. You need to flip them back up

 

x 2

 

Thanks for the comments and the help....

I thought they call these things lowering blocks but the fkr never moved once they were on. I put the jamco 3 inch front suspension drop kit in and it made the front end stance look good.

I will try to flip the shackles back up and see what happens. Thanks.

 

They are 15 inch wheels with 670's from coker...

 

Is flipping the shackle going to be hard to do after I did all this?

 

You can use a big *** crowbar to to try and flip the shackles. Its gonna be hard, because there is a lot of tension on that shackle.

 

The shackle was always up and shoud remain that way. When you had things loose and lifted the car the weight forced them to come down. Get them pointed back in the other direction and you are going to see a huge drop in the rear. Right now your shakles are countering your drop and then some, they are acting like a 6" lift!

 

What course of action do you suggest to flip the shackles back up?

 

The fun way would be to floor it in reverse and stomp on the brakes but some may frown at that...Jack up the car by the frame, chock the front tires,using a big bar pry spring forward and upward from the rear, be safe, use good jack stands and try to be outside the perimeter of the car.

 

Jack it up, take the shackles apart - buy new bushings - put it back together!!

 

I guess I should of said what is the easiest way to do it in my home garage with novice help?

 

The best way to flip the shackles up into their correct position is to jack up the frame of the car until the spring arch relaxes enough to allow you to push them forward, then lower the frame of the car while making sure to keep them up as you lower the car. At some point in the process they will pop into the upright hanging position and stay there.

I had to do the same thing when I added superglide lowering springs to my car and it sat higher instead of lower! Getting those rear shackles in the correct original position will bring you down around 3 or 4 inches in the rear end.

 

What would you say is the best place on the frame to jack up at and not damage anything?

 

The area just forward of the front spring eye is usually a good place.

 

Somewhere in front of the rear wheels, just ahead of the front spring mount for the rear leaf springs. But unless your frame is rusted out it won't matter much as long as it's toward the rear of the car. I don't remember because it's been years and years since I did mine, but I think I just jacked on the cross member at the very back of the frame.

You don't need to jack it up that much - the rear wheels should not leave the ground. It just takes raising the car a few inches to let the rear springs arch up, which brings that rear shackle forward toward the rear axle, which allows you to flip it up with a pry bar. Just keep your fingers away from the spring and wear heavy gloves and you should be fine. And you can flip either one first, then the other - the car won't care which one you flip first.