Anyone want a good reason to not run lift blocks?

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 03:44 PM

Stock springs on an '88 4Runner:
drivers side from the rear:

drivers side from the front (outside the chassis):

drivers side from the front (inside the chassis):

passenger side from the rear (spring fatigued so bad that the load leaf is contacting the spring):
(*edited from "drivers side from front..." mis-interpreted my own pics)

passengers side wrapped up just like the drivers is. notice the reverse arch by the shock:

dubweiser · 05-13-2008, 03:47 PM

not good enough reason for me

Jay351 · 05-13-2008, 03:49 PM

..... Just wait till they explode.

Blocks are for rednecks in chevys.

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 03:53 PM

double post

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay351

..... Just wait till they explode.

Blocks are for rednecks in chevys.

Most agreed!

However, I got the full lift kit for 400 from a guy doing an SAS swap. Got the front brackets and spindle spacers and rear block and u-bolts. All that axle wrap has occured since Feb of 2007, after about 15,000 miles, give or take.

Jay351 · 05-13-2008, 03:56 PM

See, blocks in any form are a bad idea. If you MUST run them, 1" MAX.

I love watching the axle rotate under a block lifted truck...

Well, time to look for some 63" chevys

Throw a longer shackle on and there you go. 4" of lift and it'l ride like a caddy.

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubweiser

not good enough reason for me

How about the fact that the lift kit has only been on the truck for 14 months? (sorry, misread my calendar)
How about the fact that the springs weren't 'S' shaped and didn't have a reverse arch at all before the lift was installed?
How about the fact that the reverse arch has caused my input shaft to the rear differential to rotate towards the ground about 10 degrees?

If that's not enough, bear in mind that the 4runner has only been off road 3 times and each time was on simple fire roads- no puddle jumping, rock crawling (well, 'cept for the pile of rock at one of my jobs)- and has been on the highway (I-5 between Los Angeles and Sacramento) most of the rest of the time.

hurley842002 · 05-13-2008, 04:09 PM

Just goes back to doing it right the first time. There are plenty of other options out there, that are safer and easier on your equipment.

norcalsvx · 05-13-2008, 04:12 PM

looks like you have about 1-2" of rear travel back there

grovedogg · 05-13-2008, 04:18 PM

hmm, those look like my pics under my runner.
the sag in the back was so bad I just put 2 inchers in for temporary fix.
i've had them in for only 3 months now, no probs... as of yet, but they'll come out before another 3 months.

seafarinman · 05-13-2008, 04:21 PM

Aw, C'mon all the big powerful mall crawling full size trucks are doing it!! I had a guy drive up to me in my truck a few months back. He had an 4" IFS lift kit with a 3" bodylift and 35" tires on his rig. He parked alongside my rig, and asked me how big the blocks on my rear springs were. I told him that I didn't have any. He then asked how big my bodylift was, and I told him I didn't have one. Then he asked what size tires I was running, and I told him that I have 37's. He insisted that I was running blocks when he saw my overload leaves under the 5" All Pro springs. I told him to look closely, which he did, and then apparently he was offended that my truck was more built than his, and took off! I am so glad that I never wasted my money on that stuff and did it right the first time.

Jay351 · 05-13-2008, 04:25 PM

Haha. although... IMO body lifts are better then lift blocks..

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hurley842002

Just goes back to doing it right the first time. There are plenty of other options out there, that are safer and easier on your equipment.

As said, I got the kit for 400 bucks. I knew then that the blocks would likely cause a problem. I also knew that the old springs were... well.. OLD and fatigued, and would need replaced. I'm finally getting around to replacing the rear leafs and ditching the blocks.

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norcalsvx

looks like you have about 1-2" of rear travel back there

yep. max compression.
Yet another reason to not use blocks for a lift, unless you're only going for looks.

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 04:35 PM

Maybe I need a rewind here. Why does it feel like I'm getting beaten up for trying to help?

I bought the 4Runner in September 2006. Got the lift in February 2007 for 400 bucks from a guy going SAS.
Yeah, maybe 'doin it right the first time' is a cliche'. On the other hand I already knew the leafs were going to get changed out so I decided to beat the horse to death.
Now I'm only posting the pics to demonstrate what blocks on an older truck can do.

hurley842002 · 05-13-2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abecedarian

Maybe I need a rewind here. Why does it feel like I'm getting beaten up for trying to help?

I bought the 4Runner in September 2006. Got the lift in February 2007 for 400 bucks from a guy going SAS.
Yeah, maybe 'doin it right the first time' is a cliche'. On the other hand I already knew the leafs were going to get changed out so I decided to beat the horse to death.
Now I'm only posting the pics to demonstrate what blocks on an older truck can do.

Not trying to beat you up at all and I wasn't targeting your purchase. You bring a very valid and worthwhile topic to the discussion board and its good that you are discouraging lift blocks.

SwampThing · 05-13-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay351

..... Just wait till they explode.

Blocks are for rednecks in chevys.

I feel like I should defend that statement somehow... I just dunno how!

abecedarian · 05-13-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hurley842002

Not trying to beat you up at all and I wasn't targeting your purchase. You bring a very valid and worthwhile topic to the discussion board and its good that you are discouraging lift blocks.

Thank you.

Luvmeye22re · 05-13-2008, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abecedarian

How about the fact that the lift kit has only been on the truck for 14 months? (sorry, misread my calendar)
How about the fact that the springs weren't 'S' shaped and didn't have a reverse arch at all before the lift was installed?
How about the fact that the reverse arch has caused my input shaft to the rear differential to rotate towards the ground about 10 degrees?

If that's not enough, bear in mind that the 4runner has only been off road 3 times and each time was on simple fire roads- no puddle jumping, rock crawling (well, 'cept for the pile of rock at one of my jobs)- and has been on the highway (I-5 between Los Angeles and Sacramento) most of the rest of the time.

Yup, that's a good way to go through ujoints faster than toilet paper in a prison and if one of your leafs breaks around the center pin and separates from the pack that axles going to end up riding under your bumper. 5000 times less likely to happen with real lift springs.

05-13-2008, 03:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
abecedarian Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern California cool babes and tasty waves Posts: 1,965	Anyone want a good reason to not run lift blocks? Stock springs on an '88 4Runner: drivers side from the rear: drivers side from the front (outside the chassis): drivers side from the front (inside the chassis): passenger side from the rear (spring fatigued so bad that the load leaf is contacting the spring): (edited from "drivers side from front..." mis-interpreted my own pics) passengers side wrapped up just like the drivers is. notice the reverse arch by the shock: __________________ Save the world! Protect the environment!! Conserve nature!!!!! Eat a vegetarian / vegan. Never overlook the obvious- it's murphy's favorite place to hide. now for the rides- '88 4runner- 22RE, 5 speed, IFS, 4" superlift up front, procomp in the back \| '91 p'up- 2wd, 22RE, auto, 3.5" fabtech lift \| '89 Celica GT convertible- all stock \| '72 Firebird- 400cid - a work in progress. '82 Honda CX-500TC Turbo motorcycle, the other project. Last edited by abecedarian : 05-13-2008 at 04:05 PM.

05-13-2008, 03:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jay351 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,453	..... Just wait till they explode. Blocks are for rednecks in chevys. __________________ 91 Pickup - xcab - 5sp - 3.0 - sr5 - 4x4 - 220,000kms \|2.25" catback w/ magnaflow cat + glasspack \| Weasy2k cams \| Aisin manual hubs \|Diff breather mod \| Marlin HD clutch \|3" BL \| es3000's \|2" AAL \|1.5" bj spacers \| ISR \| Alpine headunit \| 4" Infinity fronts/5" rears \| 4.88's \|Rear lockright \| 33x12.50" BFG M/T on 15x8" steelies \|Hella 500's \|4" reverse lights\| Grant GT \|Downey idler arm brace\| Marlin armor \| Amsoil synthetic drivetrain fluids http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2572486

05-13-2008, 03:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
abecedarian Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern California cool babes and tasty waves Posts: 1,965	double post __________________ Save the world! Protect the environment!! Conserve nature!!!!! Eat a vegetarian / vegan. Never overlook the obvious- it's murphy's favorite place to hide. now for the rides- '88 4runner- 22RE, 5 speed, IFS, 4" superlift up front, procomp in the back \| '91 p'up- 2wd, 22RE, auto, 3.5" fabtech lift \| '89 Celica GT convertible- all stock \| '72 Firebird- 400cid - a work in progress. '82 Honda CX-500TC Turbo motorcycle, the other project. Last edited by abecedarian : 05-13-2008 at 03:56 PM.*

05-13-2008, 03:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jay351 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,453	See, blocks in any form are a bad idea. If you MUST run them, 1" MAX. I love watching the axle rotate under a block lifted truck... Well, time to look for some 63" chevys Throw a longer shackle on and there you go. 4" of lift and it'l ride like a caddy. __________________ 91 Pickup - xcab - 5sp - 3.0 - sr5 - 4x4 - 220,000kms \|2.25" catback w/ magnaflow cat + glasspack \| Weasy2k cams \| Aisin manual hubs \|Diff breather mod \| Marlin HD clutch \|3" BL \| es3000's \|2" AAL \|1.5" bj spacers \| ISR \| Alpine headunit \| 4" Infinity fronts/5" rears \| 4.88's \|Rear lockright \| 33x12.50" BFG M/T on 15x8" steelies \|Hella 500's \|4" reverse lights\| Grant GT \|Downey idler arm brace\| Marlin armor \| Amsoil synthetic drivetrain fluids http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2572486 Last edited by Jay351 : 05-13-2008 at 03:57 PM.

05-13-2008, 04:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
hurley842002 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 275	Just goes back to doing it right the first time. There are plenty of other options out there, that are safer and easier on your equipment. __________________ 1986 4runner 31" mt's aftermarket shackles Custom front bumper/winch Light bar/auxilary lighting Rear Detroit future mods: 33's maybe 35's, 5.29's, Rear bumper with tire/jerry can,highlift mounts, sliders. Conquer with the IFS until I can't conquer anymore and then do an SAS.

05-13-2008, 03:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
dubweiser Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 26	not good enough reason for me

05-13-2008, 04:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
norcalsvx Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Alpine--GRASS valley, CA Posts: 2,116	looks like you have about 1-2" of rear travel back there __________________ 1994 toy 22re- http://www.yotatech.com/f86/nocalsvx-s-94-toy-104593/ 2006 Subaru Forester XT -some mods/awd 5spd 1994 Subaru SVX- hwy runner 84 RX7- drag car build

05-13-2008, 04:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
grovedogg Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Redding, California Posts: 129	hmm, those look like my pics under my runner. the sag in the back was so bad I just put 2 inchers in for temporary fix. i've had them in for only 3 months now, no probs... as of yet, but they'll come out before another 3 months. __________________ 1984 4Runner SR5 - 22r - 31x10.5 BFG MTR's - All-Pro Off Road Rear Bumper - Safari Roof Rack 91 Toyota Camry 185k - wrecked R.I.P. 96 Toyota Camry 285k - Sold 02 Toyota Camry 155k - Wife's Car My Build Up .................................................. ...........................4x4 Trailhunters

05-13-2008, 04:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
seafarinman Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kitsap County WA Posts: 970	Aw, C'mon all the big powerful mall crawling full size trucks are doing it!! I had a guy drive up to me in my truck a few months back. He had an 4" IFS lift kit with a 3" bodylift and 35" tires on his rig. He parked alongside my rig, and asked me how big the blocks on my rear springs were. I told him that I didn't have any. He then asked how big my bodylift was, and I told him I didn't have one. Then he asked what size tires I was running, and I told him that I have 37's. He insisted that I was running blocks when he saw my overload leaves under the 5" All Pro springs. I told him to look closely, which he did, and then apparently he was offended that my truck was more built than his, and took off! I am so glad that I never wasted my money on that stuff and did it right the first time. __________________ Rome the "Seafarinman" IT1(SW) US NAVY 1994 SAS 2RZ/R151F=244:1 coming soon http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a176/seafarinman/

05-13-2008, 04:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
Jay351 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 4,453	Haha. although... IMO body lifts are better then lift blocks.. __________________ 91 Pickup - xcab - 5sp - 3.0 - sr5 - 4x4 - 220,000kms \|2.25" catback w/ magnaflow cat + glasspack \| Weasy2k cams \| Aisin manual hubs \|Diff breather mod \| Marlin HD clutch \|3" BL \| es3000's \|2" AAL \|1.5" bj spacers \| ISR \| Alpine headunit \| 4" Infinity fronts/5" rears \| 4.88's \|Rear lockright \| 33x12.50" BFG M/T on 15x8" steelies \|Hella 500's \|4" reverse lights\| Grant GT \|Downey idler arm brace\| Marlin armor \| Amsoil synthetic drivetrain fluids http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2572486

05-13-2008, 04:35 PM	#15 (permalink)
abecedarian Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southern California cool babes and tasty waves Posts: 1,965	Maybe I need a rewind here. Why does it feel like I'm getting beaten up for trying to help? I bought the 4Runner in September 2006. Got the lift in February 2007 for 400 bucks from a guy going SAS. Yeah, maybe 'doin it right the first time' is a cliche'. On the other hand I already knew the leafs were going to get changed out so I decided to beat the horse to death. Now I'm only posting the pics to demonstrate what blocks on an older truck can do. __________________ Save the world! Protect the environment!! Conserve nature!!!!! Eat a vegetarian / vegan. *Never overlook the obvious- it's murphy's favorite place to hide. now for the rides- '88 4runner- 22RE, 5 speed, IFS, 4" superlift up front, procomp in the back \| '91 p'up- 2wd, 22RE, auto, 3.5" fabtech lift \| '89 Celica GT convertible- all stock \| '72 Firebird- 400cid - a work in progress. '82 Honda CX-500TC Turbo motorcycle, the other project.