Erich_870

My saggy rear end is gone!!

My roommate and I finished installing my new add-a-leafs and u-bolts last night at 2 AM I am happy to say that the drive is sooo much nicer, espcially at high way speeds, that annoying shaking that would make my ass go numb is gone. I also gained about 2 1/4 inch in height, which will go down a bit I'm sure, but it looks much better.

Wanted to say thanks to Toddski for his tech article on doing this, his pictures were golden.

I suggest that anyone with a 1st gen should to this, it rides so much smoother and it actually looks tough again. I don't have any pics because I was rushing before I had to go to work, and when I got home and got started again, it was dark and FREEZING!! (28 F, I think I heard). Todds are good enough anyway.

Unlike Todd though, I had to cut the nut off the leaf retainer bolts, it was solid. I even tried grabbing it with some vice grips, but the bolt started grinding the teeth off, then I pulled out my trusty hack saw. It was very satisfying cracking that thing with a chizel

Plays_with_Toys

Sweet! Now just change your signature to match your new stance.

Erich_870

Sad news,

Went out opening day of duck season, did a lot of off roading to get to secluded parts and while it handled very well I noticed on the way home my hwy vibrations were back!!

Also it is sitting quite a bit lower, I realize it would settle, but I was hoping it would be less than this.

Here is a pic.

OneTrickToy

I used blocks to level out the back of my 91 Pickup and it looks great. It's not going to settle which was the nice thing. I just picked the new height. While it won't make a HUGE difference in highway vibrations, it does make a difference. It changes the aerodynamics and changes different angles. Cheap too. About $35 for the blocks and another $35 or so for longer Ubolts.

Plays_with_Toys

I thought the consensus was blocks are a no-no because they can break off and att freeway speeds a break off could be deadly.

My truck sags about that much... How sad, you have way more weight in the back and still sit higher.

OneTrickToy

What breaks off on the blocks? Mine are Cast blocks, the things were at LEAST 6 or 7 lbs each. They didn't feel like something that would break.

Erich_870

I suspect that the U-Bolts are what are rumored to break. The longer they get between the top of the springs and the nuts, the more concered I would be, thats a lot of bending moment.

Unfortunetly in my case, I trimmed my U-bolts to fit this set up and I don't want to pay another 30+ bucks for more U-bolts and blocks. I still have better springs than before so I will just shut up and be happy with them.

crazyhick

as far as i understand ...blocks won't break .... but they would slide or get pushed out .... if you do alot of wheeling.

with the distance of the axle from the springs ... there is more leverage there... and underforce the blocks move. Lots of trucks use blocks ... some come stock with blocks and usually have a locating pin in the center to keep them in there.

you can use blocks ... just keep an eye on them.

but the trend these days is to avoid them altogether.

OneTrickToy

Well, as far as my blocks go... there is no possibility of sliding. There is a large pin on one side and a hole on the other. Can't remember the orientation. I believe the hole is on the bottom and fits over the pin on the leaf spring perch, then the pin on top fits inside the hole on the springs. Can't slide in any direction. I was a little wary until I got everything lined up and started putting it all together. The block kit I got was really well made. Of course I was given the u-bolts at first and had to go back to get the right one.(another NWOR screwup).