Stupid leveling kit questions...
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Indiana
Stupid leveling kit questions...
Something tells me these questions will be pretty dumb, and at my age I should be able to have figured it out. 
I did come from older 4x4's where leveling kits aren't the norm, so...
1) We all know lift blocks on the front are bad. Evil. Unsafe. Etc. I've accepted that as fact over 20 years ago. But what I can't figure out for the life of me is how these mini spring packs in the leveling kits aren't just glorified lift blocks. The springs don't appear to be long enough to, uh, spring, so what exactly makes them any safer than a block of the same height?
2) Judging by the number of people running these leveling kits, they are safer than blocks, so why wouldn't people run them on the REAR in place of blocks? (Besides the obvious price factor- the blocks are already there)
I did come from older 4x4's where leveling kits aren't the norm, so...1) We all know lift blocks on the front are bad. Evil. Unsafe. Etc. I've accepted that as fact over 20 years ago. But what I can't figure out for the life of me is how these mini spring packs in the leveling kits aren't just glorified lift blocks. The springs don't appear to be long enough to, uh, spring, so what exactly makes them any safer than a block of the same height?
2) Judging by the number of people running these leveling kits, they are safer than blocks, so why wouldn't people run them on the REAR in place of blocks? (Besides the obvious price factor- the blocks are already there)
Token Redneck
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,335
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From: Breckenridge, TX
The smaller mini packs actually replace the center pin through the pack, meaning that it's not a block only held in position by a small raised bump, it's actually part of the pack. Other brands come with a longer top leaf and Hendrick's clamps to keep the mini pack aligned with the main pack.
In the rear there isn't nearly the torsional load placed on the blocks because the axle tracks straight; on the front axle as the wheels turn the force is transmitted though the block and into the springs, and it can cause the block to pop out of position. The axle twists front to back as the truck turns; on coil spring trucks there's a radius arm/pair of link to counteract that force, but on a leaf sprung axle the pack itself takes it.
In the rear there isn't nearly the torsional load placed on the blocks because the axle tracks straight; on the front axle as the wheels turn the force is transmitted though the block and into the springs, and it can cause the block to pop out of position. The axle twists front to back as the truck turns; on coil spring trucks there's a radius arm/pair of link to counteract that force, but on a leaf sprung axle the pack itself takes it.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Indiana
Thanks for the answer, now it makes sense. Kinda. 
So on those spring packs without the longer top leaf, how would they be different from a block with a hole drilled through it to facilitate a center pin?
Disclaimer- I'm not contemplating running blocks on the front, I'm just learning the ins and outs of these mini spring packs by comparing them to blocks.
So on those spring packs without the longer top leaf, how would they be different from a block with a hole drilled through it to facilitate a center pin?
Disclaimer- I'm not contemplating running blocks on the front, I'm just learning the ins and outs of these mini spring packs by comparing them to blocks.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
The leveling minipacks are actually a lot longer than the blocks so they are in contact with the spring over a longer span as well as being through bolted to the main spring pack. Being longer they are not as prone to act as pivot points like a block would.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 376
Likes: 4
From: San Antonio, TX
The smaller mini packs actually replace the center pin through the pack, meaning that it's not a block only held in position by a small raised bump, it's actually part of the pack. Other brands come with a longer top leaf and Hendrick's clamps to keep the mini pack aligned with the main pack.
In the rear there isn't nearly the torsional load placed on the blocks because the axle tracks straight; on the front axle as the wheels turn the force is transmitted though the block and into the springs, and it can cause the block to pop out of position. The axle twists front to back as the truck turns; on coil spring trucks there's a radius arm/pair of link to counteract that force, but on a leaf sprung axle the pack itself takes it.
In the rear there isn't nearly the torsional load placed on the blocks because the axle tracks straight; on the front axle as the wheels turn the force is transmitted though the block and into the springs, and it can cause the block to pop out of position. The axle twists front to back as the truck turns; on coil spring trucks there's a radius arm/pair of link to counteract that force, but on a leaf sprung axle the pack itself takes it.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2012
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From: Indiana
No, those are two different kits for two different suspensions. The earlier Super Duty trucks are leaf sprung in the front (your first picture). Later trucks are coil sprung (your second picture, I think- if not, I've never seen round blocks for leafs).
The discussion in this thread are for the leaf sprung trucks.
The discussion in this thread are for the leaf sprung trucks.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
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yeah those are totally different lifts.. 99-04 superdutys were leaf spring fronts and would use the mini pack as a leveling kit.. the 05-current are coil spring front suspension and the second picture fits on top of the coil and acts as a spacer between it and the coil bucket... the only other option ive seen for leafs other than full packs is the larger shackle
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