4x4 swap
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5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 31
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4x4 swap
Hello all, I’ve got an 85 f150 SCMB 2WD truck which I daily drive.
I’m swapping the front and rear suspension into my truck out of a 96 ford bronco which I did a bunch of work on because it was a good friend of mine’s.
Ive got new springs shocks bushings and all my brackets for the bullnose but Im stopped by trying to figure out my axle leaf blocks. The ones off the bronco fell apart when I yanked it apart but I’d like to know the stock lift block/ pinion angle block for the axle and springs so I know what to order so I can throw the axles in.
I am a fully certified GM technician so use big words if you want.
I’m swapping the front and rear suspension into my truck out of a 96 ford bronco which I did a bunch of work on because it was a good friend of mine’s.
Ive got new springs shocks bushings and all my brackets for the bullnose but Im stopped by trying to figure out my axle leaf blocks. The ones off the bronco fell apart when I yanked it apart but I’d like to know the stock lift block/ pinion angle block for the axle and springs so I know what to order so I can throw the axles in.
I am a fully certified GM technician so use big words if you want.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,271
Likes: 1,232
Hello all, I’ve got an 85 f150 SCMB 2WD truck which I daily drive.
I’m swapping the front and rear suspension into my truck out of a 96 ford bronco which I did a bunch of work on because it was a good friend of mine’s.
Ive got new springs shocks bushings and all my brackets for the bullnose but Im stopped by trying to figure out my axle leaf blocks. The ones off the bronco fell apart when I yanked it apart but I’d like to know the stock lift block/ pinion angle block for the axle and springs so I know what to order so I can throw the axles in.
I am a fully certified GM technician so use big words if you want.
I’m swapping the front and rear suspension into my truck out of a 96 ford bronco which I did a bunch of work on because it was a good friend of mine’s.
Ive got new springs shocks bushings and all my brackets for the bullnose but Im stopped by trying to figure out my axle leaf blocks. The ones off the bronco fell apart when I yanked it apart but I’d like to know the stock lift block/ pinion angle block for the axle and springs so I know what to order so I can throw the axles in.
I am a fully certified GM technician so use big words if you want.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,870
Likes: 4,112
From: Angier, NC
You dont have enough of the old ones to tell how tall they were for replacements?
I dont think they were a angle shim to adjust the pinion, thought they were flat across front to rear?
The only time you might need to shim the axle and lower the transfer case is if you added a lift kit of more than 4 inches?
Most of the time it was because the Ujoints would bind if you did not raise the pinion and lower the case.
On old straight front axles and leaf springs you would use angle shims to get the caster within spec.
Never use lift blocks on the front axle EVER!
Dave ----
I dont think they were a angle shim to adjust the pinion, thought they were flat across front to rear?
The only time you might need to shim the axle and lower the transfer case is if you added a lift kit of more than 4 inches?
Most of the time it was because the Ujoints would bind if you did not raise the pinion and lower the case.
On old straight front axles and leaf springs you would use angle shims to get the caster within spec.
Never use lift blocks on the front axle EVER!
Dave ----
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,784
Likes: 2,422
N/A on a F-150/ Bronco TTB.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,870
Likes: 4,112
From: Angier, NC
Good call on the springs as the 4x4 springs are wider IIRC so the brackets would also be wider.
Not seeing a block in person, only pictures on the web, I would give a guess of about 2" tall?
Dave ----
Not seeing a block in person, only pictures on the web, I would give a guess of about 2" tall?
Dave ----
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,971
Likes: 2,731
From: Virginia
Hello all, I’ve got an 85 f150 SCMB 2WD truck which I daily drive.
I’m swapping the front and rear suspension into my truck out of a 96 ford bronco which I did a bunch of work on because it was a good friend of mine’s.
Ive got new springs shocks bushings and all my brackets for the bullnose but Im stopped by trying to figure out my axle leaf blocks. The ones off the bronco fell apart when I yanked it apart but I’d like to know the stock lift block/ pinion angle block for the axle and springs so I know what to order so I can throw the axles in.
I am a fully certified GM technician so use big words if you want.
I’m swapping the front and rear suspension into my truck out of a 96 ford bronco which I did a bunch of work on because it was a good friend of mine’s.
Ive got new springs shocks bushings and all my brackets for the bullnose but Im stopped by trying to figure out my axle leaf blocks. The ones off the bronco fell apart when I yanked it apart but I’d like to know the stock lift block/ pinion angle block for the axle and springs so I know what to order so I can throw the axles in.
I am a fully certified GM technician so use big words if you want.
Thread Starter
|
5th Wheeling
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 31
Likes: 1
You dont have enough of the old ones to tell how tall they were for replacements?
I dont think they were a angle shim to adjust the pinion, thought they were flat across front to rear?
The only time you might need to shim the axle and lower the transfer case is if you added a lift kit of more than 4 inches?
Most of the time it was because the Ujoints would bind if you did not raise the pinion and lower the case.
On old straight front axles and leaf springs you would use angle shims to get the caster within spec.
Never use lift blocks on the front axle EVER!
Dave ----
I dont think they were a angle shim to adjust the pinion, thought they were flat across front to rear?
The only time you might need to shim the axle and lower the transfer case is if you added a lift kit of more than 4 inches?
Most of the time it was because the Ujoints would bind if you did not raise the pinion and lower the case.
On old straight front axles and leaf springs you would use angle shims to get the caster within spec.
Never use lift blocks on the front axle EVER!
Dave ----
The old ones were on a bronco with a different pinion angle than mine would be.
I just want to know if I am good to put the springs flat on the axle perch and throw some new u bolts in it and it’ll be all good.
I do not want to put everything together on the truck which I drive every day and some old timer pops out and says “your **** will explode if you don’t fix that!”
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FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,870
Likes: 4,112
From: Angier, NC
I am aware to not use blocks on the front axle, I thought that was obvious.
The old ones were on a bronco with a different pinion angle than mine would be.
I just want to know if I am good to put the springs flat on the axle perch and throw some new u bolts in it and it’ll be all good.
I do not want to put everything together on the truck which I drive every day and some old timer pops out and says “your **** will explode if you don’t fix that!”
The old ones were on a bronco with a different pinion angle than mine would be.
I just want to know if I am good to put the springs flat on the axle perch and throw some new u bolts in it and it’ll be all good.
I do not want to put everything together on the truck which I drive every day and some old timer pops out and says “your **** will explode if you don’t fix that!”
How do you figure the pinion angle was different on the Bronco than your truck?
We know the blocks do not set the angle. We know the rear axle if factory would be the same as they can be swapped between Broncos and pickup trucks.
Because of that we know the spring perches are set to the same angle so where is the difference?
If there was a angle shim on the Bronco it was added by someone not the factory. Maybe the Bronco had a lift kit installed but if it was not on all 4 wheels you may not know if it had one or not.
Dave ----
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Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,971
Likes: 2,731
From: Virginia
I am aware to not use blocks on the front axle, I thought that was obvious.
The old ones were on a bronco with a different pinion angle than mine would be.
I just want to know if I am good to put the springs flat on the axle perch and throw some new u bolts in it and it’ll be all good.
I do not want to put everything together on the truck which I drive every day and some old timer pops out and says “your **** will explode if you don’t fix that!”
The old ones were on a bronco with a different pinion angle than mine would be.
I just want to know if I am good to put the springs flat on the axle perch and throw some new u bolts in it and it’ll be all good.
I do not want to put everything together on the truck which I drive every day and some old timer pops out and says “your **** will explode if you don’t fix that!”
Last edited by Franklin2; Mar 19, 2026 at 09:42 PM.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,971
Likes: 2,731
From: Virginia
With lift kits you usually stack the blocks. You put the factory block on top against the bottom of the leaf spring so it will still contact the rubber stop. And then put the lift block below the stock block.
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