This may be a really stupid question but here it goes anyway. Why can't you put blocks in the front to level the truck out? Seems easy enough. Is it some kind of safety hazard? Be easy on me with this one, I'm new.....

 

It's a dangerous idea.....and illegal to do in many areas.
Too much stress would be placed on the front u-bolts......could end up pretty bad .

 

Because it creates to much leverage from the axle against the u bolts and springs, making it easier to break them if you hit a hole or big bump or something. It also allows the axle to move just a little bit more than it does when bolted against the spring, this causes the truck to be less stable in turns and the steering to feel like its loose. The best way to lift the front is to either buy lift springs, have your springs arched up if you only need 1"-2", or have a leaf added to your existing spring for 1"-2". The added leaf will stiffen the ride, but will also allow you to haul more. The same stuff goes for the rear springs, including adding the blocks.

 

AHHHH.. I see now. Just a question I needed answered. Thanks for the replies.. Better safe than sorry.

 

I actually did use blocks for my truck, I got a 3"x4" piece of steel the same size of the mounting plate, 2" thick. I got a larger center bolt and bolt the block right to the spring pack. Basically the same thing as adding a leaf. I know a few people aroung here who have done this. No problems and it is legal here in PA.

 

Blocks in the front ARE NOT LEGAL here in PA! If you pass inspection, it is because they are not checking.

 

A portion of the inspection procedure from :

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/06...5/s175.80.html

§ 175.80. Inspection procedure.
(a) External inspection. An external inspection shall be performed as follows:



(3) Inspect the suspension system and reject if one or more of the following apply:



(x) Blocks are used on front axle to raise the vehicle.

 

I"ve heard the same thing for 25 years DCSpecial, dangerous and illegal in many states. Not that I'm disputing your comment, it makes perfect sense to me and I'd never do it but......why haven't I seen a truck with 8 or 10 inches of stacked blocks (I know you've all seen them!) under the rear springs of a truck sitting in the middle of the road with broken u-bolts and his rear axle all catawampus?? (thats a word, I just typed it)
Other than additional engine weight, what's so different about the rear than the front? You can load alot more weight in the rear than you can in the front.
Not that I'm an advocate of blocks, I'm just curious if anybody's seen u-bolt/block failure.

 

Also from § 175.80. Inspection procedure.

{reject if}

(xi) Blocks used on rear axle exceed 5 inches over original equipment.


The front acts as a pivot when turning the wheels.

 

The rear doesn't steer.

I haven't seen a u-bolt failure in person but I know of someone that it happened to. He reused u-bolts on the rear with 7.5" of blocks and a few performance mods to his 6.0 PSD and spit out the blocks when he gunned it going around a corner.......tore up his bed pretty good from what I was told.

I'm not saying that it's a guarenteed failure but that they do fail. There was a truck at a local show that had 6" front blocks and 10" rear blocks......sign said 6" Skyjacker modified to 12" lift. I though WTF?!?!?!? so looked underneath and saw a whole lot of block .

 

jade97

I got my truck done at a spring shop and I also got it inspected there. They are very strict when it comes to inspection laws I know this for a fact. There is a difference between putting lift blocks under your spring pack compared to bolt the block directly to the spring.

Think about it is just like progressive leaf packs, at the bottom all thats there is a short piece of leaf. Same thing on larger tri-axles.

 

So let me get this straight... rear blocks are allowed and front blocks aren't because the front can steer and the rear can't.
Just for s**ts & grins, I'm headin' up Deadman's Hill this morning... gonna remove my rear axle and get a push off the top just so I can see how well those two 'steerable' front wheels will do. I'll post the results for you later.

Who wants to ride shotgun?

 

You cant have blocks on the front and you can on the rear for the EXACT same reason your front end needs a lateral support made of steel(TRAC BAR or PANROD BAR).. AND your rear end does not.. cause your rear is not subject to the side load



Its because your real wheels follow your front and never have much side load unless your fishtail'n ... You front support the entire momentum of your 7500LB truck when you reef the wheel.. your momentum wants to move the truck in a straight line, however your truck makes the corner.. where do you think the energy went..? the tires and front axle get alot of side load the rear never deals with... if you had a 8" block in the rear you'd probably be good forever.. try and 8" block up front and it would fold out from underneath you in the first hard turn over 35mph.. give it a try.
JJ

 

Good explanation JJ! Where were you earlier?

When I'm finished with my 'downhill without rear axle' test I'll get right on that test with 8" blocks in the front. Anybody got a 4-wheeler I can borrow?

 

Make sure to video that fiascal.. and you can use my Quad!