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Thread: Lowering block doesn't lowering
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05-26-2023 #1Registered User
- Join Date
- Jun 2011
- Posts
- 7
Lowering block doesn't lowering
I explain my problem
I have Hotchkis leaf springs 2" lowering on a 1970 firebird
The driver side is a little bit more 1" higher than the passenger side with the new leaf springs, I think it's a big "chevy lean"
I drove 500 miles and the leaf springs always have the same 1" height difference
The front of the car was a little lower on the passenger side so I add a shim on it and now the front is ok,
but no difference at the rear
So I tried switched the leaf springs and it s the same (with 100 more miles on them)
Now I have installed lowering block on the driver side (1") and the car lowered ... 1/2", so I tried 1.5" block and the car lowering almost 3/4"
Driver side is always almost 1/2" higher with a 1.5" lowering block on it !
I don t understand, I tried switched leaf again, no difference, I checked the schackles torque and schackles length and there is no problem,
I checked everything and I notice that the leaf springs have the same arch when I don t add lowering block but with a block the driver side leaf is always more arched after (so the block doesn t lower the car enough)
Without block both leaf springs look "flat" (not really flat but with a very small arch)
With a block driver leaf looks a little bit arched and passenger side stays "flat"
I asked Hotchkis and they have no idea of what is the problem, they said that with a 1" block the chevy lean must be corrected by 1"
They ask me to switch leaf springs again, to check the arch of the leaf springs disassembled from the car, .... but everything is right and they don t understand the problem
The frame is straight, the car is ok to drive (with or without lowering block)
But the lowering block on the driver side doesn t lower the car as much as it should and the leaf spring on the driver looks more arched when I add lowering block (so the car doesn t lower enough)
Does anybody know what is the problem ?
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05-31-2023 #2
It seems to me that using a lowering block on one side isn’t a great option, and might be why it isn’t quite lowering the car as it should. Could be wrong, but that’s my thought.
As far as the height differences, I had a similar problem. My left side was higher front and rear. After doing a full front suspension build with coilovers and setting the ride height where I wanted it, my rear ride heights became much closer. I think I went from close to 3/4” difference side to side on the rear to maybe 1/4”.
The thing to keep in mind is these cars are old and the build tolerances weren’t great even when new.Andy
1967 Camaro RS
Magnacharged LS1/T56
543 rwhp, 516 rwtq
Sold
1968 Firebird
LS427/570 and T56 Magnum
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05-31-2023 #3