Lowering Block Cracked 12 Bolt Housing

[PhillipM]

So, here it goes. This was supposed to be a simple swap. I was going from a 2" block to a 1.5" block on the back of my Camaro. Took the old ones out and put the new ones in. Everything seemed okay until about 20 minutes later when I notice gear oil on the ground under both sides. Took the blocks out and the pins on top of the new ones were long enough that when I tightened them down they cracked my housing on both sides! So... after what should have been a simple 30 minute job I now have to strip the housing brackets off and fix the housing. Then, weld new brackets back on. LAME! I just want to warn people to check the length of the pin on the top before snugging them down.

[wiedemab]

Yikes - - That sucks. Seems like something like that always happens to me too - - - it's never as easy as it should be.

Sorry for the crappy luck.

[PhillipM]

It just sucks. I have installed dozens of lowering blocks over the years if seems like and never even thought to look at the height of the pin. I bought these from Summit. AllStar is the brand I think. Just your basic universal aluminum lowering block really. What sucks even more is a quick snip at the band saw will fix the problem... But, I still have to fix the housing.

[Skip Fix]

The 12 bolt I'm using in the drag car had the Mopar/truck style perches welded on after the previous owner cut the factory ones off for a floater/ladder bar. The guy that welded then on had the angle off and I needed a 6 degree steel shim so I got some steel ones and used a steel sleeve for a pin and had to trim it down so it didn't hit the housing after trial fitting it.

[prine68]

Hey Phillip, don't feel that bad about it.... I just got mine back from having it welded up from the same thing. It took me a while to figure out where the gear oil was coming from. Last time I'll be using lowering blocks, since now I installed the ridetech Airbar system.

[PhillipM]

Ha! Very cool Shawn. I really don't blame lowering blocks. Just didn't ever think to look at that. I will from now on though and will never ever have this problem again My new spring perches are on their way so once they are here I will set the rear in a jig, wack off the stock perches. Reweld the housing up and reinstall some new perches. Shouldn't be difficult, just time consuming to get those factory perches off of there.

[PhillipM]

Okay, we have been working on remedying this problem... Got the two 5/8" diameter punched holes filled and welded up. Then we spun the rear over and left it overnight checking for any seepage. After that we tossed the new leaf spring pads on there and set the pinion angle. Got them all burned in and we are starting to reassemble the rear. Below are a couple shots that I snapped on my phone. You can see the lowering block hanging on the jack stand that punched the hole. I went ahead and buzzed it through the bandsaw to shorten up the pin. I took about a half inch out of the pin. Then cleaned it up on the belt sander.

[brans72]

So what are we drinking budlight?

[PhillipM]

Yeah man...

No self respecting car junkie works on a project as annoying as this and doesn't crack open a convienent brew

LOL