Tomken 2" blocks, any experience?

MyJeepXJ said:

http://www.tomken.com/detail.php?id=204

Id rather do the blocks, for NO MORE than 2" (more than that, I dont agree with blocks at all, IMHO). Was wondering, what you thought of these blocks? They dont look like the CAST blocks that everyone has trouble with/breaks/squirts out.

My XJ sits level right now, rear packs appear to be in very good condition.

BTW, I may just go with longer Rancho shocks than to install the extensions.

Feedback/suggestions please...

I only want about 2" of trouble free life for an OEM ride on 235/maybe 30" tires.

Thanks!
Andrew

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VegasAnthony said:

2" tera flex budget boost
uses shackles instead of blocks

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barillms said:

Shackles will make your spring sag before blocks will. /QUOTE]

Explain the physics behind that one?

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Dookie said:

i've had decent luck with blocks - no sagging at all. however, i'd recommend against aluminum. they MIGHT work for some - but there is no denying that steel is WAY better. and since they don't really cost much more....

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Dookie said:

mine have busted in half. i went through two sets of rusty's aluminum blocks. got home once and noticed... hmmm... i'm listing to starboard pretty heavily!

the good news (small props to rusty), called him and asked - WTF??!? so he sent me a pair of solid steel ones for free. no issues with those!

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cal said:

barillms said:

Shackles will make your spring sag before blocks will. /QUOTE]

Explain the physics behind that one?

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A long shackle lowers the rear end of the leaf spring, it changes the geometry and puts more stress on the spring and eventually causes the leaf to flatten out. A block acts as a spacer between your axle and leaf spring, it doesn't change the angle of the spring.

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barillms said:

cal said:

A long shackle lowers the rear end of the leaf spring, it changes the geometry and puts more stress on the spring and eventually causes the leaf to flatten out. A block acts as a spacer between your axle and leaf spring, it doesn't change the angle of the spring.

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While thats true, in the six or seven sets of leaf springs I have run (and worn out or destroyed) in the past 10 years, three of them had blocks. Two of those turned into giant "W" arching over the spring, isntead of "going flat". The third is on a monsterous leaf pack with 17 leaf's on a 1962 ford, and I'm fairly sure nothing short of melting them down will change the arch on those.

When you run a shackle though, you don't get the W, so while it does flatten out, its not as exagerated.. but at the same time, lowering the rear of the spring twists the pinion up just that hair to compensate for some of the extra leaf. Less bad, more good.

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xjj33p3r said:

Once you install those blocks, your leaf springs will begin to sag, and you'll regret ever wasting any time in installing them.

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