Hey guys, I did a search and did not seem to find what I was looking for. When lowering a stock Merc suspension with lowering blocks. 3 or 4 inch, what shocks are you using? It seems that the originals will run out of travel, or am I wrong?\ Thanks
unless the shocks are mounted to the rear end housing blocks won't change anything because the springs and lower shock mounts stay in the same place.
Here's a photo of 51Merc with lowering blocks. The upper shock mount is in the upper right on the frame cross brace and the bottom shock mount is on the bottom spring plate. You probably will have to get longer shocks, but if you have your original try and see if they will fit and still work properly.
19Fordy, Thank you for the pictures. Thats the way I envisioned it. The lower shock mounts will be moving down 3+ inches. I figured this has been done a million times and someone would have a shock part number to make it easier. This is on a friends car who lives a ways away and I was trying to get all of the parts together to do the job in one day.
I can only guess both of you have been drinking heavily all day. look at the photo. look at the blocks. look at the tape measure. in your mind, remove the blocks and put the axle where it was originally. did the tape get longer, shorter or remain the same?
Distance from upper to lower shock mount stays the same as stock. Nothing has changed except axle location and the shock never touches the axle housing at all.
haha.. perfect description. If you really want to go through the effort, here is a link to a Monroe reference book. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=259639
I have 4" dropped springs plus 2" blocks for a total of 6" lowered in the rear. Gabriel Guardian 82060 is the correct extended and compressed length for my set up. The measurement from my upper mount to lower mount was about 19". That shock could possibly work for only lowering 3-4 inches.
no matter how much block the shock mounts stay in the same spot. im not sure why you would even unbolt the stock shock when putting the blocks in unless they are worn out and need replaced withe the same size shock.
Mr. 49ratfink and all other respondents: I now see what you mean about the distance remaining the same. YOU ARE CORRECT. Looking at the tape measure the distance remains at 19 inches as the spring supports the weight of the car, not the shock. With that reality, the lower shock support remains in the same position - the only difference being that the lowering blocks raise the height of the axle tube UP OFF THE SPRING (not the spring itself) - thereby lowering the car. Another way to think about this is to think of the top of the spring as a table top. It will remain at the same height above the ground no matter how high you raise the axle tube off the table top with lowering blocks.Thanks for making me rethink my original supposition.
Maybe it was the "lack of" alcohol. As I look at it explained like that, it makes perfect sense! Also, the table top explanation is very good!
The Jalopy Journal
