installing rear blocks question

Can I install blocks with the wheels still on the ground via lifting the body instead? Or does the truck need to be on jackstands and drop the rear axle that way?

 

Jack stands with the rear drooped out. Control the axle with your jack

 

But can it be done with the wheels still on the ground? Seems like more work to lift the entire truck up vs lifting the body after loosening the ubolts and shock

 

Can it be done? Sure, knock yourself out. Guarantee you it's less headache to put the truck on stands and droop out one side at a time.

 

You probably could but you'll need a super long jack since you won't be able to lower the axle. Access will also be super limited since you'll have to crawl around the tires. Don't forget the longer ubolts.

 

Report back how it goes and how much more axle wrap there is (if any).

 

It can be done. That's how I installed mine. Did not take wheels off. I do have the convenience of having a two post lift in my garage.

 

What makes it so difficult doing it this way? There's got to be an advantage to putting it on jacks and dropping the axle slowly vs raising the body, no? Theoretically it seems both methods work but there's gotta be reason ones preferred over the other.

 

To me, I don’t see how leaving it on the ground is less work. It seems like way more of a hassle.

It takes less than a minute to get the truck on jack stands, then you don’t have to work around your tires. Plus with the axle hanging it gives you some wiggle room to get everything lined back up. Where if the body is on a jack and the wheels on the ground, you’re going to have to use some force to line anything up.

 

That's completely different than using a jack struggle like the rest of us

There's nothing difficult, the problem is you're gonna need a jack that goes high enough doing it with tires on the ground. Sure you can use wood or place the jack on something to raise the height. Then there's the safety side of it. What happens when you've got your fingers in there and the jack bleeds off, shifts, or fails for some reason? It takes 2 minutes to get the the truck on stands.

 

It's better to have the weight supported on stands, the axle weighs a lot less. You do you, though.

 

Alright thanks guys. I was in an argument with someone who claimed it's much easier to do it with the rear tires on the ground, where as I thought it was easier to take the wheels off and do it on jacks. I did it on jacks today and I'm glad I did because I can see that would have been a huge pain in the ass otherwise. Jack barely fit as is.

 

I've done 2 trucks with the wheels on the ground. Took U-bolts off, placed hydraulic jack on leaf springs and lifted the spring enough to slide blocks in. Lower jack and use new longer U-bolts.

 

How did you place a jack on the leaf springs when the center of the leaf spring is above the axle?

 

What do you mean by "lifting the body"? You never want support the truck by the body. The body is not strong enough to support the weight of the truck. You want to use frame or suspension.