Lowering Blocks

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Blocks may be used for lowering leaf-spring cars like the Datsun 1200. This is the traditional easy, time-tested and inexpensive method. See Lowering for better methods.

Overview

Datsun 1200 use a straight axle mounted on top of the leaf springs, so by fitting blocks between it and the spring, the rear of the car is lowered.

Block are available in different heights such a 1.5", 2" , 3" for differing amounts of lowering.

NOTE: As with any lowering, the suspension travel becomes restricted compared to the factory ride height.

custom-made blocks

Suspension Travel

• Trim the bump stop rubber by 1" to gain more travel
• Fit more compressible shocks
• Stiffen the effective spring constant to make bottoming out less likely, e.g. add leafs or add an overtravel leaf from a ute

Notes

• Lowering blocks are legal in most countries, including most Autralian states
• Square blocks will lift the diff squarely and will not change pinion angle
• Angle-ground blocks will change pinion angle so are NOT recommended. These are normally used with extreme lowering and require the diff angle to be modified or the transmission angle modified
• Handbrake cable will need to be re-adjusted after lowering
• On a BW68-equipped sedan, the blocks make for less access to the brake adjuster and brake bleeder. This is because the BW axle has in bottom-mounted brake cylinders