I asked this in the " tires and lift kit" section but got no replies, so...

I want a purely cosmetic 2 inch lift on my 87 Cherokee. I am ok with the coil spacers idea up front. But, why not a spacer block between the axle and spring pack, with longer u bolts, instead of longer shackles? I have at my disposal all the needed machinery and tools to make the blocks and bolts.

New and taller springs are not a budgetary option.

 

I've never used blocks but alot of people do use blocks if you do use them just recheck the ubolts after driving a week or two .

 

My '97 came with a 2" lift using blocks and AAL's. Seems OK, although it now needs new springs. Whether the leaves would have inverted sooner if it'd been done with shackles, who knows?

 

I know.

My XJ came with blocks instead of a spring lift. Back end was sagging.

The leafs were completely cracked in half on one side right at the blocks, and hanging on by a thread on the other, same spot.

Simple lever principle. Add a fulcrum point to a lever, and that's where the stress goes.

Don't do a block lift on an XJ. Do a proper spring swap and be done with it.

 

100% this ^^^^^^^^^^ do not put blocks in, ever.

 

Axle wrap? So is it the increased torque that is being applied from the axle to the springs, because of the blocks extending the "lever" of the axle? Is that the issue?

 

On top of that, the springs are probably flat as it is.

 

I'd always understood that it was extended shackles that caused springs to straighten, if not invert - but I don't recall blocks being discussed before.

Mine was fine when I got it, in December 2017, & the job wasn't done by the guy I bought it from, so arguably the springs have done OK. What is odd is that it doesn't seem to have sagged (still same height as my other lifted XJ which, from the paperwork that came with it, was done properly) - so I'm now wondering how much the +3"" springs I've got waiting to go on, will actually lift it.

 

Lift blocks are one of those things (especially for these interwebs) that if your going to do it, prolly don't talk/brag about it. I'm not much a fan of them but that's just me. Plenty of other suitable options that offer a more effective, long term result (i.e shackles or add-a-leaf/bastard leaf pack). Either lift block or shackles on a flat set of springs is going to wear their effectiveness out quicker. Which is why I typically go for a set of mid 90s dakota leaf springs and then a custom stack between the 2 sets to yield anything 3" lift or less (if I'm trying to be frugal). Otherwise even the dorman factory replacements are still affordable compared to the cost of an aftermarket set.

to wrap this up; A subtle lift block in a daily driver - so be it. Suspension will still work just fine. Now a dramatic lift block and driving like a teenager without a license to lose? Well that invites some problems other than Johnny law.

 

I've worked on semis and large diesel trucks that use lifr blocks all the time.

The difference is the leaf springs. Big trucks have big heavy duty leafs.

XJ's leafs are thin and skinny, they don't handle the load spread the same way.