A cheap fix for lowering block wheel hop or drivetrain slop

[AWD V8]

A while ago I installed 2" lowering blocks on my Jimmy. Of course I got wheel hop and hated the drivetrain slop.

I remembered my days of hanging around with hotrodders back in the 60's & 70's and what they did to deal with wheel hop. It's called leaf spring clamps. Easy & cheap to make, under 5 bucks!

This is what they look like


Materials needed
About 18" of 3/4" square steel bar stock
4 bolts, 3/8 X 3-1/4 NC with locking nuts

Tools needed
A hacksaw
Drill & 3/8" bit
Grinder would be nice
2 wenches, 9/16"

This distance between the 2 bolt holes is exactly 3" for a leaf spring 2.55" wide, or 2-9/16". That's what's on my truck. If your leafs measure wider of narrower, simply adjust the 3" to suit your truck. Add about a 1/2" from the hole centers to the outer end.
I laid out 2 in a row, cut the bar and doubled it up for drilling and put match marks on them. This way if you are a little off on your drilling the 2 pieces will still bolt up.



Now cut up the bars to size and paint them if you like.

The clamps go right where the factory put the anti-rattle clamps.


Grind off the rivet holding the bracket


The spring clamps must be installed at ride height, so lower your truck and bounce the rear end to settle the springs. Install with the nuts on top and tighten them good.


What they did for me
My wheel hop is gone, 100%
My drivetrain slop is gone 100%, feels like a stick now when I blip the throttle at low speeds now.
My rear axle bottoming is 95% gone. With my larger 8.8 the pumpkin would frequently thump the floor on sharp dips. Now I can carry passengers and blitz down bumpy roads.
The trucks corners MUCH better now with less lean on turns than when I had my rear swaybar. I haven't replaced it since I installed the 8.8. It turns in to corners very nice now.
It actually rides better than the truck ever has. Firm but not harsh. Given I only have 2" of wheel travel on the rear, I needed a more progressive spring.

Now this is not intended to replace a 3 or 4 link rear end, or any other traction device. And it may not work for an all out V8 at the track, but for 5 bucks and an hour of my time it's the best money I've put into my truck.

You guys with lowering blocks that just need a bit of help to keep things under control out back might consider this.

[Nitemare]

that's cool!

i have belltech blocks and leafs. would these work on my leafs too?

these only go on the front side of the leafs, towards the front of the truck?

on clamp each side?

very nice.

[AWD V8]

They will work with any multi-leaf spring pack.

Yes the clamps go on the front only.

[beandip]

Interesting....i may give this a shot since i pulled a leaf and have 3" blocks. wheel hop i dont care too much about because i dont dump the clutch everywhere i go but i wouldnt mind firming up the axle.

[AWD V8]

You will find that the rear will firm up and bottom less if that is what you are looking for.

I'm very pleased with the results for my truck.

[98layinframe]

have had a set of spring clamps installed on my daily for a good 2 years now.. and it still gets wheel hop.

[Mattpyle]

I did the same thing a while ago with my Ranger and it helped it out quite a bit. It's all stock suspension, but it would still hop a bit sometimes. Clamps like that helped out quite a bit.

[Deja_Vu969]

I may have to try this...I have 3" blocks, my axle is hitting too much for my liking. (bottoming out on the bumpstop bracket)

Thanks for the write up

[96slammer]

they sell those for 8 bucks for 4 of them alot less fab and hassle!

[BarelyGettinBy]

I was just thinking this is a great idea and was ready to go get some then I remembered Im monoleafed

[CraigDavid]

make any difference in ride quality?

[iroc2nv]

Where do they sell those 96slammer ?

[CraigDavid]

http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr.%20Gasket/7...0002/-1?CT=999

googled leaf spring clamps. got alot of things on there

[96blazer96]

if u have a pulled leaf and install those it dont cause it to raise the back end up does it? just firms is up right? i have a 96 2 door blazer with a 4inch block and a pulled leaf so im wanting to firm it up a bit

[AWD V8]

It doesn't raise or lower the rear at all. It just keeps the springs form sliding against each other as the rear of the truck moves up and down. This firms up the ride and and reduces bottoming.

[Nitemare]

Quote: Originally Posted by Deja_Vu969

I may have to try this...I have 3" blocks, my axle is hitting too much for my liking. (bottoming out on the bumpstop bracket)

Thanks for the write up

cut the bracket off. you wont bottom out on the frame.

[94sdime350]

Thanks for the great forum... I need to put some slapper bars on my dana 60. The thing is hopping all over the place.

[93v6banger]

what's the difference from putting them on the front or back of the springs?

[AWD V8]

I'm not sure

Maybe it's desirable to stiffen the front of the spring so that it swings in an arc keeping the pinion angle closer to what it should be.

Maybe because the rear of the spring has the shackle, it might be better to have it swing on the front bolt rather than move about on the shackle.

Maybe it's something totally different!

[Psychobrick]

Has anyone tried this on a ZQ8 leaf pack, I know that they're a bit different...

[98layinframe]

Quote: Originally Posted by Psychobrick

Has anyone tried this on a ZQ8 leaf pack, I know that they're a bit different...

thats what mine are one... and i still get wheel hop. Dont know if thats the problem or not though.

[94sdime350]

"Has anyone tried this on a ZQ8 leaf pack, I know that they're a bit different..."
I have the zq8 in the rear and it hops all over the place.

[F117EWO]

Put the clamps on the front portion of the spring. It will act like a traction bar. The rear portion of the spring has a shackle mounted on it, which will allow for more movement, exactly what you are trying to prevent. Jake

[stepsideSdime]

can you do this to the belltech 3" drop leafs?

[AWD V8]

You can do this one any leaf spring

[Psychobrick]

Quote: Originally Posted by 98layinframe

thats what mine are one... and i still get wheel hop. Dont know if thats the problem or not though.

That's why I have the hop shock installed

[1999jimmy]

I have a 4 inch block in the rear and the axle hits the frame. Hopefully this mod works.

[towb3]

It won't help with your issue 1999jimmy. Its more for axle wrap as opposed to spring rate or shock dampening properties. Try shocks, then most likely a notch, usually not needed for just 4 inch blocks though. Still have your bump stop/bracket? That would be first thing to get rid of, then get a notch. But again, shouldn't be an issue.

[1999jimmy]

I took the bump stop completely out. Its actually hitting axle to frame lol. Now that you mention it, it could be the shocks there stock and the back bounces pretty good. thanks

[littlejeff27]

Do you put these at both ends of the leaf springs or just one ond on each side? cause I have 3" blocks and get some nice wheel hop

[AWD V8]

You put one on the front of each spring

[terryl]

Nice to see some old guys in this thread! These clamps were a hot topic in here about a year or so ago. Some had success and some, including me, did not. I put a hop shock on mine and no more hoppidy hop.