Lowering your car or truck so that it is closer to the ground is a popular way to modify or customize your ride.
When this work is done right, you’ll end up with a great look that delivers several positive outcomes. It can even boost the handling and performance of the vehicle.
If something goes wrong, the adverse outcomes could compromise your car or truck’s traction, drivability, or handling. You might even notice fuel economy reductions or tread life problems.
That’s why it helps to review all the potential pros and cons of lowering blocks before starting the work or having someone do it for you.
Lowering Blocks: Pros and Cons
Lowering blocks are an easy and inexpensive way to create a suspension modification. When the rear axle sits on top of the leaf spring, this part increases the distance between the two to lower the car or truck. Although a two-inch lowering block is often standard, most designs also give you one- or three-inch options.
Most lowering blocks come as kits. They’re usually manufactured from extruded aluminum, although you can find the occasional steel product out there. They also use Nyloc nuts and washers with U-bolts for a secure hold.
You can find some lowering blocks built with a slight taper to handle the driveline angle correction that develops on some makes and models.
Pricing begins around $35 for this kit, with prices topping out around $80. If you need to add the front lift strut spacers to finish the job, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $250 for most cars and trucks.
Before starting this modification, you must ensure that your axle is on top of the leaf springs. If they are not, this product will lift the suspension instead of lowering it.
What Are the Pros of Lowering Your Suspension?
1. You get a better feel for the road.
When you lower your blocks, the vehicle feels more attuned to the road. You’ll get to know how the equipment reacts to the different pavement types, especially as the vibrations come through the rear quarter. Although it can make you feel a bit uncomfortable when driving across rough patches, you won’t think that everything is out of control.
2. It delivers a stiffer ride.
When you lower your blocks, you need to have more rigid springs in the back to avoid bottoming out over depressions, speed bumps, or potholes. Some vehicles might need them swapped out in the front for the same reason. Once you get a stiffer ride, you’ll have the driving experience that most people prefer.
You won’t get the silky smoothness that comes with a luxury sedan after lowering blocks. What develops with this setup is an authentic ride where it feels like you’re one with the highway.
3. The vehicle has less lean in the corners.
When you turn a tight curve or corner in your vehicle, does the sharp turn cause the entire frame to start leaning with gravity’s pull? You’ll reduce this reaction significantly when you lower the blocks because the weight shift creates a lower center.
The part of the vehicle on the turn’s outside motion stays more level, working with the inside to help you settle more quickly into and out of the turn. You’ll notice significantly more responsiveness after making this change.
4. You have a better handling experience.
Once the vehicle gets brought closer to the ground, you’ll notice improved responsiveness and more stability while driving. It maintains a better grip when you’re at speed because less weight transfer occurs when braking hard or stomping on the accelerator.
Some vehicles have faster acceleration when lowering the blocks, others have quicker stops, and some develop both attributes to create an incredible driving experience.
5. It creates less air drag while driving.
When the lowering blocks are improperly installed, you can sometimes end up having the steering and suspension contact each other, your tires, or the wheels. It can even cause the rubber to rub against the car or truck’s body when going over a bump or managing a tight turn.
6. The vehicle is safer to drive.
When you lower your blocks, the altered center of gravity decreases the rollover risk for the vehicle. If you end up having a quick correction that goes over, your chances of losing control are not as high as they would be with the stock setup.
You’ll also end up putting a plus-sized tire and wheel package on your vehicle after lowering the blocks. Since they have a shorter sidewall, you have a bigger contact patch that keeps more rubber on the road.
7. It makes the vehicle look fantastic.
When you lower the blocks on a car or truck, the profile change and updated custom wheels capture people’s attention. You’re creating a performance-orientated look that feels aggressive at first glance, which helps you stand out from the crowd.
What Are the Cons of Lowering Your Suspension?
1. It can cause the vehicle to feel less comfortable.
If you are used to driving a car or truck with a softer suspension, the pothole and bump impacts experienced with lowering blocks can be uncomfortable. When you hit a spot just right, the pressure can come up your spine despite being in the seat.
There is also noticeably more road noise after lowering the suspension for your car or truck, making it harder to have a conversation with your passengers.
2. Your vehicle won’t handle rough roads well.
Since lowering blocks create a lower clearance for cars and trucks, you won’t have the same navigational power to drive wherever you want. Anything that is rocky or rutted could grind your undercarriage, as could entryways with a steep grade.
If you drive on washboard roads, brick streets, or encounter lots of potholes, the lower clearance is not your friend.
3. The vehicle can experience uneven tire wear.
When you lower the vehicle, it changes the tire-wheel fitment geometry. If this change isn’t done correctly, your car or truck could end up with an alignment problem that causes extreme wear and tear.
It’s not unusual to discover strange or premature wear patterns with this potential disadvantage. You’ll want to have someone provide a professional alignment if you can’t do it at home to ensure that your driving experience remains a positive one.
4. It can cause cars and tricks to bottom out more.
You’ll discover that it only takes about a 1.5-inch lower suspension to cause problems with bumps, potholes, or steep driveways.
Even a parking garage lip or small ramp could cause the vehicle to scrape the concrete. Any ground contact can cause serious damage, especially to the oil pan or the exhaust system.
This issue can be severe enough with some lowering blocks that a flatbed tow is necessary because the body’s back would drag on the ground with a standard connection.
5. Some vehicles might experience more rubbing.
When the lowering blocks are improperly installed, you can sometimes end up having the steering and suspension contact each other, your tires, or the wheels. It can even cause the rubber to rub against the body of the car or truck when going over a bump or managing a tight turn.
6. You’ll notice some unexpected costs over the vehicle’s lifetime.
Although lowering blocks provide for an affordable modification, some cars and trucks require extensive work after this change to stay drivable. You’ll also need to consider whether new coilovers need to be part of the modification.
If you need new coilovers, the cost to lower the suspension could easily top $1,000 before even getting to the lowering blocks.
You can’t use a standard jack after lowering the suspension on most cars or trucks because there isn’t enough clearance to get under the frame. It might be necessary to carry a scissors lift car kit to ensure there’s enough space.
Otherwise, a hydraulic fast lift service jack is your best option for changing a flat or working underneath your car or truck.
7. There could be warranty issues with your modification.
Before installing lowering blocks, you’ll want to review your owner’s manual for any information about how the mod impacts your warranty.
If you have an aftermarket or manufacturer’s warranty for the vehicle, it helps to review that info before starting. Some automakers advise against lowering the car or truck, which means you could void the coverage you have.
In some instances, the warranty might not get voided. You’d end up with lower coverage or protection levels instead because of how you lowered the suspension.
A Final Thought on the Pros and Cons of Lowering Blocks
Although any vehicle can have its blocks lowered, it isn’t always the best choice for every make and model. You’ll want to review your owner’s manual and information about its suspension before attempting to modify its look and performance this way.
Before modifying your suspension, I’d encourage you to review these six specific key points. That way, you won’t stumble into some unpleasant surprises (or expenses!) when creating the mods you want.
- You don’t need to drop a suspension much to obtain a higher performance. It’s easy to miss what you want to achieve by going too far.
- There are no shortcuts. Your shocks and struts need support when lowering the blocks.
- When you modify your vehicle in ways that aren’t considered road legal, your insurance might not pay damage claims. You’ll need to speak with your agent or broker.
- Installing an extreme setup can change how a vehicle steers. It can also put unexpected pressure on the drivetrain or suspension in ways that aren’t covered by the warranty.
- It is always a good idea to get an alignment done after lowering the blocks to ensure your handling is maximized.
- You’ll find that it takes some time to get used to how the new setup performs from behind the wheel. Even a sudden hard brake or sharp turn could cause traction loss if you’re not expecting the movement.
I know it’s tempting to jump in headfirst with changes like these, but you should ensure that your setup is safe and won’t interfere with other car functions. As with any aftermarket customization, it helps to review the balance of drivability, looks, safety, performance, and cost.
