leaf spring slider box

[Jesse J]

saw this idea a while ago on bleepin jeeps comancheep build. thought it was intresting for a little more flex with leaf springs anyone have any

experience with these?

[Pete M]

'tis an interesting concept, but I've not yet found myself wanting even more rear wheel travel. 

 

 

 

[Jesse J]

what lift are you running and are those stock springs?

[89 MJ]

The only rear suspension mod is an Add a Leaf which will reduce some travel. I also need longer shocks. This was at max flex with the front sway bar attached. I don’t know you will ever need more travel in the rear than what there was stock. If I were to change the rear suspension setup other than changing the shackle/spring packs, I would just 4 link it. 

[89 MJ]

2 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

what lift are you running and are those stock springs?

I see he is SOA rear. I’m not sure on the details on the front lift. 

[Pete M]

don't worry about the front.  front is custom.  

 

rear is SOA using stock well-worn leafs with an AAL made from another MJ main leaf (with the eyes cut off and jammed under the current main). 

 

the stock 30 year old shackles have not yet proven to be a problem. 

 

 

 

[Jesse J]

yeah I think i'm gonna stay with my five pack leafs but they seem to me too stiff to get some good flex

[BeatCJ]

Springs always have tradeoffs. Higher capacity (Metric Ton, Big Ton) have to be stiffer than lower capacity springs. So what is important to you?

[89 MJ]

Part of your spring stiffness could be your shocks. They might be bent or just two stiff. Pete and I both have 5 pack leafs and I for sure am happy with the amount of flex I have. Try jacking it up with your shocks attached (towards the outside of the axle, maybe under the leaf sting plate), then do it without the shocks. If your shocks are bent, then it will not flex as much, which could contribute to a stiffer ride. 

[89 MJ]

I would keep the 5 leaf pack if I were you. The added capacity is definitely worth it. The AAL amaze my truck drive and ride MUCH better because of the stiffer springs. Plus, with the softer springs, you won’t be able to tow/haul as much. If you can’t tow/haul, there isn’t much point of having a truck. 

[Jesse J]

I am going to keep the five packs. I will look at the shocks though. they are old and pretty shot

[Pete M]

15 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

yeah I think i'm gonna stay with my five pack leafs but they seem to me too stiff to get some good flex

 

I also have the benefit of having weight in the back of my truck.  as in many hundreds more pounds than yours.  an empty bed won't push down as hard to force the axle to conform to the terrain. 

 

also, a locker goes a long way towards keeping traction going.   

[mnkyboy]

The sliders do a great job of controlling the axle, but at the cost of flex.

 

They have only one articulation point vs. two points with a shackle set up, so they put a lot more bind on the springs and flex quit a bit less than a shackle set up.

 

I would consider them on the back of a track car or the front axle on a leaf sprung 4x4, but that's about it.

[Jesse J]

6 hours ago, Pete M said:

 

I also have the benefit of having weight in the back of my truck.  as in many hundreds more pounds than yours.  an empty bed won't push down as hard to force the axle to conform to the terrain. 

 

also, a locker goes a long way towards keeping traction going.   

yeah once I build a bumper bed bars roll bar and put my spare in the rear that will help. not anything as heavy as yours but. I wasn't necessarily going to do it but I wanted to see yall's opinion

[ghetdjc320]

The length of the MJ leaf springs is a pretty good design for flex. I used to run treadles revolver shackles on my YJ and they make them for MJ’s/XJ’s too. 

[Jesse J]

4 minutes ago, ghetdjc320 said:

The length of the MJ leaf springs is a pretty good design for flex. I used to run treadles revolver shackles on my YJ and they make them for MJ’s/XJ’s too. 

how did they work for you?

[ghetdjc320]

30 minutes ago, Jesse J said:

how did they work for you?

They work for suspension droop but that’s about it. Plus you’ll need extended shocks to allow for full droop. Alcan has a product called “orbit eyes” that’s like a Johnny joint for your leaf springs that also works for linear spring twisting.

[Pete M]

they have downsides too.  potentially unloading while on a hill climb comes to mind.  though it might seem that way in the magazines, flex is not the be-all-end-all in the offroad world. 

[ghetdjc320]

True. I’ve never had one unload on me though and I ran them on all 4 corners on some pretty serious trails. Being able to let the axle droop more though is really not helpful unless there is weight on the low wheel. That being said though, nothing beats a good 4 link setup. 

[Jesse J]

huh intresting