Leaf Sliders

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ald also with body roll, it's my impression ..

Not really. If you placed the orbit eye on the shackle or slider side and left a standard bushing at the frame mount you would reduce stress and still maintain the same side stability.
 
Not sure if any of the pros out way any of the cons.

Sure it's new and looks kwazie cool I guess. But not for me
 
Speedway Heavy Duty Leaf Spring Sliders - Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop

Don't know if this link will work.. I'm on my phone , maybe copy and paste.

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I didn't notice the bearings until after I pasted the image. So much for the delrin being a 'con'.

"More rigid than typical shackle/bushing combination", could be considered a 'con' in a 4x4 application.

Here's their version with a 'nylon block'. Only one slider, not two?

91043302_L.jpg
 
maybe some springs like Alcan's with the orbit eye would help with articulation and bushing wear?

That's exactly what I was thinking. Keep the orbit eyes at the fixed end of the spring and traditional bushings at the slider end. If you need orbit eyes to retain the amount of flex with leaf sliders as with traditional shackles however, then the advantage is eliminated IMO. I would hope that the orbit eyes are only an upgrade to an already effective suspension with leaf sliders.

Delrin is very hard, it also has lubrication properties so it will last for quite a while.

I am failing to see the true disadvantages of this setup short of packaging.

The primary advantage I see is the ability to keep the spring tucked up and away from the boulders while keeping the shackle up front. I've never seen these perform out on the trail so I don't know how well they work offroad, but if they're comparable to a traditional spring setup in flexibility, then I'd run these every time instead of shackles.
 
Just stumbled on this one, interesting design, I can see some issues with it though. Depending on the terrain you're in I can see mud and sand being an issue in wearing out the components. UHMW is OK but does not like heat, that would be a problem on a faster gravel trail and with quick articulation. I know how hot my shocks get from situations like that, the UHMW would melt. The bearing idea looks neat but what weight are the bearings rated to handle? What happens in a situation where you drop off a rock and all the weight lands on it?
It would be a cool idea to try out but may require a lot more maintenance than a regular shackle.
 
The primary advantage I see is the ability to keep the spring tucked up and away from the boulders while keeping the shackle up front.

Just to clarify...It sounds like you would consider running a leaf slider on one side of a leaf and a shackle on the other side?!?

Just stumbled on this one, interesting design, I can see some issues with it though. Depending on the terrain you're in I can see mud and sand being an issue in wearing out the components. UHMW is OK but does not like heat, that would be a problem on a faster gravel trail and with quick articulation. I know how hot my shocks get from situations like that, the UHMW would melt. The bearing idea looks neat but what weight are the bearings rated to handle? What happens in a situation where you drop off a rock and all the weight lands on it?
It would be a cool idea to try out but may require a lot more maintenance than a regular shackle.

Good points.
 
4rnr said:
Just to clarify...It sounds like you would consider running a leaf slider on one side of a leaf and a shackle on the other side?!?

Good points.
I think he is referring to not having to do a SR. Not having a slider and shackles.
 
Fantom said:
Just stumbled on this one, interesting design, I can see some issues with it though. Depending on the terrain you're in I can see mud and sand being an issue in wearing out the components. UHMW is OK but does not like heat, that would be a problem on a faster gravel trail and with quick articulation. I know how hot my shocks get from situations like that, the UHMW would melt. The bearing idea looks neat but what weight are the bearings rated to handle? What happens in a situation where you drop off a rock and all the weight lands on it?
It would be a cool idea to try out but may require a lot more maintenance than a regular shackle.

I wish we had more specs on the bearing version. Cause I am kinda interested in it myself. But on the site it says " Comes with brass bushing for 1" I.D. spring eye."
So that bearing has to be pretty large. Right? I would also make a cover for the sides to protect it more.
 
on the site it says " Comes with brass bushing for 1" I.D. spring eye."
So that bearing has to be pretty large. Right?

I think that sounds like they have a brass bushing that has an OD of 1'' to fit inside the spring eye (assuming the spring eye ID is 1")... then the ID of the bushing would equal the bolt OD (prolly 1/2") then the bearing ID would equal the bolt OD.

But if thats the case it sounds like there is a brass bushing in place of traditional rubber or poly bushing...That would suck! Maybe its a drag race application...I'm missing something!
 
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Ahh I see now. So that bearing may be pretty small. I do believe this was intended for drag race application.
 
Yes originally it is for drag racing.. (in the pirate thread)
 
Im guessing the physical dimensions of the bearing are 1" OD, 1/2" ID' 1/4" wide.

That whole bearing/brass setup looks like it could only work in drag racing, where articulation is non-existent and unwanted. I don't think those bearings will enjoy the twisting forces of rock crawling.
 
I think you will lose some articulation, maybe a few inches, basically your shackle mount center to leaf pin center, will give you maybe 3" below center for droop.

Whereas the slider keeps the eye end of the leaf at the same height.

If the slot for the slider pin was in an arc, dropping lower as it the leaf ran back, then you could gain some articulation, but you'd need a bearing, or possibly have a smaller wear surface on the nylon slider.

Cool though, would like to see more of it.
 
Not really. If you placed the orbit eye on the shackle or slider side and left a standard bushing at the frame mount you would reduce stress and still maintain the same side stability.

bit of hijack .. but someone running orbit eye in the fixed point ..?

Orbit eye can be purshased individual .?
 
I think every time ive seen these they have been mounted at a bit of an angle, to allow for more droop.
 
Just to clarify...It sounds like you would consider running a leaf slider on one side of a leaf and a shackle on the other side?!?

I think he is referring to not having to do a SR. Not having a slider and shackles.

Correct, poor choice of words on my part. Run the sliders in front of the front axle and have the fixed end behind the axle near the stock location.


Cody has a good point in that you'd lose a bit of droop just from the fact that the shackle won't be able to swing down anymore. How much is the loss though? I can't imagine that a shackle will swing down more than 2-3", so if the slope of the slider provides for 2" of drop over the run, then you're coming out neutral, right?
 
I can't imagine that a shackle will swing down more than 2-3", so if the slope of the slider provides for 2" of drop over the run, then you're coming out neutral, right?

My rear shackles swing down at least 5", maybe 6", no comparison.

I agree, though, that these would be for the front, so you could keep the fixed end of the spring at the rear and have great rock clearance at the front without having an exposed shackle facing forward under there.

Cody, your design looks awesome. Those with bearings or bushings would be the sheot!
 
My rear shackles swing down at least 5", maybe 6", no comparison.

I agree, though, that these would be for the front, so you could keep the fixed end of the spring at the rear and have great rock clearance at the front without having an exposed shackle facing forward under there.

Cody, your design looks awesome. Those with bearings or bushings would be the sheot!

Just something to scratch up on my break at work, I do see the point of the longer pieces of nylon with full contact having the benefit of wear, though those should have enough flex that the majority of wear would be in the center as well. that's the con of having an arched bushing, unless the whole plain of motion is in an arch.

Bearings would be ideal, but youd have to keep them somewhat sealed, unless it was more of a rock crawler.

Edit: at second thought, the orbital eyes would allow more twist in the shackle pin, and could allow the pin to bind on an angle. It might be better to put a swivel at the top of the bracket and allow the bracket to rotate...
 
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